Science Forums 2

[Michaelangelica]

Good site with some good basic facts about charcoal for cooking
BBQ Charcoal FAQ by Bill Wight, www.bbqdan.com

Q: What is charcoal?

A: a dictionary or encyclopedia definition goes like this: Charcoal is a substance obtained by partial burning or destructive distillation of organic material. It is largely pure carbon.
The most common variety, wood charcoal, was formerly prepared by piling wood into stacks, covering it with earth or turf, and setting it on fire.
In this process volatile compounds in the wood pass off as vapors into the air, some of the carbon is consumed as fuel and the rest of the carbon is converted into charcoal.
Charcoal, being almost pure carbon, yields a larger amount of heat in proportion to its volume than is obtained from a corresponding quantity of wood; as a fuel it has the further advantage of being smokeless.

Q: So is barbecuing and grilling with charcoal healthier than using wood?

A: Yes. It is healthier for us humans to cook our meat and vegetables over a charcoal fire than over one of wood. However, the risk of getting cancer or lung disease from barbecuing and grilling over wood is quite low, orders of magnitude lower than smoking cigarettes or living in the Los Angeles California air basin.
. . .
We as consumers have to take it on faith that a company who makes charcoal from scraps of hardwood lumber (from furniture or flooring) has taken precautions to use wood that is free from any contaminates or additives