Galvanized Charcoal Starter?
June 23, 2011 2:25 AM Subscribe
Is this galvanized, and if so, is it toxic?
I recently bought this charcoal chimney starter from Homebase. After reading up a bit about grills, smokers, and modified barbecue contraptions, I read a bit about how it's unwise to use galvanized metal in situations where it'll be exposed to high temps.
I went back and examined the label for the chimney; it doesn't say anything about the metal, but the website does - it's "zinc steel".
My questions are: The starter's already been used twice; at this point, am I safe, or is there continued risk of toxicity?
I recently bought this charcoal chimney starter from Homebase. After reading up a bit about grills, smokers, and modified barbecue contraptions, I read a bit about how it's unwise to use galvanized metal in situations where it'll be exposed to high temps.
I went back and examined the label for the chimney; it doesn't say anything about the metal, but the website does - it's "zinc steel".
My questions are: The starter's already been used twice; at this point, am I safe, or is there continued risk of toxicity?
The starter chimney is purely for lighting the charcoal - food is never going to come in contact with it. So you'll be fine.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:40 AM on June 23, 2011
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:40 AM on June 23, 2011
Also, Homebase are unlikely to sell an item that is specifically for lighting fires that is also dangerous if heated. British safety standards for that sort of thing are pretty rigorous.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:48 AM on June 23, 2011
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:48 AM on June 23, 2011
Response by poster:
The starter chimney is purely for lighting the charcoal - food is never going to come in contact with it.
You are correct: so far I have not put food in with the charcoal to start the grill. The fumes from heating zinc are the issue.
posted by dubold at 6:40 AM on June 23, 2011
The starter chimney is purely for lighting the charcoal - food is never going to come in contact with it.
You are correct: so far I have not put food in with the charcoal to start the grill. The fumes from heating zinc are the issue.
posted by dubold at 6:40 AM on June 23, 2011
Best answer: No fumes from the heating of the galvanic layer. Temp at which you worry starts to be around 1300c. That's in the metal melting zone.
When welding we must be careful about this but when starting charcoal? Nope.
Further to the "no acidic foods in contact with the zinc" question - zinc in the presence of an acid (in aqueous solution) will usually break apart water and bind with the oxygen leaving H2 off gassing and zinc oxide. Thus, the food could have some zinc oxide in / on it. Not a huge deal in the quantities you'd eat but the purpose of the zinc is, in part, to prevent rusting of the steel. Thus, remove the zinc with acid and your steel will be more prone to rust.
posted by BrooksCooper at 8:11 AM on June 23, 2011
When welding we must be careful about this but when starting charcoal? Nope.
Further to the "no acidic foods in contact with the zinc" question - zinc in the presence of an acid (in aqueous solution) will usually break apart water and bind with the oxygen leaving H2 off gassing and zinc oxide. Thus, the food could have some zinc oxide in / on it. Not a huge deal in the quantities you'd eat but the purpose of the zinc is, in part, to prevent rusting of the steel. Thus, remove the zinc with acid and your steel will be more prone to rust.
posted by BrooksCooper at 8:11 AM on June 23, 2011
Best answer: You can actually melt and cast zinc on a hot stove without any effects to your health. You just have to worry about vaporizing it; in this case, high temps would be around 1700 degrees Fahrenheit or almost 1000 degrees Celsius, so well above red hot for steel. Charcoal can get steel red hot, but it's an effort even when you've got a tuyere and bellows going. Even then, zinc doesn't stick around in your body like lead does, so the worst that could happen would be a case of brass founders' ague. If your charcoal starter is getting red hot, you've got other problems anyway.
posted by wayland at 8:32 AM on June 23, 2011
posted by wayland at 8:32 AM on June 23, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Warnings about high temperatures and galvanised metal are usually referring to welding, where the temperature is such that nasty gases are indeed given off.
At barbecuing temperatures, I strongly doubt you'll be getting more than your recommended daily intake of zinc. I'd avoid leaving acidic foods such as tomatoes in contact with the zinc, though.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 2:43 AM on June 23, 2011 [1 favorite]