About: Bert Plourde

As a young child, Bert was fascinated with anything with a flame. Eventually, his interest was productively focused on cooking and eventually joining the Hearth, Patio and BBQ industry. Once known to own a ‘fleet’ of grills and BBQ, Bert loves to experiment with food and flavours. This led him to research the ‘science’ of food and forever seeking the best methods to satisfy his hungry and discerning guests. He also writes blogs on all things BBQ. Bert now lives in Asia where he pushes the limits of meatless BBQ (Slow smoked on mango wood BBQ’d Jackfruit with durian chutney anyone?). He hopes you will join him in his journey.

BBQ Sauce Safety: What You Need to Know Before You Slather

If you're like most people, you love a good BBQ sauce on your ribs, brisket, or pulled pork. But before you slather that sauce all over your meat, you should know a few things about BBQ sauce safety. Since BBQ sauce safety seems to be of great concerns to many, our experts are more than…

BBQ: Delicious or Dangerous?

Are BBQ Ribs Healthy? Ah, BBQ ribs. The quintessential summer food. What's not to love? Tender, juicy meat, slathered in tangy, smoky sauce. But let's be real. BBQ ribs aren't exactly health food. They're high in fat and calories, and loaded with sodium. But don't let that stop you from enjoying them. There are ways…

The History of BBQ

Everyone loves to claim their ancestors invented BBQ. For example, American and BBQ are as “American as apple pie” neither of which was invented in the USA1. South Americans natives on the other hand, proudly proclaim the word Barbecue comes from ‘Barbacoa,’ a lattice used to cook and smoke meat. Polynesians will top it by…

BBQ: From Newbie to Pitmaster in No Time

So, you recently bought or received a new grill/charcoal BBQ*. You can't wait to slap meat on the grill and invite your friends. Unfortunately, your first attempts are 'Meh.' What went wrong? You followed the recipe, after all. * TERM EXPLANATION: Grilling refers to cooking at high temperatures or searing meat. A Grill is typically…

Where Can I Buy BBQ Charcoal?

BBQ charcoal can be bought just about anywhere. Typically available at gas stations, online, hardware stores, gardening centers, and of course your local We Love Fire BBQ Expert.

Can I Use BBQ Charcoal Ashes In The Garden?

What to do with your leftover BBQ ashes? Why not use it in your garden? Ashes are leftover 'un-burnable' minerals such as potassium. It will help your garden, especially if your soil is too acidic. On the other hand, you should not add wood ash to your soil/garden under the following conditions: If the ashes…

Is BBQ Charcoal Good For Orchids And Other Plants?

Orchids seem to thrive in a porous material. In Asia, most orchids are sold in coconut husks filled with charcoal. Orchid growers swear by it and list the following reasons: To keep the "mix" sweet. To filter impurities. Laboratory tests show that charcoal possesses a remarkable ability to: Keep nutrients in the soil, increasing soil…

Is Charcoal BBQ Good Or Bad For You?

Wanting to open a can of worm, are you? The question is, is charcoal grilling/smoking hazardous to your health? The short answer is yes… but then again, most things are done in excess harm to our health, including drinking too much water. It should not pose any long-lasting effects if done occasionally as a treat.…

How Long Before The BBQ Coals Are Ready?

Typically, 10 to 30 minutes depending on a variety of factors. But a quick way to determine if your coals are ready is by fine white ash covering them. If most of the coals are still black, it may release 'coal dust' on your food. While not necessarily dangerous, it may taint your food taste.

What Is The Best Method To Light Charcoal?

We assume without chemicals, right? And by "best," it really depends on your definition. Cheapest method, how fast to ignite, the best value, etc. Here are some time-proven ways to light BBQ charcoal. Paper (newspaper, paper towel, etc.) soaked in cooking oil. This pretty much tells you everything. Place the oil-soaked paper on top of…

Everything you ever wanted to know about charcoal BBQing but were afraid to ask… Part #2

Here is our second installment on your burning questions about BBQ charcoal. What Is The Best Method To Light Charcoal? We assume without chemicals, right? And by "best" it really depends on your definition. Cheapest method, how fast to ignite, the best value, etc. Here are some time-proven ways to light BBQ charcoal. Paper (newspaper,…

Can I Use BBQ Charcoal To Filter Water / Air?

Charcoal specific to filtration purposes is called Air, Water, or Vapor phase carbon. They are manufactured in a precise manner to achieve the desired application. Charcoal made for water purification is ‘activated’. But in a pinch, you can use BBQ lump charcoal (not briquettes as they may have binders and chemicals). And here is how…

Is BBQ Charcoal Activated ?

Surprisingly, this is an often-asked strange question. Those asking are really wondering if BBQ charcoal can be used for water purification or medicine. Charcoal manufacturers activate it by use of steam or hot air to erode its internal surface, which increases the outside surface area and its adsorption rate—the capacity to bind materials to a…

Can I Use BBQ Charcoal On My Gas Grill?

You shouldn’t, but you can. Firstly, here is why you shouldn’t. Your grill will fill quickly with ashes. This may clog the nozzles of your burners. And, if you are like me and not prone to clean your BBQ after every use, the ashes can absorb moisture or, worse, get wet. This acidic mush will…

Can BBQ Charcoal Go Bad?

Lump charcoal can last just about forever as long as you keep it dry. Briquette is another story. It is made of binder such as starch and absorbs moisture much easier than lump charcoal. Self-igniting charcoal has a year or two shelf life before the igniting chemicals evaporate. What should you do if your charcoal…

Which Type Of Charcoal Is Best For BBQ?

Boy, this is a controversial question among BBQ aficionados. But looking at what the experts and pitmasters say, it doesn’t seem to matter that much. Both lump charcoal and briquettes have their pros and cons as you can see below. After which we will discuss if a specific ‘brand’ makes a difference.

Is Charcoal BBQing Allowed in Parks or Public Spaces?

This is a highly recurring question on the Internet. For obvious reasons, you should check the answer with your local by-laws. Besides checking with your local authorities, common sense and safety should be foremost when handling combustible material in public. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has provided a valuable checklist to this effect: Grilling_safety_Tips.pdf…

How Is BBQ Charcoal Made?

Most people use either lump or charcoal briquettes, so we’ll focus on the process for each as it is very different. Lump Charcoal: Is typically made from leftover from sawmills, furniture manufacturers and others. It is then put into a large container, heated up to combustion temperatures, but since oxygen is restricted, it does not…

Why Does Charcoal BBQ Taste Better?

This is one thing gas grills can’t come close : Wood smoke flavor. Why is charcoal better? Let’s dispel some myths first. If you cook on high heat on a charcoal BBQ, it is very unlikely you are getting all the benefits of wood smoke taste in your food. The reason for this is high…

Is Charcoal BBQing Better Than Gas?

Yes and no… Oh, you want more? Please read through the following pros and cons of each appliance. And before your twitching fingers can start texting me a devastating counterargument for each of those, please read to the conclusion. And feel free to provide us with more Pros and Cons if we missed any.

Everything you ever wanted to know about charcoal BBQing but were afraid to ask… Part #1

It seems a burning question on the interweb is all about charcoal BBQing, not about grills, accessories, recipes, etc. but about the charcoal itself. We are glad to edumacate you to make you learn stuff. But first, a tiny bit of history (not super boring): When gas grills started to gain popularity in the ’70s,…