Qualifier:
I do not currently own a Kamado, or ceramic cooker.
However - we are talking about the nature of the charcoal itself. That would be the same - whatever cooker that you use it it, I believe....
Lump will burn hotter, and thus - cleaner than briquettes. Cleaner in the sense of less intense smoke, and a different - lighter flavor when compared to briquettes. Lump generally burns hotter, and not quite as long. This is because of a lower overall density allowing for better oxygen access to the cell structure of the parent wood which is now charcoal. So, the total BTU availability being equal to given volumes of lump vs briquettes - the lump will burn hotter, but not as long.
A good quality briquette - such as Kingsford should give you consistent results with the caveat that it must be kept in dry conditions as any fuel source should. Lump will vary a little. Notice I said WILL.....That is because lump is straight from the tree, minimally processed. So, natural variations in the individual trees, and their growth conditions ( soil conditions, available moisture, nutrients averrable to the tree..etc...see above re: wood density/cell structure) will yield different densities in the wood itself.
Briquettes - being an engineered product - has this taken into account, so the formulations for the briquettes can be altered in order to make the performance of the end product more consistent from bag to bag. Again this is with the understanding that the product is kept in the same dry conditions .....You should expect a longer burn at a lower max temp from briquettes in general.
Which on works best? Which one do you have a taste for? THAT is the correct one for you. Some people like red cars, others could not bear to own one....and both are right
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