Are these brands of charcoal safe?

I have just ordered a ProQ frontier and I wanted to try it out for the first time tomorrow. I dont have enough time to buy the cocoshell charcoal and so Im considering using B&Q lumpwood charcoal mixed with Penbead kettle briquettes (also purchased from B&Q).

Do you know if these are safe for use in the smoker? I have read on this forum that some coals are impregnated with dangerous chemicals. I intend on ordering the cocoshell charcoals for the next time.

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
Stewart

Stewart - best way to find out is to run an empty load through the bbq first...

Take the water pan out, keep the lid on and use about 1/2 load of fuel - it will clean out any residual crap from shipping and season it for its first use

As long as you dont use firelighting liquid or gel on the proper fire then you should be ok. If you dont have one yet keep your eyes peeled for a Weber Chimney - Love Mac to pieces but the Weber is just bigger, making it easier to get going...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Low-Slow-Master-Barbecue-Lessons/dp/0762436093 is a reasonable book to start with (I still go back to it for some of the rubs and recopies) but relax, the whole thing about smoking is the nice, leisurely pace that you can take...Enjoy your first! Just off to go and coat some ribs for tomorrow....

Thanks very much for your help Toby. Do you think it would be ok to run the BBQ with the coals, for say an hour, and then add the meat? Will that ensure that any crap has burned off? Thanks for the link to the chimney. I shall invest in one of those too.

Many thanks again for your fast response.
Stewart

Hi Stewart, welcome to the forum.

Toby's given you some excellent advice.
When using grades of charcoal that you're unsure about, just get them started and let them get to a stage where they are covered with a light, grey film of ash before adding meat, this should ensure that there are not going to be any unsavory flavours or chemicals deposited on to the food.

Let us know how you get on with your 1st fire up.

Ian

Thanks so much for the advice. I shall let you know how I get on.