Superheated　steam　(SHS)　was　capable　of　fast　and　uniformly　torrefying　heavily　loaded　biomass.　This　work　detailedly　investigated　the　torrefied　biomass　in　terms　of　fuel　property　and　combustion　behavior.　The　reactor　chamber　(300　ml)　was　fully　loaded　with　pinewood　pellets　(160　g).　Overall　residence　times　were　20,　40　and　60　min　(including　preheating　and　holding　periods)　under　225,　275　and　325　°C.　Biomass　was　estimated　by　elements,　TG,　FTIR,　HHV,　fuel　property,　combustion　and　pyrolysis　behaviors,　combustion　kinetics　and　moisture　reabsorption.　Holding　period　as　short　as　2　min　at　325　°C　with　a　heating　rate　of　15　°Cmin−1　was　found　to　enhance　energy　density　by　45%　and　generated　homogeneous　coal-like　products　with　HHV　of　26.76　MJkg−1.　Fixed　carbon　content　increased　to　64.84　wt%.　The　combustion　activation　energy　increased　to　79.66　kJmol−1.　Combustion　indices　and　behaviors　indicated　that　torrefied　biomass　had　benign　characteristics　either　for　co-firing　or　as　fuel.　All　suggests　good　potential　of　SHS　torrefaction　to　obtain　fuel　alternatives.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd