Charcoal BBQ FAQs: Lighting, Health, Uses & Where to Buy

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.

  1. Paper (newspaper, paper towel, etc.) soaked in cooking oil. This pretty much tells you everything. Place the oil-soaked paper on top of the charcoal, light it, then, when fully ignited, place some large chunks on top of it.
  2. Natural Fire Starter: We say ‘natural’ as we try to avoid harmful chemicals. You can make your own with food-grade wax and wood chips, buy commercially available online, or through your We Love Fire expert.
  3. Blow Torch: Any Blow torch will do, but some are specifically designed for this purpose. An example is Amazon.com : JJGeorge Grill Torch Charcoal Starter : Patio, Lawn & Garden.
  4. Electric Starter: These are a bare electric coil or element you place under some charcoal for a few minutes. While inexpensive, they tend to have a short life span depending on how long you leave them to heat up the charcoal. Amazon.com : Char-Broil Electric Charcoal Starter : Patio, Lawn & Garden
  5. Chimney starter: This is a time-proven and inexpensive method. You can make your own, but they are affordable and available everywhere. As its name implies, it is a 6-inch single-wall tube with holes at the bottom to let air circulate. Add some charcoal on the top and crumpled newspaper at the bottom, and voila! Your charcoal is ready in a few minutes.
  6. Looftlighter: This is a relatively new innovation in the BBQ world. It works exceptionally well and lights up your charcoal in a couple of minutes or less. It is a series of encased electric elements with a blowing fan built into the handle. It superheats the air to 1200F, so the device does not have to come in contact with the charcoal. It comes corded or battery-operated. While somewhat expensive, they tend to last a long time. LOOFT LIGHTER I

How Long Will The BBQ Coals Be Ready?

Typically, it takes 10 to 30 minutes, depending on various factors. But a quick way to determine if your coals are ready is by covering them with fine white ash. 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.

Health-Related

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. BBQ food should not have long-lasting effects if done occasionally as a treat. Just like eating dessert, done in moderation, your body should be able to deal with it.

What are the dangers of eating BBQ food?

  • High temperatures of meat cooking have been linked to cancer in some cases (not just charcoal cooking).
  • Overeating meat (red meat in particular) has been linked to cancer and other diseases.
  • Smoke from charcoal can be carcinogenic if overeaten.
  • Eating processed meat in particular (hot dogs, sausages) is linked to cancer.

Do you see a pattern here?

  1. Too much of anything is not good for you.
  2. If you are worried about cancer or have cancer, you should limit your intake of meat and charcoal grilling.

How can you reduce the health risks associated with grilling?

  • Cut back on grilling red meat and processed meat.
  • Grill more vegetables.
  • Grill at lower temperatures and don’t char meat.
  • Marinate meat for at least 30 minutes (it reduces the formation of hydrocarbons).
  • Cut the fat off your meat.

If you think of grilling and smoking a bit like a dessert, it will typically be a treat you enjoy occasionally. But not necessarily with every meal.

Your-Burning-Questions-About-Charcoal-part-2-grilled-vegetables

Gardening:

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:

  1. To keep the “mix” sweet.
  2. To filter impurities.

Laboratory tests show that charcoal possesses a remarkable ability to:

  • Keep nutrients in the soil, increasing soil fertility.
  • Prevent decay and can endure in soil for thousands of years.
  • It is inert.
  • Allow the flow of air through the potting mix.
  • Retain moisture and help in good drainage.
  • Retains (adsorbs) excess nutrients (fertilizer) and releases them later when needed.
  • Helps to increase the soil pH.

Source: Effect of Charcoal on Certain Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties of Forest Soils

Your Burning Questions About Charcoal part 2 - orchid

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 came from briquettes rather than charcoal lumps (some unknown additives may have been introduced in the manufacturing process).
  • If you have lots of meat and fat drippings in the ashes (attracts pests and is not good for the soil).
  • Your soil is already alkaline.
  • If your plants love acidic soil (berries).

The best advice is to buy a soil pH meter, understand what type of plants you want to grow, and measure periodically.

Your Burning Questions About Charcoal part 2 - garden

Buying Advice

Where Can I Buy BBQ Charcoal?

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

 

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

Auburn, AL

Top Hat Chimney Sweeps
1280 Financial Ct.
Auburn, AL 36830

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Elk Grove, CA

Custom Fireside Shops
9097 Elk Grove Blvd.
Elk Grove, CA 95624

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Sacramento, CA

Custom Fireside Shops
5455 Auburn Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95841

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Durango, CO

Durango Outdoor Living
140 Rock Point Drive
Durango, CO 81301

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Durango, CO

Four Corner Stoves & Spas
3001 Main Avenue
Durango, CO 81301

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Grand Junction, CO

Stove Depot and Chimney Works
330 North Ave.
Grand Junction, CO 81501

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New London, CT

Family Hearth and Patio LLC
571 Broad Street
New London, CT 06320

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Ridgefield, CT

Yankee Doodle, Inc.
71 Ethan Allen Highway
Ridgefield, CT 06877

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Dover, DE

Byler's Stove Shoppe Inc.
1368b Rose Valley School Rd.
Dover, DE 19904

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Destin, FL

Doodlebuggers Service Network
36054 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, FL 32541

Bettendorf, IA

Fireplaces Plus, Inc.
1745 State Street
Bettendorf, IA 52722

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Post Falls, ID

Quality Stoves & Home Furnishings
569 N Syringa St
Post Falls, ID 83854

Rockford, IL

Advanced Chimney Systems, Inc.
3486 Lonergan Drive
Rockford, IL 61109

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Wauconda, IL

Grass Roots Energy, Inc.
28751 N Route 12
Wauconda, IL 60084

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Evansville, IN

Firemaster, Inc.
5300 E Morgan Avenue
Evansville, IN 47715

Jeffersonville, IN

Olde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales
915 Nachand Ln
Jeffersonville, IN 47130

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Overland Park, KS

Kansas City Fireplace Center
10470 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66212

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Erlanger, KY

TateBuilder's Supply, LLC
3511 Dixie Highway
Erlanger, KY 41018

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Littleton, MA

Woodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc.
60 White Street
Littleton, MA 01460

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Seekonk, MA

The Fireplace Showcase
775 Fall River Ave
Seekonk, MA 02771

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Sudbury, MA

Woodstove, Fireplace and Patio Shop, Inc.
348 Boston Post Road
Sudbury, MA 01776

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Duluth, MN

Duluth Stove & Fireplace
2431 W Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55806

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Minneapolis, MN

Woodland Stoves & Fireplaces
2901 Franklin Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN 55406

Oakdale, MN

Energy Savers of Minnesota
6298 Highway 36 Blvd N
Oakdale, MN 55128

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Rochester, MN

Brekke Fireplace Shoppe
1904 S. Broadway
Rochester, MN 55904

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Walker, MN

Wilkening Fireplace Company
9608 State 371 NW
Walker, MN 56484

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Fargo, ND

Home Heating, Plumbing & A/C Inc.
701 28th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103

Omaha, NE

Fireplace By Design
13913 R Plaza
Omaha, NE 68137

Epping, NH

The Stove Shoppe
285, Calef Highway Rte. 125
Epping, NH 03042

Windham, NH

The Stove Shoppe
25 Indian Rock Road
Windham, NH 03087

Hamilton, NJ

Bowden's Fireside - Hearth & Home
1731 Nottingham Way
Hamilton, NJ 08619

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Voorhees, NJ

Rettinger Fireplace Systems, Inc.
476 Centennial Blvd
Voorhees, NJ 08043

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St. Henry, OH

Buschur's Refrigeration, Inc.
541 N Eastern Avenue
St. Henry, OH 45883

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Media, PA

Chimney Cricket
101 State Road
Media, PA 19063

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Rapid City, SD

Hebron Brick Company
1543 Deadwood Ave
Rapid City, SD 57709

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Sioux Falls, SD

Hebron Brick Company
2211 W. 50th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105-6525

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Vermillion, SD

Kalin's Indoor Comfort Inc.
710 Cottage Avenue
Vermillion, SD 57069

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Manassas, VA

Winston's Chimney Service
11301 Industrial Road
Manassas, VA 20109

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Barre, VT

Chimney Sweep Fireplace Shop
1284 US Rte, 302 Ste 10
Barre, VT 05641-2317

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Bennington, VT

Friends of The Sun
126 Hicks Avenue
Bennington, VT 05201

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Manchester, VT

Friends of The Sun
159 Depot Street
Manchester, VT 05255

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Shelburne, VT

Chimney Sweep Fireplace Shop
3113 Shelburne Road
Shelburne, VT 05482

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White River Jnct, VT

Home Comfort of New England
1255 VA Cut Off Road
White River Jnct, VT 05001

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Burlington, WI

Burlington Fireplace & Heating LLC
857 Milwaukee Ave.
Burlington, WI 53105

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Madison, WI

Top Hat
5117 Verona Rd
Madison, WI 53711

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Morgantown, WV

Rustic By Design
709 Beechurst Ave. Suite 15
Morgantown, WV 26505

Laramie, WY

High Country Stoves & Fireplaces
860 N. 3rd Street
Laramie, WY 82072


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

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