charcoal in the Öko-Test: taken to coincide with the barbecue season Eco has coal Test different Wood, coal, briquettes and co. under the magnifying glass. Not all were convinced.

Öko-Test* has Charcoal and barbecue briquettes tested 11 of the 20 investigated the barbecue coals fell from Öko-Test recommended:
A product is due to incorrect information by

Kassel – The barbecue Season has begun. Whether it’s meat and vegetables succeed on the charcoal grill , is frequently associated with the chosen charcoal . The journal Öko-Test has taken various barbecue coals and barbecue briquettes more precisely under the magnifying glass.

What kind of wood is in the charcoal for this year’s season? And how good it can be with the coal and briquettes grill? Around half of the tested products was able to convince one fell through.

charcoal in the Öko-Test: samples to the Hamburg laboratory sent

Next ten Charcoal were made by Öko-Test also ten charcoal briquettes compared to each other. In this case, the consumer magazine has paid special attention to the following points:

the pieces Are large? Or is it rather small pieces, not suitable for Barbecuing ? How long the product is needed in a chimney starter to glow to? How high are the temperatures on the grate, respectively, after 15, 30 and 60 minutes?

in addition to the practical test, the experts of organic in addition, the charcoal-products samples sent to the Hamburg-based Thünen Institute of wood research. In the laboratory, the procurement and the origin of the product should be determined.

criticism there is, according to the consumer magazine Öko-Test, especially for the origin of the wood used, impurities, and for the worse BBQ experiences, that is, the pre-heating of the briquettes takes to long and the temperatures reached were too low.

charcoal in the Öko-Test: No details on origin needed

In most cases, charcoal is made of wood . What kind of tree it is and from what country the wood originates, is often unclear. Supplier and manufacturer of charcoal are not obliged to provide this information on the packaging of the respective charcoal.

“by FSC certificate number, the consumer receives only vague information,” writes Öko-Test in his article. The FSC (“Forest Stewardship Council”certificate) is an international system of certification and marks products that originate from sustainable forestry.

The information about tree species and origin were to be found, according to the Eco-Test only on every second packaging in the Test to. In the case of other products, Eco had to ask-Test from the manufacturer.

charcoal in the Öko-Test: This coal falls through

A case of consumer magazine “Öko-Test” in its survey results in particular: the “Max Premium charcoal Grill & Barbecue lifts”.

At the request of the manufacturers, European woods such as hornbeam and oak, as well as a origin is said to have called the Ukraine. On the packaging of the charcoal the FSC-to-find seal, which allows only European woods as the content of the charcoal was also.

“The Thünen Institute showed, however, wood from tropical or sub-tropical climate of the plant family Fabaceae (legumes),” writes Öko-Test in his report.

charcoal in the Öko-Test: Also minus points for briquettes

two briquette products however, there are minus points of organic : In the barbecue briquettes the lab found a high content of illegal fossil types of Coal.

on a further two products criticized Öko-Test the use of fossil fuels. In the products “of The evergreen High Energy grill briquettes and BBQ professional BBQ briquette” was used as the starting material, no wood, but brown coal.

charcoal in the Öko-Test: the winners

the Eco-Test studied Charcoal six products with the Endnote “good”.

+ Suitable for the barbecue season: Öko-Test has coals, Wood and barbecue briquettes under the magnifying glass taken.©dpa / Monique Wüstenhagen

Including, among other things, the “Dehner Grill-charcoal”, the “Kingstone Premium Charcoal” and the “Pro Fagus of The summer Hit Premium Book Grill find charcoal”.

Five ten barbecue briquettes have also even with “very good” cut. Including products from the brands Flammenco, Good and cheap, Kingstone, Pro Fagus and Weber.

And which charcoal Öko-Test advises ? “We recommend charcoal and briquettes with a certificate for sustainable forestry. This nature of land and FSC count“ – so the experts at Öko-Test in your assessment.

Öko-Test tips: care should be taken when grilling

in addition, organic , in his report in the consumer magazine several tips on what to look for when Barbecuing attention to:

As a lighter, natural fire lighter, made of wood, use Of barbecue ground should be occupied according to the Eco-Test evenly with charcoal or briquettes will start with the crickets, if the coal or the briquettes are covered with a white ash layer in closed spaces, barbecue, children should be a safe distance from the barbecue

Öko-Test: Other products by the consumer magazine investigated

Öko-Test has tested recently 20 jams*: The pesticide load is in the case of many products, high. Particularly a product of a popular manufacturer ends up surprisingly on the last place.

you can Also use Pesto from the supermarket has been investigated in the Öko-Test*: well-Known brands cut especially bad, since pollutants have been discovered.

Helena Gries

*hna.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.