BBQ fuel??

[MATTMOSS]

Im thinking of havin a bbq today and wondered if i could use kindling/small logs instead of charcoal?

Has anyone used/ done this?

I would let it burned down to hot ashes before i started cooking.

Its not going to poison anyone is it? or possibly melt the bbq!

[finky]

just let the flames go down as you would with lump-wood or charcoal...i used some eucalyptus once and it was mega it gave everything a minty flavour

[born2trot]

Of course you can ! Thats the way i do it and just chuck a few charcoal coals on top but you dont need to do that . No need to waste bags of charcoal when theres nice clean dry wood there . It'll be so hot you can start cooking with some flames still there which i think gives it a good bbq taste .

[T14EES T14UNK]

I've done it a few times. It's really smokey to start with and then when it's calmed down a bit you only have a small window to cook before it burns out and really enough heat. But really good if you can time it right.

I'm tempted now...

[Joy Yeomans]

thats how we have a bbq, we use the softwood offcuts from the machines, most are just kindling rejects and put on a few larger logs, make sure it burns up well and when flames are died down much like a normal bbq then its hot enough to cook on, as said load up once or twice and cook quick, then you will have to top up again for another cook up

 

joy

[MATTMOSS]

Cheers guys! I feel excited now it must be my pyromaniac side, going to go and chop some wood

[Beardie]

I'd go with charcoal. It burns hotter, and because the production process removes the volatiles from the wood, it doesn't taint the food. The poster who used eucalyptus got lucky. By using wood, you are basically trying to make the charcoal yourself, before you can even get cooking.

 

Then, as has been mentioned, there is only a short window of opportunity for cooking before the fire dies too much. If using charcoal, just chuck some more on and keep cooking. If using wood, remove the food and repeat the initial procedure to get a usable fire again. Put the food on too soon, and be prepared for it to be covered in soot.

 

So by all means try it...

[HCR]

Woodsmoke is full of carcinogens....but then loads of people use wood for barbecues on a regular basis and live to perfectly decent ages.

 

Unless you cook every single meal that way I somehoe doubt you'll run into problems.

[MATTMOSS]

Great!! now after the event your telling me its harmful

 

Not to worry -it went fine, flame grilled, soot covered, burnt crisp, raw in middle washed down with cold beer! Its what barbies are about!

At least I saved five quid on charcoal.

 

Just waiting for eyebrows and eyelashes to grow back now!