Grilling is fun, and BBQ parties are a great way to stay social.
Getting the most out of your grill is important. After all, a grill, especially if using a brand like Weber, can set you back a fair bit of cash.
Whether you want to increase the capability of a newly purchased grill or bring an older grill back close to its function when it was new, you need the best ceramic briquettes for gas grill.
These briquettes will reduce the amount of fuel you use, as they help increase temperatures and retain heat in the grill.
You’ll also find they offer fantastic protection from flare-ups.
So, without further ado, let us take a look at the five best gas grill briquettes for sale online right now.
List Of CERAMIC BRIQUETTES FOR GAS GRILL
- Mr. Bar-B-Q Gas Grill Ceramic Briquettes
- Chef Master Gas Grill Ceramic Briquettes
- soldbbq Reusable Ceramic Briquettes
- GasSaf Ceramic Briquettes
- Grill Greats Briquettes for Grilling
COMPARISON CHART FOR TOP 5 CERAMIC BRIQUETTES FOR GAS GRILL
5 BEST CERAMIC BRIQUETTES FOR GAS GRILL Reviews
1. Mr. Bar-B-Q Gas Grill Ceramic Briquettes | Gas Grill Briquettes
Mr. Bar-B-Q ceramic briquettes are a fantastic option for anyone looking to improve their Bar-B-Q experience. This is especially true if you own an older grill that isn’t functioning as well as it used to, or requires some replacement parts.
Flare-ups are an issue nobody wants to face because they are detrimental to both the flavor and texture of cooked items. Flame guards or burner protectors help with this, but some are not as effective as they could be. Once these are past their best use, there’s no need to replace them.
The Bar-B-Q ceramic briquettes will do the job of preventing flare-ups far more effectively. We also found that our grills heated up more evenly once these briquettes were added.
It was also pleasing to note that, unlike some other brands, all the briquettes survived the transportation process. That shows they are made from high-quality materials.
Pros
- Enough briquettes for medium/large grill.
- Flat bottomed to better sit on grates.
- Design prevents briquettes bouncing if grill moved.
Cons
- Grills take a longer time to heat.
- Self-cleaning requires very high heat.
2. Chef Master Gas Grill Ceramic Briquettes
There are not many differences you can get from briquette to briquette, so most brands need to do something to stand out.The shape of the Chef Masterbriquettes gives it an advantage over the Mr. Bar-B-Q.
Mr. Bar-B-Q briquettes get very messy, and though ‘self-cleaning’ can require prising away from grease trays, and need very high heat to achieve a clean.
Contrast that with the pyramid-shaped Chef Master briquettes. Grease and fat will not pool because of the shape, meaning they clean much more easily.
One box of these briquettes should easily be enough for 375 square inches of cooking area. Keep in mind that you get ten fewer briquettes than you would if purchasing from Mr. Bar-B-Q.
Other than that, both products have very similar plus points. We found flare-ups to be almost non-existent with both, and if they occurred, they were minor jumps of flame.
Both brands helped generate higher temperatures than we saw before having the briquettes.
Pros
- It greatly reduces flare-ups.
- Helps grills achieve higher temperatures.
- Pyramid shape prevents pooling of grease and fat
Cons
- May need replacing after a few months.
- More than one box is needed to use with 400sq inch grills.
3. Soldbbq Reusable Ceramic Briquettes | BBQ Ceramic Briquettes
Value for money is an important factor to consider when looking at different brands for briquettes.
Comparing prices, only the Grill Greats briquettes come costlier than these by soldbbq. However, Grill Greats are offering plate-like briquettes rather than the ‘rock’ style, making this the costliest offering per briquette.
So, is the extra price worth it? In short, yes.
Of all the briquettes tested, soldbbq’s product clearly offered the greatest impact on temperature. This impact will help transform your grill, and in some cases, achieve up to double the temperatures you would expect without briquettes.
The way these briquettes retain heat and help increase temperature should mean less fuel being used for a cook. So ultimately, you’ll make your money back on fuel savings.
Though made for Lynx grills, these will still reduce flare-ups and increase the heat on other brand’s products.
Pros
- Achieves higher temperatures than other brands
- Retains heat more effectively than competitors
- Enough bricks for a medium/large grill
Cons
- Higher price
- Most effective in Lynx grill
4. GasSaf Ceramic Briquettes | Ceramic BBQ Briquettes
Ignore the long list of grills in the product description. It may be a list of grills that these briquettes have been designed for, but it is not an exhaustive list of grills that these briquettes work beautifully in.
These briquettes will bring an old grill back to life, letting you get a few more years out of it. (Note: You may need to replace the briquettes a few times in that period.)
All the briquettes arrived in one piece, so you know they are made of high-quality materials. From the look and feel of the briquette, you also get the sense these will last longer than other brands.
However, we did find that the briquettes take a bit longer to heat up, especially compared to soldbbq. But they do come at a cheaper price.
Your choice here is whether to buy a cheaper but longer-lasting briquette or one that will produce enhanced results due to heat retention and distribution.
Pros
- Cost-effective option.
- Clearly durable materials.
- Offers great protection from flare-ups.
- Suitable for most medium/large grills.
Cons
- Heats less efficiently than other brands.
- Holds heat for a shorter time.
5. Grill Greats Briquettes for Grilling
Grill Greats offer a product that is different from the other four we have reviewed. Their ‘briquettes’ actually take the form of plates. Each plate is a quarter-inch thick, and with forty-five plates provided in total, you can cover a 315 square inch grill.
The main benefit we can see from this plate style is that each plate will be locked in once put together. That should mean less movement from the briquettes if you have to shift the grill to avoid sudden winds.
Overall, heat distribution and flare-up reduction are similar to other products. The best product for heat is the soldbbq option, but Grill Greats is an effective, cheaper alternative.
These plates heat faster than traditional briquettes, meaning you can get cooking much earlier.
If there is any drawback, it is in the packaging of the briquette. Many people find a few briquettes cracked upon delivery because the packaging doesn’t offer adequate protection.
Pros
- Extremely quick heating.
- Allows you to use lower flames and less fuel.
- Can self-clean in 10 minutes before cooking.
Cons
- It only covers 315 square inches.
- Fragile and need to be handled delicately.
FAQ
Why Do People Use Ceramic Briquettes?
Ceramic briquettes have multiple benefits.
Benefits include:
- Reduction in the amount of fuel consumption.
- More even heat in the grill.
- Longer lasting heat retention.
- Reduction in the chance of flare-ups
Better temperature control and a reduction in flare-ups result in better cooking. One of the reasons ceramic briquettes produce better temperature control is because ceramic doesn’t absorb grease. Therefore you end up with fewer hot spots.
Ceramic briquettes can also increase the flavor of your food. When fat drips onto the briquette, it will sizzle and smoke. The vapors those drips produce will rise to the meat or vegetables you have on the grill.
How to Use Ceramic Briquettes?
Before installing new ceramic briquettes, it is important to ensure the gas grill is clean.
Remove any briquettes you were using previously, and give the grill a brush. By brushing, you will ensure that any debris is removed.
Once the grill is clean, add the ceramic briquettes to the bottom of the grill. Ensure that they are arranged close together. Such an arrangement will lead to fewer flare-ups.
The number of briquettes you require will depend on the size of the grill you own and the size of each individual briquette.
Can Ceramic Briquettes Be Cleaned? If So, How To Clean Ceramic Briquettes?
Ceramic briquettes are usually ‘self-cleaning’. This means that you can turn your grill on to burn off anything that may be coating the briquette.
It usually takes 10 to 15 minutes of high heat for the briquettes to be fully clean. The exact time differs from briquette brand to briquette brand, and also the level of heat you give.
Be aware that briquettes on the very edge of the grill may clean less well than those in the middle or thoseplaced directly over burners. You can overcome this by moving the briquettes around in the grill or giving the few less clean ones a scrub with a wire brush.
Water and degreaser are not recommended when cleaning briquettes. Both will cause degradation and crumbling of the briquette.
When Is It Time To Replace Your Ceramic Briquettes? How Long Do Ceramic Briquettes Last?
How long your ceramic briquettes last will depend on a few factors:
- The quality of the ceramic briquettes.
- How well you maintain your ceramic briquettes.
- How regularly you use your ceramic briquettes.
A high-quality ceramic briquette set can last around four to five years when used regularly and cleaned properly.
However, you should change briquettes when you notice them cracking or crumbling if you want to keep your grill working to its best.
Leaving the briquettes in the grill to face the weather when not being used will reduce the briquette’s lifespan.
Cheap briquettes should last a year at least.
Can I Use Lava Rocks or Ceramic Briquettes in My Grill? Why Do Gas Grills Not Use Lava Rocks Anymore?
You can use ceramic briquettes in your grill but not lava rocks.
Lava rocks are volcanic rocks that people used to place over their burners using a rack. These porous rocks would absorb heat and radiate it depending on how intense you kept the burner.
A drawback of using them was their porous nature. Juices, grease, and fat would soak into them, and there was no good way to clean them. As a result, the flavors of your previous cook would get into whatever you were cooking later. It can upset the flavors you are trying to achieve.
Another issue is that lava rocks aren’t uniform in size, and therefore you would lose some between the gaps in racks. Additionally, they didn’t offer any protection to the burners from drippings getting into them.
By contrast, ceramic briquettes are ideal for gas grills.
They come in a uniform size, with different shapes available, and can be organized nicely above the burners. These briquettes are self-cleaning as well – a burst of heat for 10 to 15 minutes cleans the briquettes up, so you don’t get the aromas of last week’s cook spoiling your new food. They also offer some, though not total, protection for burners so that flare-ups are rarer and burner rot less common.
Conclusion
The best briquettes for gas grill will transform your grilling experience.
Higher temperatures, better heat retention, and a reduced number of flare-ups are just a few clicks away. If you’re planning a grill session in the coming days, you’ll want to get these briquettes quick to ensure they’re at your door in time.
Don’t forget to check your gas grill’s cooking space so that you get the right number of briquettes to adequately suit your grill. In some cases, you may need more than one box to match your grill’s size.
This is one product you aren’t going to regret buying.