Charcoal lighter fluid
Encyclopedia
Charcoal lighter fluid is a volatile mixture of petroleum distillates, like butane
, sold to accelerate the ignition of charcoal
in a barbecue
grill. It can be used both with lump charcoal and briquettes. Lighter-fluid infused briquettes, such as Kingsford® Match Light® instant charcoal briquets, that eliminate the need for separate application of lighter fluid are available. The use of lighter fluid is somewhat controversial as the substance is combustible, harmful or fatal if swallowed, and may impart an unpleasant flavor to food cooked upon fires lit with it. A traditional alternative to using lighter fluid is a chimney starter
.
The sale of petroleum-based charcoal lighter fluid is regulated in some jurisdictions due to its potential to cause photochemical smog through evaporation of its volatile organic compounds. The South Coast Air Quality Management Board requires that all charcoal lighter fluids sold in its jurisdiction (essentially Southern California) meet the air quality standards set forth in District Rule 1174. Common substitutes are chimney
and electric fire starters.
Butane
Butane is a gas with the formula C4H10 that is an alkane with four carbon atoms. The term may refer to any of two structural isomers, or to a mixture of them: in the IUPAC nomenclature, however, butane refers only to the unbranched n-butane isomer; the other one being called "methylpropane" or...
, sold to accelerate the ignition of charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen...
in a barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
grill. It can be used both with lump charcoal and briquettes. Lighter-fluid infused briquettes, such as Kingsford® Match Light® instant charcoal briquets, that eliminate the need for separate application of lighter fluid are available. The use of lighter fluid is somewhat controversial as the substance is combustible, harmful or fatal if swallowed, and may impart an unpleasant flavor to food cooked upon fires lit with it. A traditional alternative to using lighter fluid is a chimney starter
Chimney starter
A chimney starter, also called a charcoal chimney, is a device that is used to set either lump charcoal or charcoal briquettes alight. It is usually a steel cylinder about 8" in diameter and about 12 to 18 inches tall...
.
The sale of petroleum-based charcoal lighter fluid is regulated in some jurisdictions due to its potential to cause photochemical smog through evaporation of its volatile organic compounds. The South Coast Air Quality Management Board requires that all charcoal lighter fluids sold in its jurisdiction (essentially Southern California) meet the air quality standards set forth in District Rule 1174. Common substitutes are chimney
Chimney starter
A chimney starter, also called a charcoal chimney, is a device that is used to set either lump charcoal or charcoal briquettes alight. It is usually a steel cylinder about 8" in diameter and about 12 to 18 inches tall...
and electric fire starters.