Are charcoal grills healthy at all?

[jordanparker]

Hello everyone. I am new to the world of BBQ cooking really. But in summer I am thinking of getting a Weber Kettle BBQ and I have heard of the dangers of charcoal cooking meat and fish on a BBQ.

So my questions are really, would a salmon on a charcoal fuelled BBQ be healthy at all? Is wood more healthy? And how often is too much? (I am thinking about three times a week, maybe four if I'm pushing it) Cheers!

[robgunby]

What in particular are you concerned about? The deposits from smoke?

Hi by the way!

[ConorD]

To cook on - yes. to sleep on - no.

One thing that you should purchase is a chimney starter as this will help to burn off the coke that builds up on the coals and leaves for a much cleaner burn in the bbq.

[keith157]

As Conner said, overindulgence of any food on it's own is not healthy, rabbit for instance is considered a very healthy meat, what little fat it has is apparently the right kind, however if you eat ONLY rabbit without anything else it becomes incredibly bad for you.
Charcoal cooking is as healthy as any other form of cooking, and a lot healthier than some. Speaking in a totally non scientific manner charcoal is basically burned wood with the moisture removed so when you burn wood you end up with charcoal anyway Okay it's probably not that simple, and a couple of times a week isn't excessive, we have forum members who apparently cook almost every day and they keep posting so I assume they are still healthy

[robgunby]

Regarding wood vs charcoal, there are more tarry deposits given off non pyrolised wood than there are from charcoal. However, it isn't going to kill you. I think I probably suffer more negative health impact from standing near the smoker and breathing in the smoke than from what I eat.

Apart from the calories and sat fats, of course

[Toby]

to be fair if you listen to all of the food scares you wouldnt actually be able to eat anything. Everything in moderation.

[ConorD]

to be fair if you listen to all of the food scares you wouldnt actually be able to eat anything. Everything in moderation.

Yeah I used to eat just smoked butted but then switched to smoked margarine and now I have to move back to smoked butter - I wish they'd get it right.

@ Keith - I think you will find that if you eat rabbit all the time you will turn into a rabbit - so my Mum said anyway.

[Verminskti]

A rabbit with mal de caribou!

[robgunby]

to be fair if you listen to all of the food scares you wouldnt actually be able to eat anything. Everything in moderation.

Except the brown acid.

[Scantily]

I'd be interested in what the "dangers of charcoal cooking" are, because beyond either burning yourself or getting fat I've not heard of any.