Why You Should Never Use White Firelighters on Your BBQ

They are in every supermarket, every petrol station, every hardware shop: those small white cubes wrapped in clear plastic. White firelighters are ubiquitous, cheap, and seemingly harmless. But if you are using them to light your BBQ, you are contaminating your food with chemicals. It is time to stop.

What Are White Firelighters Made Of?

White firelighters are typically made from kerosene (paraffin oil) that has been solidified with a wax-like binding agent. Some brands use hexamine (methenamine), a chemical compound derived from formaldehyde and ammonia. Neither of these substances belongs anywhere near food.

When you light a white firelighter, it burns with a visible, slightly bluish flame and produces a distinctive chemical smell. That smell is the volatile compounds being released into the air — and directly onto your charcoal, your grill grates, and ultimately your food.

The Problem: Toxic Fumes and Chemical Taste

White firelighters can take 10–15 minutes to burn out completely. During that time, they release a cocktail of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the smoke that rises through your BBQ. Even if you wait until the cubes have fully burned away before cooking, residue remains on the charcoal and continues to off-gas as the coals heat up.

The result? A subtle but unmistakable chemical undertone in your food. Most people have experienced this without realising the cause — a faint petroleum-like aftertaste on grilled sausages or a slightly acrid edge to smoked ribs. That is the white firelighter talking.

Beyond taste, there are health considerations. Burning kerosene and hexamine produces compounds including formaldehyde, benzene, and other VOCs. In an open outdoor environment, the concentrations are low, but they are being deposited directly onto the food you are about to eat. Why take the risk when better alternatives exist?

The Alternative: Natural Brown Firelighters

Natural firelighters (often called brown or eco firelighters) are made from compressed wood shavings, natural wax (such as paraffin wax from plant sources or beeswax), coconut fibre, or wood wool. They are entirely free from kerosene, hexamine, and petroleum-based chemicals.

Here is why they are superior in every way:

• Odourless: Natural firelighters produce virtually no smell when burning. There is no chemical taint to transfer to your food.
• Clean burn: They produce less soot and residue than white firelighters, keeping your charcoal and grill cleaner.
• Effective: Good-quality natural firelighters burn for 8–12 minutes — more than enough to ignite surrounding charcoal reliably.
• Safe: No toxic fumes means safer for you, your family, and anyone standing near the BBQ.
• Environmentally friendly: Made from renewable, biodegradable materials rather than petroleum products.

How to Light Your BBQ Without Chemicals

The best method combines natural firelighters with a crème brûlée torch or long match:

1. Arrange your quality charcoal in the KLAUWE BBQ & Smoker Drum, leaving space for firelighters.
2. Nestle 2–3 natural firelighters among the coals.
3. Light them with a torch or long match.
4. Leave the lid off initially for airflow. After 10–15 minutes, the surrounding coals will start to catch.
5. Once you have a good spread of glowing coals (typically 30–40 minutes), you are ready to cook.

Where to Buy Natural Firelighters

Natural firelighters are available from most supermarkets, garden centres, and BBQ shops. They cost slightly more than white firelighters — typically a few pence more per cube — but the improvement in flavour and the elimination of chemical contamination makes it an obvious choice. Popular brands include those made from FSC-certified wood wool dipped in natural wax.

Make the Switch

If you care about the flavour of your food and the health of your family, white firelighters have no place at your BBQ. Make the switch to natural firelighters and you will notice the difference immediately — cleaner smoke, better-tasting food, and none of that lingering chemical smell. It is a small change that makes a big difference.