We tested how long it takes to extinguish charcoal used for a barbecue in a charcoal extinguisher pot.
This is what we bought↓
It’s a handy item that can be used both to start charcoal and as a charcoal extinguisher pot.
We bought it at Royal Home Center along National Route 2 for 2,149 yen (tax included).
Here it is on the map↓
目次
We Tried It at Omaehama
We came to Omaehama!
Omaehama had just been in the news with the message that “charcoal does not return to nature.”
So here, we decided to try using a charcoal extinguisher pot to dispose of charcoal safely and properly.
What the Charcoal Extinguisher Pot Looks Like
A charcoal extinguisher pot works by cutting off oxygen to the burning charcoal and putting it out.
The charcoal extinguisher pot in the photo becomes very tightly sealed when you lock the top and bottom lids.
The lock is pretty stiff.
Putting Charcoal into the Extinguisher Pot
Used charcoal that is still burning↓
Putting the still-hot charcoal into the extinguisher pot↓
Then close the lid↓
The Charcoal Was Extinguished in 35 Minutes
It was a bit early, but we opened it after 5 minutes.
When we brought a hand close to the charcoal, we could feel just a tiny bit of heat. Still, it seemed to be about 1/10 of the heat before putting it in.
The slight heat was probably because there may still have been a small ember inside the charcoal.
So we put it back into the charcoal extinguisher pot and left it for another 30 minutes.
It seems to have been extinguished enough that we could touch it easily.It may have actually been extinguished sooner than that.
It takes a little time, but it was mostly out after about 5 minutes and completely extinguished after 35 minutes.
This was an experiment with just one piece of charcoal, so if you have a lot of charcoal, it might be better to allow about an hour.
Extinguishing Charcoal in a Metal Can
We also tried an experiment with a metal can.
It’s small, so it’s not very practical↓
It’s just an ordinary metal can, so it’s thin.
We tried putting in still-hot charcoal.
The metal can with charcoal inside was so hot that we couldn’t touch it for even one second. If you’re not careful, you could burn yourself.
The charcoal extinguisher pot with charcoal inside was hot too, but maybe because it’s thicker, it was far better than the metal can. You could touch it for one second. But kids, don’t touch it.
After 35 minutes. You can’t tell by looking, but the metal can was not hot at all.
It had been extinguished enough to hold by hand.
Results of the Charcoal Extinguisher Pot and Metal Can Test
In the end, you can extinguish charcoal with either a charcoal extinguisher pot or a metal can.
But we strongly recommend the charcoal extinguisher pot, since the item itself doesn’t get as hot.
With this charcoal extinguisher pot, you can also start charcoal, and most importantly, it greatly reduces the risk of burns.
Omaehama Has a Charcoal Disposal Area, But…
Omaehama has a charcoal disposal area.
Looking closely at the notice:
It says, “Please make sure the charcoal fire is completely out.”
It also says that if it is not out, you should put the charcoal into a bucket filled with water to extinguish it.
The fire has to be out.
To begin with, carrying a barbecue grill all the way here with hot charcoal still inside is dangerous.
But if you have a charcoal extinguisher pot, you can put out the charcoal and carry it safely.
Finally
The other day, Kansai TV also reported on the problem of people leaving charcoal on the beach at Omaehama.
A city official said that if people continue leaving charcoal on the beach like this, the city may consider banning barbecues or making them paid.
There are not many places like Omaehama where you can freely barbecue for free.
At this rate, it seems quite likely that barbecues will be banned, so we hope charcoal extinguisher pots become more common and help solve the problem.
