If you’re anything like me, you enjoy a good grill, and using skewers is a fun way of cooking several items simultaneously. But, occasionally, you lose track of time in the preparation and forget to unpack your stainless steel skewers.
You reach deep into the draw and unearth a set of bamboo skewers you inherited from that other barbeque. Suddenly, the question of whether you can use these wooden skewers over a fire comes to mind, and you start scrambling. Don’t panic! Below, I’ll examine how feasible bamboo skewers are for the grill.
Key Takeaways
- Using bamboo skewers on the grill is feasible and a common practice.
- However, soak the sticks for at least 30 minutes before use. A longer soaking time allows the wood to absorb more water (3 to 4 hours).
- Some users argue against soaking the kebab sticks before use, claiming that it does not improve longevity, but you won’t lose anything other than time if you soak them.
- While the tips of most skewers eventually char, the ingredients along the stick protect it from the heat. However, you’ll need to ensure the stick is adequately covered with food.
- Several situations reduce the efficacy of these skewers, including when the grill is too hot, the sticks are exposed for too long, and reusing the kebabs too many times. This misuse often leads to sticks breaking/burning.
What You Need To Know About Bamboo Skewers And Grilling
Thanks to the popularity of bamboo, you’d be hard-pressed not to find an item or utensil made from this wonder plant. From structures, paper, fabrics, food, and biocomposites, to household items, the “wood” derived from these plant’s culms is strong, durable, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable.
Among the myriad of items, you’ve probably seen skewers on the shelves at your local store.
These tapered sticks are made from dried plant material (bamboo is a type of grass belonging to the subfamily Bambusoideae and, therefore, is not “wood”), which, when exposed to high enough temperatures (and a flame), will ignite.
While this situation may seem counterintuitive, using these skewers on the grill is possible, provided you prepare the sticks correctly, as failure to do so will have fiery consequences.
How To Use Bamboo Skewers On A Grill
The fundamental method to prevent these wooden cooking utensils from burning is to soak them prior to using them on the grill. The minimum recommended time to soak these kebab sticks is for 30 minutes.
Start by filling a large pan to accommodate the entire length and volume of the sticks with warm water.
Next, add the sticks and submerge them for at least 30 minutes (some suggest soaking them for up to 3 to 4 hours). If you excel at preparation, consider soaking them from the night before.
You’ll use warm water as it is more effective in moving into the micro-pores (tiny holes) found between the bamboo fibers.
Some factors to consider when soaking your skewers include the following:
- Thicker sticks are generally more resistant to burning (and they hold more water). Thinner sticks may need to soak for longer to prevent charring.
- You can soak the sticks in wine or juice to compliment the food’s flavor.
- The added benefit of pre-soaking the kebab sticks is it might improve the ease of adding ingredients.
- If you frequently grill kebabs, consider soaking the entire packet after purchasing. Once saturated, drain the excess water, place the sticks in a sealable bag/container, and freeze them for quicker use.
Is It Absolutely Necessary To Soak The Skewers Before Grilling?
A small amount of debate surrounds the benefits of pre-soaking your plant-based kebab sticks.
All agree that wet wood is significantly less likely to ignite when exposed to heat and flames, but many argue that the tip of the sick will char with or without water’s intervention. While the tip is exposed, the remainder of the skewer is covered in ingredients, which protect it from the heat and flames.
However, soaking your kebab sticks before use costs nothing (the 30 minutes before grilling are usually spent preparing anyway). So why not soak them?
An alternative to soaking (or used in conjunction with) is placing tin foil over half of the grill. Next, place the kebabs with the exposed sticks over the foil and the food-loaded side over the open grill (to cook).
This method reduces the direct heat on the exposed wood; however, soaking is still wise in hot conditions.
Factors That Influence Bamboo Skewers’ Suitability For Grilling
Although soaking is a practical method to ensure these skewers remain uncombusted, it is not a foolproof solution. Under the correct circumstances, these tapered sticks may still burst into flame/smolder.
When The Grill Is Too Hot
Various ingredients require different temperatures to cook. While soaking these kebab sticks in water helps reduce the risk of ignition, when the grill is “too hot,” you increase the risk of combustion.
Bamboo has an ignition range of between 340°F and 451°F, depending on factors like moisture content, ambient temperature, direct/indirect heat, flames, etc. (this plant material auto-ignites at roughly 400°F).
Using The Skewers For Extended Durations
Some food items cook quicker than others, which is essential, as prolonged exposure to heat and flames will dry the kebab sticks (the heat causes the water to turn to steam and evaporate).
You’ll notice the degree of water vapor leaving the stick during use.
Slow at first, the rate increases to a peak evaporation rate and then slows again as the moisture content reaches depletion. Once depleted, there is an increased risk of the skewer catching fire/charring.
Reusing Charred Bamboo Skewers
Unfortunately, no matter how well you soak a skewer, there is a high likelihood that the tip (or more) will become charred during use. These charred bits generally break off with washing, but if they don’t, the next time you use the kebab sticks, they burn a bit further.
Although reusable, these sticks have a limited number of uses. Eventually, they begin to splinter, break, and burn through. Using a stick past its lifespan is a recipe for disaster, with either singed fingers or a mouthful of splinters.
The Pros And Cons Of Using Bamboo Skewers On The Grill
Below, we’ll explore some of the prominent advantages and disadvantages of using bamboo skewers to better understand why they are popular and suitable for the grill.
The Pros Of Using Bamboo Skewers for Grilling
- Sustainable. These plants’ widespread distribution and rapid growth rates make them a renewable resource, provided they are grown and harvested correctly.
- Biodegradable. These kebab sticks are 100% organic (if untreated) and decompose.
- Affordable. These skewers are inexpensive thanks to their popularity, widespread nature, and ease of construction.
- Washable. Once used, you can clean these sticks and return the less damaged ones to the drawer.
- Reusable. Thanks to their strength and durability, these skewers are reusable.
The Cons Of Using Bamboo Skewers For Grilling
- Extra preparation time is required. The 30 minutes of soaking is an extra concern when (rushing around) organizing a grill.
- Limited lifespan. Although reusing these skewers is feasible, you are limited in the number of uses before you’ll need to purchase more.
- They may fragment with repeated use. Having a bamboo skewer splinter while cooking on the fire is one issue. Having it splinter in your mouth is far less enjoyable.
Bamboo Vs. Stainless Steel Skewers For Grilling
For many of us, skewers are not the highlight of the kitchen utensils. However, possessing a decent set of skewers is important for those times when the “kebab bug bites.”
The choice between bamboo or stainless steel skewers is mostly based on personal preference and how much use you plan to get out of your skewers.
Steel skewers are stronger, more durable, don’t splitter/deteriorate during use, come in greater size range (they can be longer), and are burn proof.
However, stainless steel’s most significant drawback is that it is more expensive, takes up more space, and is heavier than bamboo.
Repeated use in hot conditions your skewers may begin to warp and discolor.
If you plan on making kebabs frequently, then consider stainless steel. Bamboo is sufficient if you occasionally have a grill and throw a few kebabs on the fire.
Conclusion
Bamboo skewers are suitable for use on the grill, provided you soak them in water for at least 30 minutes prior to use. However, thanks to their “wood” construction, they have a limited lifespan and must be replaced eventually. If you frequently make kebabs, stainless steel skewers may be better.