Troubleshooting: Some common questions

What is the shelf life of Heat Beads^® BBQ Briquettes?

Indefinite, as long as the product is stored in a cool, dry place and not exposed to any moisture. A plastic tub with a lid would be a great option for storage. Heat Beads^® Easy-Lite^® Briquettes should be consumed as soon as the bag is opened for best performance.

Can I reuse Heat Beads^® BBQ Briquettes?

Yes, provided the kettle or other BBQ has vents that can be closed, to cut off the air supply and allow the briquettes to extinguish naturally. Simply top them up with new briquettes for your next barbecue and you'll be cooking again in no time.

Can I use the leftover ash on the garden?

The ash at the bottom of the BBQ is waste, and can be disposed of in the council rubbish bin. Alternatively, the ash is safe to put on the garden.

What is the difference between INDIRECT and DIRECT cooking methods?

For indirect cooking, place the briquettes at the sides at the side of the kettle BBQ. Read the full explanation here.

For direct cooking, place the ashed over briquettes on the bottom grill directly under the food. Read the full explanation here.

Why did the fire go out on one side when using the indirect cooking method?

This happens because the fires were not equally established before the lid was placed on the BBQ. As a result, more air is drawn to the stronger fire, causing the weaker fire to go out.

To fix, remove the BBQ lid and using BBQ tongs, move Heat Beads^® BBQ Briquettes between sides to even up the heat of both fires. Leave the lid off until both fires are completely ashed over, and continue cooking.

My firelighters are burning, why are they not igniting my Heat Beads^® BBQ Briquettes?

This could be caused by one of the following problems:

Problem: Firelighters have lost potency over time. Solution: Re-start the fire with fresh firelighters. Use tongs and exercise caution, as some of the briquettes may have gotten very hot. Once opened, firelighters should be stored in an airtight container.

Problem: Some brands of firelighters are not powerful enough to ignite briquettes. Solution: Use a good quality, odourless solid firelighter with Heat Beads^® BBQ Briquettes.

Problem: The briquettes are damp. Solution: Remove the briquettes with tongs, and replace with dry briquettes.

Why not just use gas?

Heat Beads^® BBQ Briquettes are the fuel of choice of char grilling experts. Their dry heat provides a superior BBQ flavour (but don't just take our word for it!)

Taste test results speak for themselves. In blind taste tests co-ordinated by doyen of char grilled BBQ cuisine Julian Wu, a mouthwatering selection of BBQ recipes served up by Julian and his team of willing chefs, 100% of participants preferred chargrilled food over gas cooked offerings.

Participants compared chicken wings and steak cooked over Heat Beads^® BBQ Briquettes, with those same foods cooked over gas. The decision was unanimous - char-grilled rules! "Melts in my mouth", "That unique smoky flavour can't be replicated" and "Why choose second best when you can have the real thing?" were just some of the comments.

Slow cooking over a longer period of time with Heat Beads^® BBQ Briquettes, seals in the flavours and juices of meat. The excess fat runs off the meat and is not left cooking on a hot plate.