Charcoal Grills Getting Started

Well you have done your homework, determined your budget and have decided charcoal grills are the way to go.

There are many types of barbeque gills out there, but whether you are looking at Weber grills or other models there are still certain basic things you want to consider when buying a grill.

The Weber kettle grill has been around a long time. They are a great value and do a wonderful job, however there are other models you can choose as well.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

2) I would highly recommend that the bowl be porcelain enameled. These are a bit more expensive, but they last so much longer.

Remember you do get what you pay for and sometimes a little more expensive up front is less expensive in the long run.

3) Make sure the grill has a tight fitting lid. This is critical for good temperature control.

4) Also you want to be sure there is a grate in the bottom to hold the charcoal.

5) Make sure that the grill is vented at both the top and bottom. Again critical for good cooking and temperature control.

6) I would recommend a minimum cooking area of at least 240 sq inches, however you can get them with over 350 sq inches of cooking space.

Just remember, the greater the amount of cooking space you have, the greater the flexibility you have in what you can do while cooking and how much you can cook at one time. If you entertain a lot I would suggest getting as much cooking space as you can get.

7) I would also suggest that you get one with a heavy duty cooking grate as well. Again,they will last much longer for you.

8) Always be sure you get a grill with wooden handles on the side. This makes it easier to move it around if you need to without fear of burning your hands.

9) Finally, make sure it has an ash catcher. You don't want hot ashes falling on to your deck, patio or lawn.

2) Make sure you are away from all flammable materials including your house.

Lighter Fluid

* First off be sure to start with enough coals. This is a mistake that most people make. Remember it takes roughly 30 coals to cook one pound of meat. More coals equal more heat.

* Soak the coals with approved lighter fluid and allow the fluid to soak in for at least one minute.

NEVER USE GASOLINE OR KEROSENE TO LIGHT YOUR GRILL

* Use a long handled match (fireplace matches) to start the grill.

* Always leave the top off while the coals are starting, but leave the cooking grate on the grill. This will heat up the grate and get it ready for cooking. Plus if you have to clean it yet this will burn the food off.

* The coals will be ready for cooking when they have a red glow and are covered in white ash. Generally this will take about 30 to 40 minutes. More than enough time to enjoy an adult beverage with friends.

* Once the grill is hot be sure to clean off the cooking grate with a wire brush.

YOU WILL NEED TO PICK UP AND MOVE THE COOKING GRATE TO SPREAD THE CHARCOAL. DO NOT DO THIS WITH YOUR BARE HANDS. IT IS VERY HOT. USE COOKING GLOVES OR POT HOLDERS TO DO THIS

* When the coals are ready use a long pair of tongs or a stick to spread them over the bottom of the grill. You want to have enough charcoal to spread out about 2 inches past the area you will be cooking on.

* You will probably want to keep the grill's lid on for most of the cooking you do, however you can also control how hot your fire is by how far you open your vents. Both the top and bottom. This you will learn with experience, so grill a lot :-)

ONE SIDE NOTE HERE:
As you experiment with your vents don't be afraid to keep the bottom vents open and top ones almost closed or vise-versa. Also you can do a few variations and combination's here to get just the right heat for what you are cooking. Your instruction manual may give some suggestions as well, but just keep playing with it until you have it right. Also remember to take into account the weather.

* If you are going to be cooking for a long period time, like when you are roasting with indirect heat, then it is important to add charcoal from time to time to keep your heat up. You have to keep your eye on this and plan ahead. If you wait to long you will add way more time to finish the meal than it should take.

Electric Charcoal Starter

Basically all this starter is, is a metal loop with a handle and a cord to plug into an electrical outlet. Using them to start your charcoal grills is really quite simple:

* To start with, just put a layer of charcoal on your grate.

Put another layer of charcoal on top of the starter and plug in.

* In about 10 to 12 minutes the charcoal should be lit. Just unplug the starter and pull it away from the charcoal.

JUST REMEMBER THAT IT IS STILL HOT SO DON'T PUT IT WHERE SOMETHING OR SOMEONE COULD GET BURNED.

* Try to keep the charcoal stacked and let it continue to burn until all the coals are ready.

Once the coals are ready spread them out and you are good to go. It really is that simple.

Charcoal Chimney Starter

* Secondly fill the top portion of the tube with charcoal. Fill it to just below the rim.

* Using a long fireplace match, light the lower portion of the starter where the paper is. You can light it in multiple places to ensure that all the paper lights.

* The charcoal will light from the bottom up.

Wait until there are small flames visible at the top of the cylinder. The bottom coals should be forming white ash by now. This should take between 5 to 10 minutes.

* Simply tip the starter over dumping the charcoal in the grill. You may have to wait a few more minutes for the rest of the coals to get going good.

AGAIN WEAR AN OVEN MITT OR SOMETHING ELSE SO YOU DON'T BURN YOURSELF

One last tip to remember. Although a general rule of thumb is 30 coals to cook one pound of meat, this could vary with different weather conditions. Colder temperatures like the winter time could require a bit more charcoal to cook your food right. A 90 degree day could require less.

You will just have to experiment until you get it right. Of course experimenting is only half the fun. Eating your creations is the other half so please do enjoy.

So there you go. I hope you have as much fun using your charcoal grills as I do. Hopefully these tips will get you started down the right path. Also look for my quick and easy grilling recipes.

Are you in the market for a new charcoal grill? We do have many to choose from. Just click here for more information.

SBI!

Charcoal Grills - Cooking Outside The Old Fashioned Way