Can You Burn Bamboo?

Although it’s not as common as regular firewood, sometimes the only burnable material people have available is bamboo. So, can you burn bamboo?

I had some bamboo poles laying around, so I burned them in my fire pit to get us the answers.

Yes, you can burn bamboo for both heating and cooking. It burns very quickly, and according to experts, is a good bioenergy source. It can be burnt to produce charcoal, and in fact, the charcoal from bamboo burns longer producing less air pollution and smoke than other charcoal.

It’s not a good idea to burn bamboo that’s been mixed with chemicals. For example, bamboo cutting boards have a tone of glue, and painted bamboo furniture is often coated in wax and oil. Although, it will burn, bamboo mixed with chemicals isn’t a safest firewood.

If your bamboo stems are grown without chemicals, they are safe to burn.

Looking into this type of fire was very relaxing as patterns and scenes formed and changed constantly as I watched the bamboo burn.

Is Bamboo Safe to Burn as Firewood?

Firewood is very costly, so, some people are wondering if bamboo is a safe alternative to regular wooden logs.

Natural bamboo is safe to burn as firewood because it doesn’t contain any chemicals. Burning bamboo is a great way of producing charcoal. bamboo charcoal burns for longer and produces less pollution than natural charcoal.

It also reduces the need to cut down trees and is an extremely beneficial project for third world countries like Africa where it will be useful for communities that rely on forests to survive. So, to get back to burning it at home, to stay warm in winter, using bamboo will save money and is safe to burn.

Does Bamboo Make Good Firewood?

Although bamboo burns quickly, it does make good firewood because bamboo doesn’t produce the same smoke that regular firewood emits. A bamboo fire is more pleasant to sit in a room with. Bamboo is ideal kindling for starting a fire in an open fireplace before you add a big log as hardwood logs burn for longer.

Excess smoke from normal wood tends to produce unpleasant smells whereas bamboo does not. This could mean that bamboo is the better choice for firewood, especially to sit around a campfire or an open fire pit at night.

The raw bamboo is fast becoming an acceptable fuel source, and because it is a good fence or screening tool to stop the neighbors from looking in, if you keep it growing along the boundary line of your property you will always have it as firewood.

Is Bamboo More Flammable Than Wood?

Yes, bamboo is flammable and catches fire easily, in fact, more easily than wood. That’s why bamboo is often used as kindling for a fire.

Before you burn bamboo, you should cut it and dry it out.

When I cut my bamboo poles, I noticed they were full of moisture, so I left them in the sun to dry out. Once they were dry, I cut the pieces into shorter lengths using a hand saw.

Since I didn’t burn all my bamboo, I stored some of the lengths away for my next fire.

If you’re planning on doing the same, cut the bamboo and store it in a warm dry place. It’s a good idea to store the bamboo in a garage or storage unit that has a cement floor.

This way you prevent it from absorbing moisture or growing mold. It’s also a great way of keeping vermin out of your bamboo.

Since we’re going into the summer, I’m going to save my bamboo for the next eight months and burn it in the winter to see how it compares to my regular firewood.

Other Uses for Bamboo

There are many uses for bamboo from eating the shoots of some varieties when boiled to making furniture out of the canes, or even bamboo flooring.

When bamboo is burned in your fireplace, it creates quite a lot of ash, so you will want to sweep out the fireplace after every use and use the ash in your garden.

If you want to turn your bamboo into charcoal, some places are now running workshops on how this is done.

Bamboo is actually a grass that becomes quite woody when it grows, making it really good as a fire starter to get your fire going. It does burn fast, so have all the bamboo you can get put aside to burn, otherwise, or there won’t be enough to use in winter.

If you are growing your own bamboo, there are two types that are noninvasive, and they are Bambusa oldhamii and Bambusa ventricosa. Both grow quickly and won’t roam around the garden.

The other benefit is, they are nontoxic to animals and people.

The Golden bamboo or fish pole is invasive, so should be planted in large pots, or it will spread by rhizomes, it is also toxic to some animals especially horses.

If you do grow it, you can burn it quite safely in a firepit or a woodstove. Because it divides you may end up with rather a lot of it, so it does make a good fuel source if you find your garden overrun with it.

Summary

Your winter fuels will be a lot cheaper if you don’t have to buy any firewood because you have a supply of bamboo wood. The lack of smoke from your fire will be immediately noticeable, and much easier on the airways.

You should have no problem burning if it’s:

• Natural bamboo poles.
• Unpainted bamboo furniture.
• Bamboo flooring or fencing.

Avoid burning bamboo that’s been mixed with chemicals such as:

• Bamboo cutting boards.
• Painted bamboo furniture.
• Bamboo kitchen utensils.

Keep in mind that bamboo is a fantastic fire starter but will burn very quickly. It’s a good idea to mix bamboo with other firewood to keep a fire alive for longer unless you have a lot of bamboos to burn.