Outdoor Grilling

[Guest Lindam]

Dumb question..... Please don't yell at me!

I have been reading about using charcoal, that some charcoal has gluten in it. How would/could that effect my food? If I cook it in a pan it doesn't touch it, when not using a pan it is on the grate but that is high enough from the charcoal. I am very confused about this. I have not gotten sick from it yet, and I really don't want to, but I also don't want to give up the charcoal.

Can someone please help?

Confused

Linda

[lovegrov]

Even if cooking in a pan you'll get fine residue on the food. Kingsford says, however, that charcoal burns at such a high heat the gluten is destroyed. I can't say whether this is true or not but even if some gets to the food it has to be minimal.

I solve this by using natural charcoal, which is nothing more than charred wood. It burns better and you don't get wheat starch, chemicals, floor sweepings, or whatever else it is they put in those briquettes. Natural charcoal can be found at some hardware stores, specialty kitchen or food shops, sometimes at Walmart and at Whole Foods.

richard

[Guest Lindam]

Thanks Richard, I'll give that a try. Do these stores mainly carry the natural charcoal all year long? Or should I stock up now?

Thanks again,

Linda

[plantime]

Do you have some brand names for us? If I go into the store and ask for natural charcoal, will they look at me like I just escaped from the sanitarium? Will they get out the overripe produce just in case I turn out to be a comedienne? Does it burn like Kingsford? Or will I have to listen to my husband rant and rave while he's pouring a can of lighter fluid on it!

[lovegrov]

Go to this page for more than you want to know about natural or lump charcoal.

You can click on links to see brands. I've used Big Green Egg, the Whole Foods brand and another.

Open Original Shared Link

Walmart is more likely to carry lump charcoal during the spring and winter but my local hardware store always has it. "Regular" grocery stores might or might not have it. Kroger here doesn't have it.

DON'T SQUIRT LIGHTER FLUID ON CHARCOAL OF ANY KIND!!! Instead, buy a charcoal chimney. They don't cost much (mine was less than $10) and you avoid the lighter fluid taste and smell. I think lump charcoal burns more intensely and lasts longer than briquettes and it lights fine in the chimney.

richard.