If you've been reading my site for a while, you may have noticed that I don't like lighter fluids. I believe there are better ways to light charcoal. The main reason that I don't like lighter fluids is that they produce a noxious smoke and, if it isn't burned off completely; a bad taste. The reason for this is that most lighter fluids are made from petroleum products like kerosene. Is this really something you want flavoring your food? Not me. In addition, these lighter fluids are bad for the environment, if you concerned about that sort of thing.
Of course, there are alternatives like the Smarter Starter Fluid made from alcohol and oil byproducts of agricultural processes (like peanut oil). This means that it burns cleaner, contains no toxic ingredients, and doesn't leave a hydrocarbon coating on foods. If you prefer lighter fluid, but want to avoid the kerosene, then give this one a try. Smarter Lighter Fluid is available at a number of locations including Whole Foods, (you can find other locations on their website).
The one downside is that this lighter fluid costs about three times of what Kingsford charges.
Photo: Smarter Lighter Fluid, LLC.
Comments
If you have some newspaper and a chimney charcoal starter you won’t need any type of fluid OR special starting charcoal. I get a chimney full of hardwood lump going with two pieces of the Sunday paper that uses soy ink. GO GREEN!!
I have three chimney starters just inn case.
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