Celebrate with an Eco-Cookout
In the United States this weekend, we will be celebrating Labor Day by taking a rest from work over the holiday weekend. Colloquially, Labor Day symbolizes the end of summer not that summer actually ends until late October, but that it is common for schools to resume sessions immediately afterwards. We celebrate the holiday by attending festivals, going to the beach or pool one last time before closing, and of course picnicking and grilling!
Like many things in my experience, grilling supplies used to be eco friendly until they became mass-produced and shortcuts were found. New grills may contain toxins in the paint that offgas and perhaps infuse into your food when exposed to heat, i.e. charcoal briquettes on fire. Hmmm… The briquettes themselves may in fact add to this problem since they are often infused with chemicals that allow them to catch fire and burn more easily.
What are your options?
1. Use wood or natural lump charcoal. Here is a quote from allnaturalcharcoal.com about their product which my local natural food store carries: “It’s 100% Natural. No coals, fillers or chemicals unlike briquettes which are formed from manufactured wood by-products compressed with additives to help them light and burn consistently”
2. Try a ceramic grill. The Big Green Egg ceramic grill uses fuel more efficiently. It seems to be more durable and longer-lasting than traditional metal grills. Plus, it can be used year-round. Their website: http://www.biggreenegg.com/ does not stress eco-friendliness, however, so we don’t know if the manufacturing process or the company itself are eco-conscious.
3. Try a solar grill! This is new to me, and I don’t know much about solar grills. However, when I was a child, I used a shoe box lined with aluminum foil with a metal wire to cook a hot dog pretty nicely. Maybe this technology has improved?
4. Use only metal grilling tools. Plastics and grills do not play well together. The grill likes to melt the plastic. Even if not completely melted, heated plastics over a direct heat can release toxic chemicals into the air. Just because it works with a pan on your stove top does not mean that a cooking utensil is appropriate for grilling use.
5. What would grilling be without FOOD? Choose organic, free range, and locally grown foods whenever possible. Search on this blog for specific foods for more details.
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