Does smoldered wood chuncks become charcoal?

[mauismokemeats]

I have a converted side box smoker that use propane and use a juice can of wood chuncks for for my smoke, I stuff the chuncks in the can and cover with foil and poke a small hole for the smoke, after the smoke is done I'm left with what looks like to be lump charcoal. I noticed last night when I checked the chuncks after the smoke it looked like lump charcoal starting to get hot?

Does anyone know if the used chuncks can be used as lump charcoal?

 

[amdisc]

Yes, the simple asnwer is that burn't wood does become charcoal


Happy SmokeN'
Sunny St. Petersburg, FL

 

[elde]

Yeah, it's charcoal, but of pretty low quality.

 

[mauismokemeats]

Cool, so you could leave the coals in the fire till it's ash and it will still give a light smoke or save for later to use on a grill be it will be a low quality but still usable.

Thanks.

 

[mgnorcal]

Charcoal is made by Pyrolysis, which is essentially heating without any oxygen (which means it doesn't burn).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrolysis

Your wood chunks may undergo a partial pyrolysis if heated in a low oxygen environment - which a tight wrapping in foil will do.

Having said that, pyrolysis is not desired for producing smoke for smoking, so I'd suggest putting a few more pin holes in your foil pouch.

 

[ddave]

This link may be helpful.

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/makinglump.htm

Dave