Ever had the pleasure of grilling your burgers outdoors? How about roasting chicken on a spit? Chances are, you'd be using charcoal. And chances are, you're more interested in the food than that black stuff you cook it with.
But has it ever occurred to you that those dark, chalky briquettes you cook your steaks on lend an invaluable and interesting contribution to the development of human civilization? You can stop salivating on your barbeque for once, and check out these interesting charcoal tidbits.
During prehistoric times, charcoal was used on cave paintings (like in Lascaux, France and Altamira, Spain), portraying glimpses of a long forgotten culture we ourselves would never have witnessed, had it not for these ancient markers. Since charcoal embers give off a much higher temperature than ordinary fires, high enough to melt iron and bronze, metallurgy became a possibility, heralding a whole new age for all of humanity. Who says it’s just a bunch of burnt wood?
Technically speaking, charcoal is burnt wood, or at least most types are. Charcoal is basically a residue obtained when you burn animal or plant matter without the oxygen. The fat and other volatile materials gets burned up, and because there's no oxygen, much of the carbon stays intact, leaving a dark, porous material much like coal, but more lightweight and brittle. Most charcoal consists of 85% to 98% carbon.
Aside from being used as an invaluable source of fuel or as prehistoric crayons, charcoal has many other significant uses, especially in modern living. Charcoal is a crucial component of gunpowder. Because of its high absorption qualities, charcoal is also packaged by doctors into tablets to relieve certain poisonings. Charcoal is also great for filtering gases and fluids. Want a quick tip? Place a couple of lumps of charcoal in your fridge to remedy those fishy odors. Notice those pretty orchids clinging to nothing but a bunch of charcoal? That's because charcoal is also great for gardening and horticulture, enriching soil or providing excellent stumps for orchids and other clinging plants.
To top it off, charcoal is also still being used today the way it was utilized by our creative ancestors: as great art material. Charcoal provides a cool alternative to pencils and crayons for drawing and sketching, and is a must-have for all budding artists.
Your Popup Blocker Must Be Off