Can You Burn Coal in a Fire Pit?
Using coal for fire pitsIf you are looking for alternatives to burning firewood in your fire pit, this article is for you. There are different types of fuel suitable for fire pits. This question about fire pit fuel which comes up a lot is: Can you use coal in a fire pit? To answer the question ‘Can you burn coal in a fire pit?’, first we need to identify what type of coal we are talking about. There are different types of coal: charcoal, traditional house coal, brown coal (lignite), peat, bituminous coal (blacksmith coal), steam coal, graphite and anthracite (smokeless coal). Some of them are easier to burn in fire pits than others.
What coal is the best fuel for a fire pit?It depends on the type of your fire pit and what you use the fire pit for. If you want to cook over the fire, charcoal will be the best choice. If you don’t cook over it and want to keep the fire going for many hours, anthracite will be a great choice. Let’s look into the details about different types of coal and the ways of using coal for fire pits. Which coal is the easiest to burn in a fire pit?The easiest types of coal to use for fuel in a fire pit are charcoal and bituminous coal. These types are easier to light and to keep going. |
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Can you use traditional coal for a fire pit?
No, you probably don’t want to use traditional coal in a fire pit. Traditional coal produces a lot of smoke and soot, which may make sitting around the fire an unpleasant experience. It will not only contaminate the atmosphere, but also the soot will stain everything around, including even the carpets inside your house if it gets inside through open windows. Needles to say how happy your neighbors would be about it…
Can you burn smokeless coal in a fire pit?
Yes, you can use smokeless coal in your firepit. So-called smokeless coal (in fact it’s a very low smoke coal) will be one of your first choices for a fire pit. It is usually a manufactured fuel in which the main component is anthracite. Anthracite is a high quality coal with long burning times and it produces nearly no smoke, which is its great advantage.
Can you use charcoal in a fire pit?
Yes, you can burn charcoal in your fire pit. Charcoal is a good option of a firepit fuel, which is also suitable for cooking on fire. Moreover its huge advantage is that it’s a low smoke fuel type. Apart from that, charcoal is ideal for beginners, as it’s relatively easy to light and keep lit.
Can you use charcoal briquettes in a fire pit?
Yes, charcoal briquettes are great fuel for fire pits. Charcoal briquettes are suitable for cooking and the smoke output is low.
Is charcoal a type of coal?
No, in spite of its name charcoal actually isn’t a type of coal. Charcoal is a carbon residue produced by heating wood up to high temperatures. For example, charcoal briquettes are produced from sawdust or other wood byproducts and held together with a binding agent.
How do you use coal in a fire pit?
Using coal in a fire pit is not necessarily easy and it depends on the type of coal. For instance, anthracite can be tricky to light, but charcoal is fairly easy to use.
How do you start a coal fire in an outdoor fire pit?
Before you start, remove old ash, as you want to allow good air flow to light a new coal fire.
- Start with a newspaper
Make rough balls which are not too tight, but not too loose. You need just enough paper to light the wood kindling.
- Wood kindling structure
Next, put your on top of the paper balls. You need to build a construction which will hold the coals. - Add coal
Then place the coal on top of the wood pieces. - Light it
Light the paper from the bottom in several places
How long does it take to start a coal fire?
Well, it does take a while, coal needs time to warm up. It takes around 30 minutes to start a coal fire.
How to keep a coal fire going?
To maintain a coal fire poke the coals gently to release ash and allow good air circulation and to break-up coals that may have stuck together.
Adding more coal to the fire
When adding more coal, place the new pieces around the periphery of the fire, which is already burning and a few in the middle. This is because coal needs time to warm up. You want to avoid a big pile of new coal on top – this would kill the fire.
How to start an anthracite fire?
The method is similar as above. To start an anthracite fire you need a wood fire with wood coals first. Then you can gradually start adding anthracite. Anthracite needs a good flow of air from the bottom to burn.
How to keep anthracite fire going?
Anthracite won’t burn as an individual piece or in a single layer. You need a pile of anthracite coals to keep the fire going. You also need a shaker grate to maintain the fire for longer.
Is paper enough to start an anthracite fire?
No, unfortunately it’s not enough to start an anthracite fire. You need a lot of heat produced by wood fire with wood coals to light anthracite.
How to use charcoal in a fire pit?
Charcoal is way easier to light and it’s ideal fuel for beginners. To start a charcoal fire, spread the charcoals equally throughout the pit and use the method of lighting recommended by the charcoal seller. It will be either some flammable liquid, some other fire starter or even a newspaper.
Can you use coal in all types of fire pits?
Generally speaking, yes, however to stay on the safe side, it’s better to check the fire pit manufacturer’s instructions. As coal has higher burning temperature than wood, you want to check what maximum temperature your fire pit can handle. If your fire pit is made of stone, you should be fine, but if it’s metal, the metal paint may discolorate in higher temperatures. However, you are likely to be safe using charcoal as your fire pit fuel, because charcoal is made of wood.
Do you use charcoal or wood for your fire pit and why? Share with us in the comments below.