Discover the history of charcoal and the BBQ, as we explore the origins of charcoal, the popularization of the BBQ and the development of the BBQ.
The origins of the BBQ
Barbecuing origins are hard to pinpoint with certain evidence pointing towards South America tribes slow cooking meat over pits roughly 8000 years ago with the word “Barbecue” being derived from the Spanish word “barbacoa”.
The Arawak people of the South America used “barbacoa” (wooden structures) to cook cuts of meats and fish over big fire pits. Spanish explorers discovered the Arawak people using these techniques and adopted them, helping to spread these cooking methods into North America.
Traditional methods often featured a pit-style cooking technique, often used within Southern USA, usually to slow-cook hogs however other cuts of meat were used depending on what was available to the people locally.
The popularization of the BBQ
North America is where the BBQ first became popular with it becoming a social activity in the late 17th century in Southern America. Political events and church gatherings were often reasons for a barbecue with large community gatherings often being associated with having a BBQ.
Cities such as Memphis, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia in North America were among the locations that developed the tradition of outdoor cooking and barbecuing with each location adding different aspects. This is due to the differing cultures, cooking methods and access to ingredients such as spices and different cuts of meat. Fast forward to the 20th Century and barbecue grills are a backyard favorite with modern methods differing greatly from the colonial times of European explorers.
Portable charcoal grills are now a staple among many homes with the UK hosting 65 million barbecues in 2023, with 11 million being held over the extended early May bank holiday to celebrate the King’s coronation. Barbecuing trends across 2023 also showed that 72% of people preferred to use a charcoal BBQ over a gas BBQ.
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The Development of Charcoal used in barbecuing
Edward Kingsford helped to invent charcoal briquettes with a chemist named Orin Stafford, who invented pillow-shaped lumps of fuel from sawdust, bound together with cornstarch and tar. Kingsford utilized the large amount of wood scraps that were being discarded within the Fords Model T production lines to create a charcoal manufacturing facility next to the assembly line and processed and sold charcoal under the name of Ford within the Ford dealerships. Modern charcoal briquettes are very effective for daily barbecuing and are available within our online store.
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Lump charcoal (Lumpwood) is another popular product used within the barbecuing industry. Lumpwood is a natural form of hardwood charcoal, typically produced by carbonizing (burning) wood in a low-oxygen environment. Lump Charcoal consists of irregularly shaped pieces, allowing more airflow during burning. Its quick ignition and high temperatures make it a favorite among grilling enthusiasts seeking to achieve that authentic smoky flavor in their barbecue. Lumpwood charcoal is available for purchase from our online store.
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The Development of the BBQ Grill
George Stephen, a welder for Weber Brothers Metal Works, helped to create the hemispherical grill design. Weber Brothers Metal Works primarily welded steel spheres together to create metal buoys. Stephen was tired of ash blowing onto his food so took the lower half of a buoy and attached 3 steel legs to create the first example of the portable grill that we know of today and was also the start of the now infamous Weber Grills.
Benefits of charcoal in barbecuing
A charcoal BBQ have an array of benefits over other barbecuing techniques such as a portable gas grill.
Higher Temperatures
Higher temperatures are produced as there is no limit to temperature as there would be on a gas grill meaning you can be more experimental with temperatures and find a cooking style that works for you.
Slow Cooking Temperatures
Charcoal Barbecues are great for slow cooking meat at a low temperature and throwing off a gentle heat, with it being easier to maintain these temperatures using charcoal in cooking.
Versatile Cooking Options
Charcoal grills are more versatile and can use both indirect heat and direct heat through infrared grill heat providing users with different options depending on what type of heat source they require and what want to cook.
More Flavor
The art of charcoal grilling can provide more flavor, with the direct heat turning drippings from the food into smokey flavors that infuse back into the meat and vegetables you cook. The infrared heat that is produced from the direct heat of charcoal only heats the food directly above and doesn’t dry out the air around the cuts of meat, resulting in the moisture barrier of the meats being disturbed and retaining roughly 35% more moisture than is possible with a gas grill.
Cheaper
High-quality charcoal is cheap in comparison to the gas fuels used in cooking and is easily accessible via our online store meaning it is far more suitable for daily use. The upfront cost of buying a charcoal grill is also significantly cheaper than buying a gas grill.
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