Charcoal Seasoning
Are you wondering what charcoal seasoning is? Or does charcoal seasoning work? Well, glad you asked! Welcome to our second official blog post on all things charcoal seasoning. Before we share an activated charcoal seasoning recipe, we want to first explain what is charcoal seasoning.
Charcoal seasoning has many different names: black stuff, gun powder, etc. However, Gaston’s charcoal seasoning hit the market in 1957 in Selma, Alabama. If you want to know how Gaston’s charcoal seasoning began, head over to our first blog post to get the full story.
What is Charcoal Seasoning?
Charcoal seasoning refers to a type of seasoning that incorporates activated charcoal as one of its ingredients. Activated charcoal is a fine black powder made from carbon-rich materials, such as wood or coconut shells, that have been processed at high temperatures to create a porous surface. This porous structure allows activated charcoal to adsorb (bind to) certain substances.
Charcoal seasoning is often used in cooking and grilling to add flavor and visual appeal to dishes. It can be found in various forms, including powder, flakes, or granules, and is typically combined with other herbs, spices, and seasonings to create a unique blend. The charcoal particles provide a striking black color, which can be visually appealing when used as a garnish or coating for certain foods.
Gaston’s seasoning uses our original, family and homemade charcoal flavor seasoning recipe from 1957. We have a secret recipe that is sure to improve your next grill out!
While charcoal flavor seasoning does not have a strong flavor on its own, it can add a subtle smokey or earthy taste to dishes. It is commonly used to season meats, seafood, vegetables, and other dishes.
As with any seasoning, it’s recommended to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer and use charcoal seasoning in appropriate amounts to achieve the desired flavor and appearance in your dishes.

Is Charcoal Flavor Seasoning Safe to Consume?
Yes, charcoal seasoning is considered safe for consumption. We prioritize quality ingredients and sourcing. We only get charcoal seasoning ingredients from reputable brands. After all ingredients have been purchased, we carefully combine all ingredients in our food processing facility.
The main ingredient in our original charcoal seasoning is activated charcoal. This is not the same charcoal briquettes used for your heat source when grilling steak with charcoal seasoning. Activated charcoal is processed to have a larger surface area and increased adsorption properties. It is commonly used in various food and medical applications.
What Does Charcoal Seasoning Do To Meat?
Charcoal seasoning can have several effects on meat when used as a seasoning:
- Flavor enhancement: Charcoal seasoning can add a subtle smokey or earthy flavor to the meat. This can help mimic the taste of grilled or barbecued meats even when cooking indoors or without a charcoal grill. The smoky flavor can contribute to a more complex and appealing taste profile.
- Seasoning balance: Charcoal seasoning is often combined with other herbs, spices, and seasonings in a blend. This combination helps create a balanced flavor profile that complements the natural taste of the meat. The charcoal seasoning can contribute depth and complexity to the overall seasoning mix.
- Absorption of odors: Activated charcoal has the ability to adsorb (bind to) certain odorous compounds. When applied to meat, charcoal flavor seasoning can help reduce or eliminate unwanted odors, especially in more strongly flavored meats.
It’s important to note that the impact of charcoal seasoning on meat will vary depending on the amount of charcoal seasoning you use. It’s always recommended to follow the instructions provided on the Gaston’s charcoal seasoning label.
Why Charcoal Seasoning is the Best?
Now that you know what is charcoal seasoning, here are 10 reasons why charcoal seasoning can be considered the best:
- Unique Flavor: Charcoal flavor seasoning offers a distinct smoky flavor that can elevate the taste of various dishes, providing a rich and satisfying experience.
- Versatility: Charcoal seasoning can be used on a wide range of ingredients, including meats, seafood, vegetables, and even snacks like popcorn. Its versatility allows you to experiment and enhance different flavors.
- Visual Appeal: The dark black or gray color of charcoal seasoning creates an appealing visual contrast when applied to lighter-colored ingredients, making your dishes visually striking and enticing.
- Authentic Grilled Taste: Charcoal seasoning can mimic the flavors of grilling or cooking over charcoal, bringing that authentic grilled taste to your indoor cooking.
- Healthier Option: Charcoal seasoning often contains activated charcoal, which is known for its ability to absorb impurities and toxins. This can contribute to a healthier cooking experience by reducing harmful substances in your food.
- Impurity Removal: The activated charcoal in charcoal seasoning can help absorb unwanted flavors, odors, and impurities, resulting in cleaner-tasting food.
- Unique Culinary Experience: Using charcoal seasoning adds a touch of excitement and novelty to your culinary adventures, allowing you to experiment with different flavor profiles and techniques.
- Complementary Ingredient: Charcoal seasoning works well in combination with other spices and seasonings, adding depth and complexity to your dishes.
- Outdoor Flavor, Indoor Convenience: With charcoal seasoning, you can enjoy the smoky, charred flavors associated with outdoor grilling even when cooking indoors, providing convenience without compromising taste.
- Culinary Creativity: Charcoal seasoning encourages culinary creativity by inspiring you to try new recipes, techniques, and flavor combinations, expanding your cooking repertoire.

Maybe you can hear our bias, but we surely believe that our homemade charcoal seasoning recipe is hands down, the best seasoning product on the market! Charcoal seasoning offers a unique flavor profile, versatility, visual appeal, and the potential for an enhanced culinary experience.
If you have any questions about our charcoal seasoning products, please don’t hesitate to fill out the contact form or drop a line to connor@gastonseasoning.com. We love our customers as much as we do our homemade charcoal seasoning recipe! If you have any ideas, suggestions, or questions related to our charcoal seasoning you want to see answered in our next charcoal seasoning blog post, let us know! The aim and purpose of this blog is to be informative and build community.