FlameDisk: charcoal alternative for greener grilling

Charcoal is notorious for its undesirable effects on the environment and human health, but for backyard grilling, there have been few alternatives. Just in time for summer in the northern hemisphere, a Wisconsin-based company has now launched a greener alternative. Sologear’s uGO FlameDisk is an eco-friendly grilling option that employs solid ethanol as its fuel source and lights instantaneously with the touch of a match, no lighter fluid required. Users simply peel off the device’s protective film, place the disk in their grill and light it. The aluminum disk is ready to cook on in less than a minute—saving roughly half an hour in time that would ordinarily be spent waiting for charcoal to heat up—and will continue to burn for at least 40 minutes. Heat output from the FlameDisk is similar to that of charcoal, but it creates no ash or soot and it cools to the touch in just minutes. Perhaps best of all, the FlameDisk’s ethanol fuel produces 99 percent less carbon monoxide than charcoal does. For die-hard fans of charcoal-grilled flavour, there’s even a “Smoker Plate” available to recreate that taste. The uGO FlameDisk is available for about USD 4.99 online, via the Home Shopping Network and at select supermarkets and hardware stores across the US. In addition to rolling out the FlameDisk nationwide, Sologear is also working on a small, portable FlameDisk Grill, according to an article in the Wisconsin State Journal. Time to get involved and bring some grilling innovation to enthusiasts in your part of the world…? (Related: Beach barbecue on call.) Spotted by: Pat Bice