Making Your Grill Greener

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/grilling-annies-green-makeover.html

posted by Annie B. Bond Jul 4, 2008 10:45 am

filed under: Food & Recipes, Eating for Health, charcoal, grill, lighter fluid

58 comments

By Annie B. Bond

Charcoal grilling is still the most popular method of outdoor cooking, except in the United States where gas grills are number one. What tastes best, food cooked on charcoal or gas? There is quite a raging debate. But what is the greenest method of grilling?Gas grills, most charcoal, and lighter fluid, are made with petroleum, a non-renewable resource that is neurotoxic and causes toxic air pollution. You can avoid petroleum completely if you use a metal charcoal chimney with wood brickets.With charcoal metal chimneys you fill the cylinder with charcoal, scrunch newspaper under the charcoal in the special housing for this purpose, and then light the newspaper to heat up the coals. Once the coals are red hot you turn over the cylinder and pour the coals into the bed of the grill.You can buy a charcoal chimney for under $20 at most hardware stores, and reuse it for years. All you need to light the charcoal are some old newspapers and matches.Of course, a solar cooker is more eco-friendly than any sort of grilling or electricity-based cooking. Even grilling with wood charcoals causes pollution.Last but certainly not least, choose all organic food for grilling.

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58 comments add your comment

Debbie S W. says
Sep 21, 2009 8:12 AM

Of course, it would only work on sunny days and I like to grill even in the rain. I like to use wood charcoal or dried wood and the food tastes great.

send green star

Debbie S W. says
Sep 21, 2009 8:09 AM

Tonya, check this one out: http://gizmodo.com/250841/solar-grill-cooks-burgers-with-the-sun

I haven't tried a solar grill yet, either, but this does look interesting.

send green star

Tonya B. says
Sep 15, 2009 6:56 AM

I use gas.I haven't seen any solar grills.If you know of a website where you can get them please let me know.

send green star

Richelle Kabat says
Sep 11, 2009 7:19 AM

Thanks for the useful information

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Philip A. says
Sep 9, 2009 8:45 AM

Excellent information. Thank you very much.

send green star

Perla A. says
Sep 8, 2009 9:18 PM

Thank you for the useful information!

send green star

Kimberly Lewis says
Sep 8, 2009 7:46 PM

Thanks!

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Rebecca Delage says
Sep 8, 2009 4:42 PM

I use a gas grill.....:)

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Beth Humann says
Sep 8, 2009 2:16 PM

What about hibachis..I like cooking on them and do not believe you can put a chimney on them. Please let me know...when I use it I use dried wood chips and crunched paper..works great.

send green star

Rosemary R. says
Sep 8, 2009 2:12 PM

Thanks Annie this is really informative ... our barb'bque uses propane... what do you think? love the recipes here ... just everything as always :-)

send green star

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