If you have an outdoor area, such as a patio or a balcony, you can invest in a charcoal barbeque grill. While gas grills have become popular, there are many people who prefer charcoal grills for cooking. However, this may require some expertise in lighting the charcoal grill. In this article, we explain how to set up and use a charcoal grill for cooking.
Type of charcoal
- Charcoal or BBQ briquettes: These bits of charcoal are made from compressed sawdust and wood products and are easily available online or at supermarkets. Pillow-shaped charcoal briquettes burn longer and are inexpensive. However, these may produce a lot of ash, which needs to be cleaned.
- Lump charcoal: Also known as hardwood charcoal, this charcoal is made from pure wood that enhances the flavour and burns more quickly than briquettes.
You can consider mixing briquettes with hardwood charcoal, which can also help lower your costs and quicken the grilling process.
Charcoal grill cooking: Tools required
- Charcoal Grill
- Spatula and tongs with long handles
- Grill brush for cleaning
- Chimney starters
- Hardwood charcoal or charcoal briquettes
Prepare the charcoal grill
Make sure to keep an adequate supply of charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal. Keep lighter fluid, a charcoal starter and a lighter based on which you use to start the fire. With the help of metal tongs, place the hot coals after they are ready for grilling. A sturdy grill brush will be required to clean the grill grate you keep food for cooking. Make sure you have thick work gloves or grill mitts for safely removing the cooking grates and handling charcoal.
Decide the time and amount of charcoal for grilling
Make sure you have sufficient time when planning to cook on a charcoal grill. Consider the additional time required for burning coals, which will take about 15 to 20 minutes.
Choose the amount of charcoal based on the cooking area of the grill and the quantity of food to be prepared. If you are grilling on high heat, you may need around 100 briquettes.
Start the charcoal grill
Remove the grilling grate to expose the charcoal grate on the lower side. Open the grill vents to let in sufficient air for fire. After lighting the coals, keep the lid off until the ash completely covers the area and makes the grill ready for cooking. This may take around 15 minutes.
Chimney starter
Keep the empty chimney starter over the lower grate and fill the chimney with charcoal. Go for less amount as you require less heat or for a smaller grill. Remove the chimney and set lighter cubes on the grate. Next, use a utility lighter to light the accelerant. Place the chimney on the top. You can also crumple a newspaper, light it up and place it into the base of the chimney to light up the coal. Once the charcoal at the top of the chimney turns grey with ash, carefully pour the hot coal over the grate.
Lighter fluid
Pour the charcoal and shape it as a mound on the charcoal grate. Spray the lighter fluid evenly over the coals, considering the proper amount. Allow it to absorb for about 20 seconds. Do not spray lighter fluid over a lit fire of hot coal. Light it immediately.
Electric charcoal starter
Place the charcoal briquettes in a mound shape on the charcoal grate. Put the heating element of the electric starter in the centre of the charcoal pile, and the grill will be ready. Plug the electric starter into an outlet.
Instant lighting charcoal
Place the charcoal in a mound on the grill. The coal must be pre-treated with accelerant, and this eliminates the need for lighter fluid. Use a utility lighter to light up the charcoal.
You hover your hand around four or five inches over the coal to check if the grill is ready. If you are not able to keep your hand for about three seconds, it is ready for grilling.
Cooking on charcoal grill
For grilling with charcoal, make sure there is a thick layer of lit coals across the cooking surface. Arrange the coal from direct and indirect heat. Start by pushing the charcoal to one side, which will be the hot zone and allow direct heat grilling. It helps bring attractive grill marks on the food. Sear the food over the coal. Move the items to the cool zone for slower indirect cooking. Indirect heat is for grilling foods that take 20 minutes or more to cook such tough pieces of meat.
Set the cooking grate in its position and close the lid, irrespective of the charcoal arrangement. Keep the grill vents or dampers open. Allow time of 10 to 15 minutes while the grill heats. Take a grill brush to clean the grate and keep the food over it.
Control heat in charcoal grill
Make sure to regulate the airflow and keep the optimum temperature level with the help of vents at the top and bottom of the grill. Open the damper beneath the fire to increase the heat and the upper damper to lower the temperature. You can put more charcoals for more heat requirement.
Put out charcoal grill
Extinguish the charcoal after grilling and cooking is complete. Dispose of the used charcoal and ash only after allowing complete cooling.
Shut off the lid and close the vents to block off the hot coal. This may even take around two days to completely cool and lessen the chances of re-igniting. You can reuse the gently used pieces of charcoal. You can also spray water over the hot coal. However, this may require cleaning later. Remove the coal and ash from the grill after they completely cool. Wrap them with aluminium foil and dispose in the trash bin.
Tips for using charcoal grill
- Regulate temperature by keeping a drip pan with water. This also helps prevent food from drying.
- To achieve a smoky flavour, soak some wood chips in water for around 30 minutes. Place the wood chips over the hot coals before cooking.
- Invest in a grill surface thermometer, which will help check the temperature. This is beneficial if the grill does not have a built-in gauge.
- Soak a paper towel with vegetable oil and slide it along the hot grilling grate before setting food on it. This will prevent sticking.
- To ensure prolonged cooking, place more charcoal to maintain the temperature.
FAQs
How do you prepare a charcoal grill for cooking?
Start by emptying old ash, clean the grill grates, preheat the grates, and oil the grates.
How long do you let charcoal burn before cooking?
Light the grill and cover it with the lid. Allow the charcoal to heat up for around 15 minutes till it turns grey with ash.
Can I cook food directly on charcoal?
Push the charcoal to one side, which will be the hot zone and allow direct heat grilling. It helps bring attractive grill marks on the food.
Do you oil a charcoal grill?
Spritz the grill grates with oil. Coating the oil will prevent food from sticking on the surface and protects the grates from rusting.
What is the first thing you do on a charcoal grill?
Remove the grilling grate to expose the charcoal grate on the lower side. Keep the empty chimney starter over the lower grate and fill the chimney with charcoal.
Is it better to grill with charcoal or gas?
Cooking with a charcoal grill is faster and much hotter. However, grilling with gas is considered safer as it produces less smoke.
Can I leave charcoal on my grill?
Leave the charcoal grill for at least two days to cool down used charcoal and ash.
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