Grilling with Charcoal is lots of fun! Even watching food cook on the grill and hearing the quiet sounds of slow sizzling coals or aromatic sizzling steak are hypnotizing! The entire neighborhood gets involved in the activity and even those who have never tried cooking on charcoal before getting drawn into the activity. Another big plus!
Grilling with Charcoal differs from outdoor barbecuing with lighters because a charcoal lighter is not designed for cooking. Lighters can be used as simple starting fires or full on lighting everything up. The charcoal you purchase should be a dry aged variety that has been tightly compressed. When you first get your charcoal lighter you should check the charcoal for any flaws or holes in it. This is called a charbroil and it is what makes the food on the grill smoky and delicious.
The correct way to cook with Charcoal is in a dry environment. There should be some sort of a barrier between you and the coals so they don’t touch each other. You will need a stainless steel or aluminum foil that will help retain heat. A chimney starter kit should come with a mesh cover that will help keep the heat contained and out of your chimney.
To start you want to light the gas burner with a match or matchstick. Then select a good grate to place over your charcoal and place the mesh over top. This allows the heat to pass through and radiate out. Now you can place the lid on top and tighten the lids. It is always a good idea to use a drip ring to ensure the heat stays out of your house and away from your pets.
For indirect grilling I prefer medium heat and then flip the meat over after about three minutes. This will finish off the indirect cooking and lock in the juices. If you are grilling a big cut of meat, then you want to take the lid off right away and cook it in medium heat for about five minutes on one side and then turn it over and continue to cook for about thirty minutes on the other side. After the first side, turn the grill off and leave it to cool. If you flip the meat it will seal in the juices.
These are just a few tips to help you out when grilling with Charcoal. For more detailed information on grilling with Charcoal check out my website for a full list of Charcoal grilling recipes. My website also has many other great grilling recipes including those using charcoal grills, barbecues and campfires. You can find more information on the BBQ blog.