What is fire?

In this blog, I frequently talk about fire. But what exactly is fire? We all know the phenomenon, but in order to barbecue properly (or better) later, a little additional information can’t hurt.
Heat can be obtained in several ways. When it is hotter than 35°C outside in the sunshine. you can fry an egg on a sidewalk tile. It is also possible to convert electrical energy into heat. Traditionally, stoking a fire has been used to generate sufficient heat for preparing food. When barbecuing, that is still the preferred method (unless you would like to use an electric barbecue).
Fire consists of three elements, namely fuel, oxygen and temperature.
● Fuel is needed to feed the fire. Fire consumes the fuel by heating it to produce flammable gases, binding them with oxygen and igniting them, creating fire again.
● Oxygen is used up in mixing with the flammable vapors released when something is on fire.
● Temperature (heat) is required to burn the fuel, releasing combustible gases.
In addition to the three required elements for a fire, you also need an igniter that initiates the heating (see kindling).
To get and keep a barbecue going, you must constantly find the right balance between fuel, oxygen and temperature.

You control the temperature of a barbecue by means of the vents, below and above the cooking appliance that provide the supply of oxygen and the removal of combustible gases (smoke), respectively. Opening the lower vent further means adding more oxygen, which results in more combustion and thus a higher temperature.Even higher temperatures are achieved by also opening the upper vent wide, creating “draft. By playing with the vents, you can control the temperature very precisely.