What is the difference between charcoal briquettes and lump charcoal?]
Editor–A summary of several posts– Many List members have a strong preference for lump charcoal over conventional charcoal briquettes. Briquettes are produced by crushing charcoal and mixing in additives, such as nitrates (to make them burn better), and clays and starches (as binders to allow pressing into the traditional shape). Some List members say the additives tend to impart their own undesirable flavors to meats smoked for long periods of time, as all good barbecue must be prepared. A Kingsford Company spokeswoman recently stated: “Briquettes are preferred by Americans for their uniform size and stable heat.” She pooh-poohs concerns about their ingredients, which include: powdered charcoal, anthracite coal for long burning, limestone to create white ash, starch as binders, and sawdust and sodium nitrate for quick lighting. “The starch is perfectly natural and the coal is high-quality coal”. Pure charcoal (lump) can usually be found with diligent searching (some supermarkets, Wa
