Frontier Hardwood Lump Charcoal nakedwhiz.com       Home       Lump Review Index       Quick Stats Date Of Review: May, 2023 Purchased From: Home Depot Date Purchased: February, 2023 Price: $17.97 Advertised Weight: 17.6 pounds Type of Wood: Oak, Mesquite, Ebony Strange Material: None Scrap Lumber: None Smell: Moderately strong mesquite Country of Origin: Mexico Key Performance Indicators Chips and Dust: Medium and Large: Lighting: Max Temperature: Burn Time: Ash Production: Quick Links Other Information: Click Here Statements From The Bag: Click Here Lighting Instructions: Click Here Safety Instructions: Click Here Unusual Or Unique Statements: Click Here Photos of Contents: Click Here Other Photos: Click Here Photo of UPC Code: Click Here Contact Information: Click Here Rate And Comment On This Charcoal: Click Here Commentary It has been a very long time (2010) since we last looked at Frontier Lump Charcoal. Since then, Frontier has been acquired by Royal Oak. And Frontier Lump Charcoal has been appearing in a lot of queries lately, showing up in some big box stores, so we took it upon ourselves to procure a couple of bags and do this review. Before we begin, we feel we need to clear up a possible source of confusion regarding this lump and Frontier XL lump. You may recall that we recently reviewed Frontier XL Lump Charcoal (in the black bag). You should not make the mistake of thinking that this is just the same charcoal but in smaller pieces. Frontier XL is made in Paraguay from Quebracho Blanco wood, making it essentially the same as Jealous Devil. However, this version of Frontier Lump Charcoal comes from Mexico (see the map at right). Having cleared that up, we then probably need to explain about the woods used to make Frontier's charcoal from Mexico. It is made from oak, mesquite and ebony. Ebony? Really? In Mexico? Well, yes. There is a tree called Texas Ebony (Pithecellobium flexicaule) that grows in a region from Laredo to Corpus Christi and south into Mexico. The map at right depicts its range. We might also point out that this mix of hardwoods is quite similar to B&B Oak Lump Charcoal. So as you can see, this charcoal is dramatically different than the Frontier XL. So, enough with the charcoal chit chat. Let's take a look at how this charcoal performs. To begin with, as in all our reviews, we empty a bag out onto the ground for sorting and inspection. We found no scrap, no uncarbonized wood and no funny items that don't belong in a bag of charcoal. As you can see in the following table, the overall distribution wasn't that great: Large 2.2 pounds 12.0% Medium 4.8 pounds 26.7% Small 8.1 pounds 45.2% Chips/Dust 2.9 pounds 16.1% Total 18.0 pounds Less than 40% of the bag consisted of large and medium pieces which is Low () compared to all other brands. The 16.1% chips and dust was High () compared to all other brands. In our lighting test, it took 5 sheets of newspaper to get a fire established in a standard Weber chimney starter. This is Average () compared to all other brands. There was a moderate level of sparking as the charcoal was burning and no popping. The smell of the smoke is that of mesquite, fairly strong. Next up is our maximum temperature test. Frontier Lump Charcoal reached a temperature of 943°F, which is High () compared to all other brands. There was very little sparking or popping while the fire was roaring away. The speed with which the fire spread was moderately slow. Now, on to our burn time test. Frontier Lump Charcoal's burn time was Average () compared to all other brands. Starting this charcoal with a MAP/Pro torch was quite exciting. There was lots of sparking and lots of popping. While this charcoal only sparked and popped to excess when being lit with a torch, you should always exercise caution when lighting lump charcoal. And the last thing we look at is ash production. This ash produced by this charcoal was Average () compared to all other brands. So, looking at everything, we have a charcoal that is below average in size distribution, and average in its maximum temperature, burn time, and ash production. The only measure that was above average was its maximum temperature. We give it our Average rating. If you are considering this charcoal, you might also consider B&B Oak charcoal which was rated Above Average, is a similar mix of woods and can be had for a slightly lower price. To the left is the rating that our readers have given this charcoal. If you have used this charcoal and would like to rate it and leave your comments, Click Here To view reader ratings of all brands, Click Here. Other Information None Statements From The Bag "Premium Charcoal From Around The World", "100% Natural Lump Charcoal", "Made In Mexico" "WHAT MAKES FRONTIER LUMP CHARCOAL BETTER" Frontier 100% Natural Hardwod Lump Charcoal is some of the best charcoal the world has to offer. With a balanced mix of three premium hardwoods, you will be cooking with the finest Mexican lump charcoal right on your own grill! It is meticulously crafted, 100% pure hardwood, free of added chemicals or fillers, sustainably sourced from responsibly managed forests and sized to impress. Whatever your style of cook, Frontier provides superior heat, longer burn times, and great flavor." Lighting Instructions "LIGHTING INSTRUCTIONS 1. Open air vents on grill. 2. Arrange charcoal in a pile in the center of the grill or fill a charcoal     chimney with lump charcoal. 3A. If using Royal Oak Tumbleweeds® without a chimney, place a Tumbleweed in       the middle of the charcoal pile and then light it. 3B. If using a chimney, follow the chimney instructions by placing Royal Oak       Tumbleweeds® beneath the chimney and then lighting the Tumbleweed. 3C. If using lighter fluid, apply according to the instructions on the package and then       light charcoal in several places. 4A. If not using a chimney, wait until flames die down and charcoal is coverd in ash       (grayish color), and spread charcoal over the grill. 4B. If using a chimney, wait until flames are visible and then pour out the charcoal       onto the grill. 5. Begin cooking." Safety Instructions "SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS Follow all instructions and safety precautions associated with your grilling products. For best results, store in a dry area or container. Place grill on flat, level surface away from flammable items, overhangs and trees. Never barbecue indoors. Ashes must be completely cooled before discarding. Never barbecue indoors. NEVER ADD LIGHTER FLUID AFTER STARTING A FIRE. NEVER USE GASOLINE TO LIGHT A FIRE. KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN." Unusual or Unique Statements None The Ruler Used In The Following Photographs We use the following ruler in the photographs which follow. The black and white segments are 1 inch long. The upper scale is in inches, while the lower scale is in centimeters. The distance between the centers of the two targets is precisely 9 inches. Photos Of Contents This photo is an overall view of the contents of the bag. Here is a closer view. Here are the larger pieces we found in the bag. Here are the contents of the bag sorted into large, medium, small, and too small/chips/dust. Other Photos This is how the bags arrived. Photo of UPC Code Contact Information Frontier Charcoal (Royal Oak) 1 Royal Oak Avenue Roswell, GA  30076 Phone: 877-402-5185 Web: www.frontiercharcoal.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/frontiercharcoal