When Are Charcoal Briquets Too Old to Use?

Types

• Charcoal briquettes come in two types – with and without lighter fluid. Lighter fluid added to the briquettes makes lighting the charcoal easier, but some can discern a slight petroleum taste in their food when using lighter fluid-infused charcoal briquettes. Natural charcoal briquettes do not contain lighter fluid and use all natural binding ingredients. Brands differ in how easily they light and burn. Try several to find the brand name of briquettes you prefer to cook with the most.

Expired Briquettes

• When briquettes are past their prime, they will not readily light. This happens because the lighter fluid in them has evaporated or the briquettes absorbed moisture from the atmosphere. Charcoal is porous and easily absorbs any moisture from the area. Like wet wood, wet briquettes will not light. If your container of charcoal briquettes has gotten wet or the briquettes will not readily light, they might be past their prime.

Storage

• Storing charcoal briquettes properly ensures they will last indefinitely. Keep the briquettes in an air-tight container. Set the container in a cool, dry place. This prevents exposing the briquettes to excess moisture in the air. Unsealed briquettes are also prone to evaporation of the lighter fluid in them.

Saving Briquettes

• If you notice dampness in your briquettes, you can dry them out in the sun. Spread out the charcoal briquettes on baking sheets and place in full sun on a dry day for one to two days or until the briquettes have dried out. If the lighter fluid has evaporated, add a squirt of lighter fluid to the charcoals before lighting them, and let the briquettes burn for at least 30 minutes before using them for cooking.