Charcoal Photos

Charcoal is cooked in a kiln using a process called pyrolysis.  The kiln pictured here is on loan from the Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Tech.

After the bottom of the kiln is packed with wood, the top cone is applied, and that is also packed with smaller pieces of wood via a small opening at the top.

The kiln is fired, and in 12-15 hours, you have charcoal.

When the kiln is opened (after a two-day cool-down period), the charcoal often looks just like it did going in, only it’s coal-black and as light as Styrofoam.

One firing can produce over 150 pounds of quality, hardwood charcoal – enough to fill three trashcans.

Hardwood charcoal is easy to light using a charcoal chimney available at home improvement stores like Lowes for under $10.  You fill the top with charcoal, stuff a sheet of newspaper in the bottom and light.  In six to eight minutes you have hot coals that will cook your food to perfection.

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