
Grilling and the summer season go hand-in-hand. So it's only natural that, once Memorial Day arrives, you break out the grill and the coals and the burgers (or, if you're me, the latter is of the faux variety).
But what if you're not too keen on that lighter fluid/coal taste on your food, and you don't want to invest in a gas grill? No problem - get yourself a Baja BBQ Firepack from Mike and Maaike. It's a great eco alternative to your typical grills, (46,200 tons of lighter fluid are sold each year, and they emit 14,500 tons of VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, which can deplete the ozone layer and are generally unhealthy for our lungs).
So, how does the Baja BBQ work? Simple: Light the chemical-free, 100% recycled and biodegradable paper pulp container that contains 2 pounds of charcoal. It burns down on its own and after 15-20 minutes, you'll have a pile of charcoal that will perfectly grill your meat, veggies, or dessert without any of the added chemicals or gross lighter fluid taste.
via [joshspear]

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6-01-2008 @6:09PM Big John said... Chimney starter works for me. I tried lighter fluid this year because I moved into an apartment for the first time and couldn't afford a starter. I made one attempt at that and instantly switched back to a chimney starter. I just use old newspaper that I've already read.
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6-01-2008 @8:01PM jrsygir1 said... as far as i can tell this isnt actually for sale
they are just into designing things....and some of their designs are pretty cool. like where to put the spent nuclear fuel and waste (a few hundred feet from the white house)
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6-01-2008 @6:09PM Berkana said... You should know better than to say "no chemicals"; perhaps you mean "no synthetic chemicals" or "no petroleum chemicals". If it contains charcoal, it contains carbon chains, a chemical. If it uses paper, it contains cellulose, a chemical. Our air consists of oxygen and nitrogen and other gases, all chemicals. "No chemicals" is a rather silly label that perpetuates ignorance. Please don't be part of the problem.
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6-01-2008 @6:09PM G-Man said... I'm with Big John on this one. Why waste your money on a one use product, when you can use a chimney and some newspaper (most newspapers are made partial from recycled paper and soy based inks). The chimney takes about the same amount of time as the product mention; but with a chimney you can actually choose the type of charcoal you use (real hardwood chucks or charcoal).
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6-01-2008 @8:22PM Alex Falk said... Ugh, does nobody realize that the lighter fluid BURNS OFF before you put your food on?
The "taste" does not exist.
And personally I would rather do shots of gasoline than eat the soulless food with no personality that comes off a gas BBQ.
I am all for chimney use, but FFS have a better reason.
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6-01-2008 @10:40PM Pim said... You don't grill much really, do you. Like many commenters before me, I say lighter fluid isn't necessary: use a chimney instead.
Coal and charcoal are two totally different things, by the way. If you really did grill with coal, no wonder you didn't like the taste.
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6-01-2008 @10:23PM Pim said... You don't grill much really, do you? Like many commenters before me, I say lighter fluid isn't necessary: use a chimney instead.
Coal and charcoal are two totally different things, by the way. If you really did grill with coal, no wonder you didn't like the taste.
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6-01-2008 @10:48PM Ellen Slattery said... Hi Jrsygrl,
Thanks for bringing that up - you're right, you can't buy it from the designer's site. The grill is sold at gourmet supermarkets.
Berkana - I think it's kind of obvious that I meant "no added chemicals," non? Obviously not. I'll be more clear next time, as to not add to the grill ignorance phenomenon that is sweeping our nation.
Peace,
Ellen
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6-01-2008 @11:37PM slamb2002 said... If you think that is good, this is better!
http://www.ugogrill.com/
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6-02-2008 @8:26AM Tug Spicer said... WHY NOT JUST USES A CHARCOLE CHIMENY FORM OF STARTER!?!? IT IS EASY AND USES JUST ONE SHEET OF NEWSPEPAR. IT IS A GOOD WAY TO HELP YOU 'RECYCLE' YOUR NESPAPER, TO!
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6-02-2008 @8:27AM Berkana said... Why not use charcoal and a chimney starter? Because people (specifically Americans) are lazy (and often stupid), and because marketers are smart enough to exploit it.
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6-02-2008 @8:52AM Ian said... Yes Berkana, every single American is stupid and lazy. You know that whole thing about hating the US because we all generalize and stereotype everyone? I'd like you to meet my friend Kettle, Ms. Pot.
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6-02-2008 @4:06PM John said... Another vote goes towards using the chimney starter instead. It's really easy, and works well
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6-02-2008 @4:06PM trei said... I think the reason I would use this over a chimney is that I don't have to touch the dirty charcoal or pour it out or put a messy chimney in my car on the way to the park. plus, where do I store a dirty chimney and half-used bag of charcoal in my apartment?
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6-03-2008 @10:05PM Adriane said... I'm curious-- is the charcoal inside the package untreated with lighter fluid? [I don't even know if that's possible, just musing] If so, it might have an advantage over a chimney simply because it really have ZERO lighter fluid, as many popuular brands of bagged charcoal have lighter fluid impregnanted within.
Overall I'd also go with the "chimney" arguement, but i could see this having some handy applications such as camping or minimal grill usage.
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6-06-2008 @10:56AM TrixieDelicious said... http://www.cowboycharcoal.com/index.htm
I use the above lump hardwood charcoal and in addition to all of its fine cooking properties - higher heat, ability to add more at any time, using less volume for same amount of food, actual woodsmoke flavor, quick lighting, less ash to clean up, etc. - I even love how it sounds like tinkling glass as it heats up. I worked for a hardware store for 7 years and never once had a customer go back to briquettes after trying it. Put that in your chimney and you're really cooking :)
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