Charcoal Briquettes Safety Info #charcoal #toxic #briquettes #charcoalgrill #smokedmeat

Update; I've added the Safety Data Sheet for FOGO briquettes, after subscribers requests. - A buddy back home alerted me to the use of Borax in Kingsford briquettes, stating that some of his friends weren't feeling too well after his bar-b-ques. He switched to lump charcoal and hasn't had any complaints, since. That piqued my interest, so I did a little research, and this is what I found.

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[edusszfx]

Thanks for the info! Crazy that Kingsford is some of the easiest charcoal to find, and have all these things in it. Time to find a new one!

[user]

Thanks Eric. I just dumped Kingsford 1 month ago and switched to B&B charcoal. And I just bought a box of Borax to kill off some ants. Never knew it was in the damn charcoal.
I'm shocked that with all the comparison videos about charcoal that the testers never thought to pull mfr safety data sheets.
Chuck from the Western Desert of Arizona.

[brandoncassidy]

This should be seen by everyone. I ONLY use lump with zero crap. Thanks brother!

[WhatWeDoChannel]

Thanks for this! I prefer to use briquettes on my Weber kettle. I find briquettes burn longer, so if I’m doing a longer cook I can add briquettes once an hour but lump needs to be added every 40 minutes. I don’t want to use poison briquettes though! My first choice for briquettes is the Leaf brand from Quebec, their lump is made from sugar maple and some white birch, they use 5% cornstarch as a binder. If you guys in the States can source Leaf I humbly recommend it, it’s pure and good (the Great white North eh, but I don’t think they distribute in the States)! They also have lump. If the stores run out of Leaf I will gladly use Weber briquettes, which I understand are all hardwood with a cornstarch binder. All my bbq is hot and fast, sorry not sorry 😇.

[doctrnic]

Borax and limestone dont burn and probably more contribute to the ash build up. Its hazardous if inhaled meaning fine dust. I think the bigger hazard is cooking with charcoal altogether, going back to the Hank Hill argument of choosing a clean burning fuel. The binders used are burned off during initial start up which is why you wait for smoke to turn from grey to clear before grilling.

[williamdorsey]

I grilled for first time two years ago, mostly everyone I know uses Kingsford so that's what I used until I tried B and B from Ace Hardware also about two years ago. I personally like B and B better and it seems to enhance the flavor of what you are grilling. Thanks for the info.

[MrMegaFredZeppelin]

That is some great information🤯I used to buy 10 twin packs of Kingsford at Home Depot on 4th of July sales, I even have a few videos asking if I got enough😁I only use Royal Oak now😃Thank you for this👍🏻Now I'm glad I only use Royal Oak now😁ROCK

[latigomorgan]

I live in a small town, and for the longest time, you either bought Kingsford briquets or lump that was mostly flakes. I envy the lump I see folks on Youtube dumping out of their bags. I'd love to get more than a few big chunks, and the rest crushed.

For Dutch oven cooking, the Kingsford was the logical choice, but I've noticed it doesn't burn as long or as consistently as it used to. The store recently started carrying B&B briquets, as well and you have to get them as soon as they come in stock, because they sell out right away. The B&B seems to give a more consistent, even burn. I won't be going back to Kingsford unless they make some changes.

[omarazam]

Thank you so much . I've used Kingsford and it just doesn't smell like wood to me and I'm glad that you have proven all the junk that's in these things in a scientific way

[LeonardCooperman]

I have been using it for years. I probably took a bigger risk driving to the store than this having an effect on me. Seems like everything has something in it that’s detrimental to our health anymore..sigh..

[michaelmixon]

I worry about the possible use of pressure treated wood scraps being used in making charcoal briquettes.

[scottburton]

Very interesting my friend. I pretty much use B&B Oak or Hickory lump. Thanks for sharing

[kevinhurt]

Have used my last Kingsford bag. Didn't realize that. Will stick to Royal Oak, B&B, and Blues Hog. Thanks.

[boomerman]

Done with kingsford.... Ugh, thanks for shining some light on this stuff!!!

[DoubleDEnt]

Thanks for the info. I'm no longer using Kingsford.

[patshozo]

Thanks so much! I wondered about how briquettes are manufactured. Always been using lump charcoal for 40 years. Now that I just got the gravity fed Chargrill 980 - it says briquettes are favored for fast high heat like grilling and to use lump for low and slow smoking...

[scottintexas]

Good info. Perhaps include links to the MSDS for each in the notes.

[chefkevinashton]

Hi from England. I always suspected that some of the Barbecue briquettes have toxic chemicals and will check out the labels more carefully. In the meantime I tend to use a mixture of briquettes and lumpwood. The lumpwood is easier to light but the briquettes burner longer which can be helpful when trying to video.

[correctionalofficerlockdo]

Thanks brother grillman Keller. I am in immediate need to transition to something other than charcoal. I have been using Kingsford and can't hold my barbecue down! I constantly have to sprint to the head and flush the toilet if you know what I mean! I make sure to have plenty of toilet paper now that I have been with Kingsford diarrhea! I am thinking of switching to wood. Any suggestions? Please help!

[victorfebo]

Thank you! I will finish using the last couple of bags that I still have of Kings Ford and then switch to lump charcoal.