When I recently emptied then ashes in my WSM cooker, I found sand in the ashes. I looked at the Kingsford charcoal MSDS information, and learned the charcoal is up to 15% limestone. Kingsford denied this when I called them. That is, they said the briquets are made only of wood and a binder, no limestone. Later, a supervisor said it was for the color; to get the gray ash color. I feel somewhat cheated, as I suspect the limestone has no purpose other than to act as a filler. Or, does it serve a beneficial purpose?
Linestone in Kingsford Charcoal
- Thread starter Ned
- Start date
Shawn Copsey
New member
From my understanding, they add sodium nitrate to help with ignition and getting the charcoal started but then they have to add the limestone to counteract the fact that the sodium nitrate stops it from turning into grey ash like natural charcoal does.
Regardless of whether the limestone really serves a purpose, which I think it does cause it would be very hard to grill if the charcoal never turned colors, kingsford has always worked so well for me that I'm willing to take their word for it.
Regardless of whether the limestone really serves a purpose, which I think it does cause it would be very hard to grill if the charcoal never turned colors, kingsford has always worked so well for me that I'm willing to take their word for it.
Chris E
TVWBB Pro
Me too. I use regular K for 80% of what I do.
Without starting the great charcoal thread, I did like Stubbs that I got at Lowe's on super sale. but it is a lot more expensive than K.
Home depot will have regular K on major sale for Labor day so be sure and stock up for winter because it won't go on sale again until memorial day.
Without starting the great charcoal thread, I did like Stubbs that I got at Lowe's on super sale. but it is a lot more expensive than K.
Home depot will have regular K on major sale for Labor day so be sure and stock up for winter because it won't go on sale again until memorial day.