How Long Does Charcoal Last?

Did You Bring Enough Briquettes? How Long Does Charcoal Last?

Are you about to use a charcoal BBQ? It’s a good choice! Charcoal grilling offers a smoky flavor that gas or wood pellet grills don’t. You might also appreciate the science behind the process.

But how long does charcoal last? How many coals will you need for your event? What type burns for how long? One of the last things anyone wants is to run out of lump charcoal mid-grill session and get stuck with a cold barbeque.

Let’s examine how long charcoal burns and how much you’ll need to cook everything you plan to make.

Charcoal Burn Time

A general rule is that a single layer of charcoal will provide about an hour of high heat, which is ideal for gas grilling.

While the coals will stay hot for over an hour, the charcoal grilling process includes several phases.

So, does charcoal go bad?

Technically, charcoal will last 2 to 3 hours on your average outdoor grills and smokers.

This includes the charcoal warming up and burning its outer surface, which takes about 30 minutes. After that, you will have 1 to 1.5 hours of high heat for cooking. The post-cooking time lasts about 45 minutes when the charcoal slowly cools down and becomes cool dry.

Types of charcoal matter! Each kind has its own burn time:

• Lump charcoal is ideal for shorter cooking times and smaller portions. It burns for approximately 2-3 hours.

• Charcoal Briquettes typically burn for approximately 4-5 hours, though the exact burn time can vary depending on their quality.

• Coconut briquettes typically burn for approximately two hours.

• Hardwood charcoal can be ready to cook in 15 minutes and has longer burn times, up to 12 hours.

With that said, exactly how long charcoal can last depends on:

• The size of the grill (portable vs. commercial)
• The type of grill (brand, ceramic grill, etc.)
• Type of charcoal used
• The ventilation of the grill (airflow)
• How much lighter fluid (or other fire starter) is used
• How much charcoal is used
• How you are storing charcoal

For a typical Weber kettle grill, you’ll need about 20 briquettes for every hour of cooking.

Remember that the more ash on the charcoal, the less time it will burn. So make sure to keep the ashes cleaned off!

How long will one bag of charcoal burn for?

About 1.5 hours. You should be able to cook around 15-20 burgers on one single bag of charcoal.

You’ll need around one and a half bags of charcoal for larger items like a whole turkey.

Having extra fuel on hand is always wise, in case your cookout lasts longer than expected, especially if you are using indirect heat. No one wants a half-cooked meal!

How Much Charcoal Do I Need?

For a small grill, around eight ounces of charcoal is ideal.

You’ll need around eighteen ounces for a large grill and more than thirty-six ounces if you’re using a smoker.

Average grill: the general rule is that it will last around two to three hours.

Smoker: Charcoal can last up to six hours.

When in doubt, buying more rather than less is always best. This way you won’t run out of fuel and won’t have to worry about undercooked food.

How to make Charcoal burn for longer

Slow cooking is possible with a charcoal grill! This allows the food to become imbued with incredible smoke flavoring. Here are some tips to make your burning charcoal last longer.

First, ensure that the airflow around your charcoal is clear. You can achieve this by creating a space for it in your grill, closing the vents, or placing it on a raised surface.

Another way to prolong the life of charcoal is to control the oxygen supply. You can partially cover the charcoal with a metal lid or damp paper.

This will kill the flames and create a smoldering environment. The moisture from the paper towel will prevent the charcoal from burning.

This will cause the charcoal to last significantly longer – up to twice as long! Just be sure not to let the charcoal get too hot before putting the lid on, or you risk burning through your briquettes prematurely. 

How to make Charcoal light faster

One way to make the coals burn quicker is to use a charcoal chimney starter. This will help the coals light faster and become hotter. You can also use newspaper or crunched-up paper sprayed with lighter fluid to help start the fire faster.

Another way to make charcoal burn faster is to break it into smaller pieces. Large chunks of charcoal take longer to light and do not get as hot as quickly. Try breaking the charcoal into smaller pieces so that it will ignite more easily.

Of course, adding some lighter fluid to the fire to make it burn even quicker is one easy way. Opening the grill vents wide will help with natural air and cause the coal to burn faster. Just be sure not to add too much, or you may end up with an uncontrolled fire!

The right amount of charcoal – A Perfect Formula

When creating a charcoal fire, it’s important to remember that you don’t need as much as you might think.

You do not need to fill the grill to the top with coals; the high heat from the coals is enough to reach the grilling grates and cook the meat (or whatever you plan to grill).

Use this formula to work out how Long Does Charcoal Last

(Length of grill (inches) x Width of the grill (inches)) divided by the number of people

If you’re using a kettle grill, measure the length and width in inches.

Multiplying the length by the width will give you the total square inches.

Divide the total square inches by the number of people eating to find the square inches each person should have.

With this information, you can calculate how much charcoal you’ll need for your next cookout.

Can you add more charcoal mid-grill?

If you need more charcoal during cooking, wait until the coals are completely cool before adding them to the grill. Adding hot coals to the grill can cause flare-ups and could damage your grill.

How long does it take for charcoal to go out?

You can tell charcoal is dying out because the flames will get smaller, and the sparks will lessen.

Charcoal can take 30-45 minutes to extinguish smaller fires, and for larger fires, it can take two hours to burn out.

When planning to put out the charcoal sooner, you can use a shovel to cover it with dirt or sand. This will help put out the fire faster by removing the airflow and oxygen from the area.

If you let the charcoal burn out by itself, wait until it turns mostly white ash before you throw it away. This helps reduce the risk of a fire.

Make sure to always have water close by in case of an emergency.

In Conclusion

Now that you can answer the question, “How long does charcoal last?” you can properly plan your next BBQ. Print and consult this guide so you can easily check it, especially if you use more than one type of charcoal.

FAQs About How Long Charcoal Lasts