Who sells charcoal?

Search this thread

Last Updated:
May 19th, 2020 5:00 pm

Tags:

None

SCORE
-4
1
5

Reply to ThreadReply

Search this thread

May 16th, 2020 10:34 pm

Messerschmitt [OP]: Banned; Jul 17, 2008; 11042 posts; 3836 upvotes

May 16th, 2020 10:34 pm

Who sells charcoal?

What stores sell charcoil?

Is running a BBQ on propane is cheaper than charcoil? Is the steak better on charcoil vs propane?

Last edited by Messerschmitt on May 16th, 2020 10:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Title edit

21 replies

May 16th, 2020 10:40 pm

bst: Deal Addict; Jul 2, 2006; 1409 posts; 575 upvotes; Toronto

May 16th, 2020 10:40 pm

You mean charcoal? Pretty much any hardware stores or groceries stores will have them.

May 16th, 2020 10:43 pm

PointsHubby: Deal Expert; Feb 7, 2017; 15234 posts; 12402 upvotes; Eastern Ontario

May 16th, 2020 10:43 pm

Charcoal = Big Box Stores
(Hardware / DIY - Walmart - Super Groceries etc )

Got my first propane BBQ Grill in the early 1980s
NEVER would I go back to charcoal
EVERYTHING about propane is better
Including the costs, time it takes to cook, control over heat, taste of the food etc

These days I buy my propane at Costco
Cheapest place in Canada
Costs about $ 10 for a fill up vs $ 20 - $ 35 elsewhere

May 17th, 2020 12:21 am

Dustler6: Deal Addict; Dec 14, 2005; 1443 posts; 520 upvotes

May 17th, 2020 12:21 am

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Charcoal = Big Box Stores
(Hardware / DIY - Walmart - Super Groceries etc )

Got my first propane BBQ Grill in the early 1980s
NEVER would I go back to charcoal
EVERYTHING about propane is better
Including the costs, time it takes to cook, control over heat, taste of the food etc

These days I buy my propane at Costco
Cheapest place in Canada
Costs about $ 10 for a fill up vs $ 20 - $ 35 elsewhere

IMO Charcoal cooking taste way better than propane. But I agree with every other point.

I have both charcoal grill and propane. I typically use propane but when I have more time I would use charcoal. Charcoal takes too long to get it ready for cooking.

+5

May 17th, 2020 12:51 am

WMPCOT: Deal Addict; Apr 26, 2013; 2587 posts; 1865 upvotes; Toronto

May 17th, 2020 12:51 am

I prefer lump charcoal, tastes so much better than other options, and it's available most places including Costco.

+2

May 17th, 2020 8:04 am

jackrabbit000: Deal Fanatic; Dec 28, 2007; 7957 posts; 4567 upvotes; Alberta

May 17th, 2020 8:04 am

Charcoal for the flavor hands down. Propane over natural gas for me because I don't want my BBQ tethered to the house. And a gas line on the deck that I can trip over when I have to move the bbq around because of the wind. Gas grill for convienence and controlled cooking temps. As mentioned, propane is cheap at Costco and mine only charges for the amount required to fill the tank. It's not a flat rate charge.

+1

May 17th, 2020 1:07 pm

thriftshopper: Deal Fanatic; Jul 7, 2017; 5406 posts; 2384 upvotes; SW corner of the cou…

May 17th, 2020 1:07 pm

Charcoal is much better, but you have to wait until the fire's out and it's just heat by embers. The heat is radiated while heat from gas is usually convected (my grill has a layer of lava rocks which you are supposed to heat until they radiate heat, but that consumes a lot of gas).

There's charcoal (wood burnt in the absence of oxygen) and BBQ briquettes which are bits of charcoal with other additives and binders. Both are probably carcinogenic (not that I wouldn't eat charcoal-cooked food) but briquettes probably have more even-worse-for-you inorganic stuff.

https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen ... -binchotan

Cream rises to the top. So does scum.

May 17th, 2020 1:57 pm

jdmfishingonly: Deal Addict; Oct 13, 2008; 4399 posts; 1496 upvotes

May 17th, 2020 1:57 pm

Food cooked on a Charcoal BBQ tastes WAY WAY WAY BETTER!

But I use a propane BBQ ... too lazy to start up the charcoal in my backyard and then worry about putting it out. Only use charcoal with firewood when camping.

Will be changing over to a natural gas BBQ later this summer once I can trust having someone come inside to do the re-locating of my gas line in the basement.

16'x11' Living Room 11' Cathedral Ceiling. Hisense 65Q8G. Denon AVR-S740H. Jamo Classic 10 280W Towers - FR+FL. Polk Audio S35 - Center. Klipsch R51M - RR+RL & R14M - Dolby FHR+FHL. Polk Audio HTS10 Subwoofer x2. Unlocked Android Boxes from Taiwan x2.

May 17th, 2020 4:38 pm

plymouthhater: Deal Fanatic; Mar 10, 2004; 6450 posts; 2844 upvotes

May 17th, 2020 4:38 pm

Food cooked over lump charcoal tastes much better.
A Kamado or Weber Kettle BBQ are best for charcoal cooking.
I use a propane roofer's torch to light my charcoal - it's hot and ready to cook in less than 10 minutes (not much longer than a gas BBQ).

Costco Basque lump charcoal (green and white bag) is good value.
The best charcoal I have used is Kamado Joe Big Block charcoal from Lowes (they had a buy 2 get 1 free sale last year) - it's pricey at $30 a bag.

A great charcoal review site:
http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumpindexpage.htm?bag

May 18th, 2020 9:38 am

raymondly: Deal Addict; Feb 9, 2007; 2668 posts; 616 upvotes; Whitby

May 18th, 2020 9:38 am

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Charcoal = Big Box Stores
(Hardware / DIY - Walmart - Super Groceries etc )

Got my first propane BBQ Grill in the early 1980s
NEVER would I go back to charcoal
EVERYTHING about propane is better
Including the costs, time it takes to cook, control over heat, taste of the food etc

These days I buy my propane at Costco
Cheapest place in Canada
Costs about $ 10 for a fill up vs $ 20 - $ 35 elsewhere

Your identity has been revealed!

I use charcoal almost exclusively. Costco is where I get mine from.

It's pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove

+2

May 18th, 2020 9:53 am

PointsHubby: Deal Expert; Feb 7, 2017; 15234 posts; 12402 upvotes; Eastern Ontario

May 18th, 2020 9:53 am

raymondly wrote: ↑ Your identity has been revealed!

I use charcoal almost exclusively. Costco is where I get mine from.

Lol, thanks for the chuckle
(Humour has been greatly lacking here on RFD since Covid)

Forgot about Hank Hill ... decent guy
Got to wonder what Hank would think about the times we live in now

+1

May 18th, 2020 1:42 pm

at1212b: Deal Guru; Mar 31, 2008; 11577 posts; 2105 upvotes; Toronto

May 18th, 2020 1:42 pm

About the time when stores locked down, the ones that were open didn't carry them. Supermarkets and Walmarts is only seasonal. Home Depot and Canadian Tire is year round. I did Canadian tire and it was a pain as their pick up system was messed up.

They're red colour briquettes are the cheapest I find. No chemical taste or feel at all.

May 18th, 2020 11:05 pm

LembergMX: Deal Addict; Sep 9, 2007; 1972 posts; 114 upvotes; Toronto

May 18th, 2020 11:05 pm

My steaks only go on propane BBQ. All smoking and kebabs only using Weber briquettes on a Weber Kettle.

May 19th, 2020 1:08 am

redflagjj: Newbie; Sep 12, 2013; 72 posts; 43 upvotes; Markham

May 19th, 2020 1:08 am

How do u guys clean your grill grates?

Just got a weber with enamel cast iron grates

Stainless steel brush will leave wires and is dangerous (have a kid dont want to risk)

Cedar wood doesnt clean that well

Stone leaves a mess will also leave stuff on the grates

Tinfoil doesnt clean that well

Can someone help? Dont know what to do

Thanks!

May 19th, 2020 1:18 am

blexann: Deal Fanatic; Mar 10, 2005; 9226 posts; 2996 upvotes

May 19th, 2020 1:18 am

redflagjj wrote: ↑ How do u guys clean your grill grates?

Just got a weber with enamel cast iron grates

Stainless steel brush will leave wires and is dangerous (have a kid dont want to risk)

Cedar wood doesnt clean that well

Stone leaves a mess will also leave stuff on the grates

Tinfoil doesnt clean that well

Can someone help? Dont know what to do

Thanks!

Clean them after each use with Cedar and finish with a damp cloth. All done while the grill is still warm.

Discomfort is your friend

May 19th, 2020 2:53 am

redflagjj: Newbie; Sep 12, 2013; 72 posts; 43 upvotes; Markham

May 19th, 2020 2:53 am

blexann wrote: ↑ Clean them after each use with Cedar and finish with a damp cloth. All done while the grill is still warm.

Thank you so much!

Should i use dishsoap with the damp cloth? Or just plain water?

May 19th, 2020 7:22 am

PointsHubby: Deal Expert; Feb 7, 2017; 15234 posts; 12402 upvotes; Eastern Ontario

May 19th, 2020 7:22 am

blexann wrote: ↑ Clean them after each use with Cedar and finish with a damp cloth. All done while the grill is still warm.

This

We gave up on the wire brush a few years ago ...
when a strand / needle showed up in SO’s steak
These things are truly dangerous
Can see where people have been seriously injured / died

We now use a wooden scraper
Once you get the hang of it
It works very well

Also of note ... there’s another RFD thread going on annual deep cleaning too
Worth a look
bbq-cleaning-found-great-inexpensive-cleaner-2376418/

+2

May 19th, 2020 1:15 pm

marksmithy69: Sr. Member; Dec 25, 2006; 557 posts; 433 upvotes; Ottawa

May 19th, 2020 1:15 pm

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ This

We gave up on the wire brush a few years ago ...
when a strand / needle showed up in SO’s steak
These things are truly dangerous
Can see where people have been seriously injured / died

We now use a wooden scraper
Once you get the hang of it
It works very well

Also of note ... there’s another RFD thread going on annual deep cleaning too
Worth a look
bbq-cleaning-found-great-inexpensive-cleaner-2376418/

I use this brush to clean my grates (it's fantastic), and then I follow with the wooden scraper. I have never found a steel bristle, but I follow with the wood just in case.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00TPA ... UTF8&psc=1

May 19th, 2020 1:17 pm

blexann: Deal Fanatic; Mar 10, 2005; 9226 posts; 2996 upvotes

May 19th, 2020 1:17 pm

marksmithy69 wrote: ↑ I use this brush to clean my grates (it's fantastic), and then I follow with the wooden scraper. I have never found a steel bristle, but I follow with the wood just in case.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00TPA ... UTF8&psc=1

I wouldn't chance it. Wasn't even aware they were still selling these

Discomfort is your friend

May 19th, 2020 2:55 pm

gr8dlr: Deal Guru; Sep 1, 2005; 11751 posts; 6676 upvotes; Markham

May 19th, 2020 2:55 pm

blexann wrote: ↑ I wouldn't chance it. Wasn't even aware they were still selling these

I think the brush that is problematic is the plastic handled ones with wire bristles. If you use those on a hot grill the plastic can melt a bit and release the bristles. I use the Triangle grill brush to clean stuff and then wipe it down with a rag to get black burnt grease off and then oil grates with greased paper towel - the rag and paper towel will knock off anything if anything ever got released.

https://www.lowes.ca/product/bbq-brushe ... lsrc=aw.ds

Considering the number of times ppl grill, the probability of a wire bristle coming off and it getting into your food is extremely low risk IMO. You cannot eliminate all risks, so I don't believe fearing a wire brush is justified. Like anything there's some caution that must be exercised.

We're all bozos on the bus until we find a way to express ourselves...

Failure is always an option...just not the preferred one!

+1

Reply to Thread

Top