What the heck happened to Kingsford charcoal?

[bif]

I've used it for years. But I noticed a couple years ago, it turned to crap. It doesn't burn as hot and the coals burn up a lot faster than they used to. Did they change the way it's made or something? My future son-in-law, who's a hard core barbecuer noticed the same thing. Neither of us buy it anymore. Anyone else noticed the difference?

[msongs]

1. maybe its now mostly sawdust and filler, or recycled cardboard nt

[BKDem]

2. I haven't noticed it yet...

but maybe I should pay closer attention.

Kingsford was the original charcoal briquette, half-named for Henry Ford, who came up with the idea. He was looking for a way to recycle wood left over from his wood-paneled station wagons (woodies), and decided all he needed to do was persuade Americans to take up outdoor cooking.

[Chin music]

4. +1

[Kaleva]

7. It used to be called Ford Charcol and was made in Kingsford, Mi.

The town was named after E.G. Kingsford, Henry Ford's brother-in-law.

[mitch96]

14. "Kingsford, Henry Ford's brother-in-law."

Ford was a good businessman.. The wood for making the charcoal was the chips and leftovers from making the model T's wooden wheels.. Nothing to waste..
m

[PJMcK]

3. What's charcoal?

(wink)

I switched to a gas grill many years ago because of local regulations and ease of use. To get the charcoal flavor, we have a wood chip smoker.

I know it's not the same to purists.

[RainCaster]

8. Two grills for me - gas & Traeger

The Traeger is an awesome smoking cooker

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Kingsford started to go carpy

about four years ago. Noticed the change in ingredients from Hard Wood and Soft wood combinations to mostly Pulp Saw dust which does not make good Charcoal. Now we use only a Gas Grill.

[global1]

9. Some High Paid Kingsford Employee Said I Know.....

how we can sell twice as many bags of charcoal than we do now.

[Wellstone ruled]

10. In the Midwest

there is another Coal by the Match Light name. Been a while since we tried that brand,I know it was made at one time in Isnati Minnesota. And they use both Hard wood and soft wood bolts in their ovens. Another name was Husky which was for some time done at the same company.

[bif]

17. Thanks. That explains it.

Good to know. I'll have to look for charcoal made from hard & soft wood.

[Lochloosa]

6. I use half Kingsford and half Mesquite chunks.

Not the little chips. Chunks. Lowe's carries them.

Let them quit smoking and you get a great heat and taste.

[Mopar151]

11. Took out the coal dust!😉 nt

[Aristus]

12. The same thing that happened to the vendors of a lot of formerly high-quality products.

Once they were the only game in town, they realized they could make their goods as shitty as possible, and people would still buy them.

[llmart]

13. So glad I read this.

I thought it was just me. I had to throw out a quarter bag of it last year because I couldn't get it to light or stay lit for love or money. Then I thought, hmmm....maybe charcoal gets old and doesn't work as well, so I'll buy a new bag. The new bag was just as bad.

Then i decided I don't have enough years left on this earth to stand around waiting for charcoal to light, so I sold my Weber kettle grill.

[stopbush]

15. Nah. Been using it for years, and this year's BBQs have been consistent with past years.

I use a basic Weber Kettle.

[Hotler]

16. Try lump hardwood charcoal. Better burn, beter fire.

Have fun.