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 ignite. However, all the water and some volatile compound is extracted. This process can take a day or more. An interesting note: if you ever bought a bottle of ‘liquid smoke’, this is basically leftover from this process. Water vapor infused with wood smoke.

Charcoal Briquette: The same mill who processed lump charcoal is left with small pieces and charcoal dust that cannot be re-sold as is. They mix this dust with binders such as starch then compress it into briquettes and baked to harden them up. Other manufacturers use sawdust from mixed wood from lumber mills. Once this sawdust is turned into charcoal it is mixed with various additives.  This is then molded into their pillow shape.

Since briquette manufacturers do not provide a list of ‘ingredients’ of the binders used, some people are concerned about additives. Some brands have responded by offering ‘Natural Hardwood Briquette” which contains no binders.

If you want to see an interesting video about the whole process, click on this YouTube video.

Below is a list of fireplace and grill stores that service Ontario (ON)

Ajax, ON

Topfire Fireplace and Barbecue Inc.
487 Westney Rd. S
Ajax, ON L1S 6W8

Topfire Fireplace and Barbecue Inc. LogoVisit Store Page

Aurora, ON

Topfire Fireplace and Barbecue Inc.
15483 Yonge St., Unit 1C
Aurora, ON L4G 1P3

Topfire Fireplace and Barbecue Inc. LogoVisit Store Page

Belleville, ON

Friendly Fires
69, Dundas East
Belleville, ON K8N 1B9

Friendly Fires LogoVisit Store Page

Burlington, ON

Barbecues Galore
3100 Harvester Road
Burlington, ON L7N 3W8

Barbecues Galore LogoVisit Store Page

Cambridge, ON

Bast Home Comfort Inc.
471 Hespeler Rd. 
Cambridge, ON N1R 6J2

Bast Home Comfort Inc. LogoVisit Store Page

Carleton Place, ON

Friendly Fires
11384 Highway 7
Carleton Place, ON K7C 3P1

Friendly Fires LogoVisit Store Page

Cobourg, ON

Friendly Fires
70 King Street East
Cobourg, ON K9A 1K9

Friendly Fires LogoVisit Store Page

Collingwood, ON

Chantico Fireplace Gallery Inc
209784 Hwy 26
Blue Mountains, ON L9Y 0L8

Chantico Fireplace Gallery Inc LogoVisit Store Page

Concord, ON

The Fireplace Specialist
19-391 Edgeley Blvd.
Concord, ON L4K 4A7

Etobicoke, ON

Barbecues Galore
1470 The Queensway
Etobicoke, ON M8Z 1T5

Barbecues Galore LogoVisit Store Page

Goderich, ON

Huron Fireplaces
308 Huron Rd
Goderich, ON N7A 3A2

Hamilton, ON

Chadwicks & Hacks
682 Fennell Avenue East
Hamilton, ON L8V 1V4

Chadwicks & Hacks LogoVisit Store Page

Huntsville, ON

The Fireplace King inc.
14 Howland Drive, Unit 1
Huntsville, ON P1H1M3

Kincardine, ON

Chantico Fireplace Gallery Inc
6 Ashfield-Huron
Kincardine, ON N2Z 2X3

Chantico Fireplace Gallery Inc LogoVisit Store Page

Kingston, ON

Friendly Fires
271 Dalton Ave.
Kingston, ON K7K 6Z1

Friendly Fires LogoVisit Store Page

London, ON

Porky's BBQ & Leisure
1075 Sarnia Road
London, ON N6H 5J9

Porky's BBQ & Leisure LogoVisit Store Page

Markham, ON

Kastle Fireplace LTD
8294 York Durham Line
Markham, ON L0H 1J0

Kastle Fireplace LTD LogoVisit Store Page

Meaford, ON

Chantico Fireplace Gallery Inc
158185 7th Line
Meaford, ON N4L 1W5

Chantico Fireplace Gallery Inc LogoVisit Store Page

Mississauga, ON

Ontario Hearth Fireplaces
3425 Laird Road Unit #2
Mississauga, ON L5L 5R8

Ontario Hearth Fireplaces LogoVisit Store Page

Niagara Falls, ON

The One Stop Fireplace Shop LTD
4332 Drummond Road
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6C3

The One Stop Fireplace Shop LTD LogoVisit Store Page

North York, ON

The Fireplace Company
2854 Dufferin St.
North York, ON M6B 3S3

Oakville, ON

Barbecues Galore
490 Speers Road
Oakville, ON L6K 2G3

Barbecues Galore LogoVisit Store Page

Orangeville, ON

Its in the Shed
7 Little York Street
Orangeville, ON L9W 1L8

Ottawa, ON

Capital BBQ
12 Grenfell Crescent
Ottawa, ON K2G 0G2

Capital BBQ LogoVisit Store Page

Pembroke, ON

Performance Woodburning & Gas
204 Boundary Road East
Pembroke, ON K8A 6W4

Penetanguishene, ON

Home & Cottage Centre
4 Centennial Drive
Penetanguishene, ON L9M 1G8

Home & Cottage Centre LogoVisit Store Page

Peterborough, ON

Friendly Fires
971 Highway 7
Peterborough, ON K9J 6X7

Friendly Fires LogoVisit Store Page

Sarnia, ON

A Village Fireplace Shop Ltd.
623 Broadway St
Wyoming, ON N0N1T0

A Village Fireplace Shop Ltd. LogoVisit Store Page

Stratford, ON

Tri-County Brick
320 Home st.
Stratford, ON N5A 7C9

Tri-County Brick LogoVisit Store Page

Sudbury, ON

Nordic Energy Systems LTD
2324 Long Lake Road
Sudbury, ON P3E 5H4

Nordic Energy Systems LTD LogoVisit Store Page

Thunder Bay, ON

Bob's Woodburners & Fireplaces
803 Memorial Avenue
Thunder Bay, ON P7E 3Z7

Bob's Woodburners & Fireplaces LogoVisit Store Page

Toronto, ON

Marsh's Stoves & Fireplaces
3322 Dundas Street W
Toronto, ON M6P 2A4

Marsh's Stoves & Fireplaces LogoVisit Store Page

Waterloo, ON

Bast Home Comfort Inc.
12-620 Davenport Road
Waterloo, ON N2V 2C2

Bast Home Comfort Inc. LogoVisit Store Page

Windsor, ON

Scott's Fireplace Select, Inc.
2 North Talbot Road
Maidstone, ON N0R 1K0

Scott's Fireplace Select, Inc. LogoVisit Store Page

For more information, contact your local fireplace and grill store.

No Comments Yet.

Leave a comment