Your cooking skills are about to be on firein the best way!
Cooking on a charcoal grill is easy if you know certain tricks about how to light a charcoal grill.
We’ll admit it: Even thebest charcoal grillstake more effort than gas grills.
The smoky flavor you achieve by cooking over charcoal is incomparable.
Flip halfway through the grilling time to ensure even cooking.
Use enough briquettes to cover the charcoal grate completely with one layer.
Pile these briquettes into a pyramid in the center of the grate.
Use Direct Grilling For:
Indirect grilling is best for items that require a longer cooking time.
(If using a liquid starter, wait 1 minute before igniting the fire.)
Never add more lighter fluid after the fire has started.
Fill the top with charcoal based on the guidelines above.
Carefully light the newspaper and watch until the charcoal on top turns white.
Unplug the starter and remove it from the coals.
Place the starter on a heat-proof surface away from children and pets to avoid accidental burns.
Easy-lighting briquettes can be a real time-saver.
Start by holding your palm above the heat source.
(you’re free to’t go wrong with these healthy grilling ideas!)
Weather can affect temperatures, so use the times listed in the grilled recipe as a guide.
Monitor the foods closely and adjust heat when the temperature gets too high or low.
Keep kids and pets a safe distance away, and have a fire extinguisher handy.
Never leave the grill unattended.
After you’re done cooking, extinguish the coals by closing the vents and the lid.
Allow ashes to cool 24 hours before removing and disposing of them.
Plan to use about 30 briquettes or 112 pounds of lump charcoal to cook 1 pound of meat.
A five-pound bag of briquettes contains about 80 briquettes.
Slip on heat-resistant mitts for safety.
Scrub steel racks with along-handled, iron-bristle brushand enameled grates with a brass-bristle brush.
(Or try cleaning your grill with an onion!)
Try a long-handled metal spatula or grip a ball of foil with a pair of tongs.
After the grate is fully cool, wash it using a mild soap and steel wool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gas grills are generally more costly than charcoal grills.
A simple charcoal grill can cost less than $100.
Also, many charcoal grills are portable, and most gas grills are not.
Charcoal grills are much smokier and pose more of a danger of starting a fire than gas grills.
