Tips on the variability of BBQ charcoal characteristics to assist consumers in product choice

Variability on the energy properties of charcoal and charcoal briquettes for barbecue

“…The average value of the group is 17.6%. High values of ash in briquettes, higher than 20%, have also been found in other papers [ 22 , 23 ]. The presence of such a high value is due to the use of binding agents added to this product, for example corn starch or clay, needed to improve the compaction of the briquette and that may represent up to 5.0% of the material [ 4 , 34 , 38 ].…”

“…A greater value of moisture content in the briquettes, more than 9.0%, was also observed by Dias Júnior et al. [ 22 ]. In the briquettes samples of Huang et al.…”

“…Also, in Dias Júnior et al. [ 22 ] nonhomogeneous values were observed, ranging between 15.0% and 35.0% in charcoal and between 10.0% and 20.0% in charcoal briquettes. In the samples of Huang et al.…”

“…Dias Júnior et al. [ 22 ] found ash values ranging between 0.5% and 2.5%. Similar values were found by Kajina et al.…”

“…Even lower values were determined by Dias Júnior et. al [ 22 ] (36.6–43.3%). A barbecue charcoal to be considered of good quality it should be characterized by high values of fixed carbon content, greater than 75% [ 42 ].…”