Although cooking with charcoal briquettes takes a bit longer than lighting a gas grill, the smoky flavor you get is unmatched by gas. Folks often ask whether charcoal expires. Charcoal technically has no expiration date. However, lighter-friendly chemicals do lose their effectiveness with time. Charcoal is susceptible to issues caused by moisture.
What is charcoal?
Charcoal is a type of carbon-based fuel. It is generated from wood burned in the absence of air and forms a black-colored residue. It is considered one of the cheapest sources of energy and has been used for a long time for heating purposes. It can be used as a water filter due to its antibacterial properties.
It is available in various types and qualities. Some charcoal is produced naturally and does not contain any chemicals or additives, while some charcoal contains chemicals that make it easier to catch fire.
- Lump charcoal.
- Charcoal briquettes.
Does Charcoal go Bad?
Unless you burn it, charcoal won’t go bad. The chemicals and additions may eventually lose their effectiveness, though. Long-term moisture exposure might also impact the quality of your charcoal. Even though the charcoal inside the briquettes is still fine, it will no longer light after the chemicals igniting a spark wear out. Both lump charcoal and briquets can absorb odor and moisture. You can use them after they are completely dried.
How to Store Your Charcoal?
- Charcoal should be kept in a dry place.
- Keep any leftover charcoal sealed in its original bag, if feasible.
- Keep them away from the water. Never allow it to become wet or absorb moisture.
- Your charcoal can be affected by humidity, so keep it somewhere dry to prevent moisture absorption.
- It is essential to verify with the manufacturer for the product’s shelf life if you’re using smoked-flavored wood; however, some products have a shelf life of 1-2 years before the smoke taste fades.
- Although lump charcoal has an endless shelf life, you must prevent it from absorbing moisture.
How Long Can You Keep Charcoal?
Charcoal has no shelf life as long as it is kept dry and protected from the environment. So long as it hasn’t absorbed too much moisture, utilizing 100% natural charcoal without any additions ten years from now would still result in a successful burn. It will be less prone to disintegrate into tiny bits or dust over time if you use high-quality charcoal. The activeness of charcoal also remains the same if it is stored properly.
What Makes Charcoal Go Bad?
The main factor affecting charcoal quality over time is how much moisture it has absorbed. Too much moisture in the charcoal can cause incomplete combustion, which will result in uneven temperatures and inconsistent burning, impair the sear when grilling or result in the meat having a harsh taste.
How to Test Old Charcoal?
You can rapidly test your charcoal to determine how quickly and efficiently it burns if you think it may have been exposed to moisture over time. To do this.
- Fill the chimney starter with fuel and light the charcoal.
- If the charcoal appears to be straining to ignite, maintain a flame, or burn unevenly, it has likely absorbed too much moisture.
- Make sure to let the charcoal burn for at least 30 minutes before using it if you use lighter fluid to assist in getting it going.
- The best approach to light the charcoal is with a natural fire starter, sawdust, wood shavings, or shredded paper.
Conclusion
Charcoal Usually Does Not Expire Until it Does Not Gain Moisture.
Fortunately, charcoal is not expensive, but you can always take precautions to preserve the quality of the charcoal by putting it in a container that can be sealed or kept away from moisture. Nothing is worse than having a lot of charcoal you can’t use, but with a little forethought and care, you can keep your charcoal fresh for as long as you like.