How to Use Charcoal for Grilling: A Step-by-Step Guide

What is Using Charcoal for Grilling?

Using charcoal for grilling is a cooking method where the heat generated from burning charcoal is used to process food. Charcoal, which is made from organic materials such as wood burnt in the absence of oxygen, produces intense heat and imparts a distinctive flavour to the food being cooked.

However, regular charcoal has some drawbacks. One of them is its shorter burn time. Regular charcoal tends to burn out quickly, so you need to add new charcoal frequently to keep the fire temperature stable. It also produces more ash and flying embers, which can interfere with the cooking process and make cleaning the stove more difficult.

But don’t worry about the above disadvantages. We will provide solutions to overcome these problems. The problem can be solved by using charcoal briquettes. Briquetted charcoal is a solid fuel made from a mixture of organic materials such as sawdust, coconut shells, or other materials, which are compacted.

Why choose Briquettes over Charcoal for Grilling?

Easy to Use: No need to go through the hassle of lighting a massive fire like regular charcoal. Simply light the briquettes and adjust their distance from the food to control the heat.
Save Time: Briquettes heat up quickly so you can start cooking right away without waiting. In addition, the embers are long-lasting so there is no need to add briquettes frequently.
Even Heat: The heat generated by briquettes is more stable and evenly distributed than regular charcoal, making food perfectly cooked from the outside in.
Variety: You can choose briquettes according to your needs and budget. Some briquettes heat up quickly, while others produce lower heat and are suitable for slow cooking.

Using charcoal briquettes for grilling or searing food provides many advantages. Briquettes are more practical, efficient and produce a better end result than regular charcoal.

Briquetting Process:

1. Selection of Quality Briquettes:

   • Raw Materials: Choose briquettes made from natural materials such as sawdust, coconut shells, or coconut shell charcoal. Avoid briquettes that contain harmful chemicals that can contaminate food.
   • Size and Shape: Adjust the size and shape of the briquettes to the type of food you will be cooking and the size of your grill.
   • Combustion Quality: Choose briquettes that burn easily, produce steady heat, and little smoke.

2. Bake Furnace Preparation:

   • Clean the Furnace: Make sure the grill is clean of any food debris or ashes from previous fires.
   • Install the Grill Rack: Set the height of the grill rack according to the type of food to be cooked. For thick meat, place it further away from the heat source.

3. Lighting the Charcoal for Grilling:

   • Use a Tool: Use tools such as a chimney starter, a long match, or rolled up newspaper to light the briquettes.
   • Make a Pyramid: Arrange the briquettes in a pyramid to speed up ignition and get evenly distributed embers.
   • Wait Until Lit: Let the briquettes burn until they are evenly distributed and turn into red embers

4. Setting the Temperature:

   • Number of Briquettes: The more briquettes, the higher the temperature.
   • Distance between Briquettes and Food: Adjust the distance between the food and the heat source to achieve the desired level of doneness. For high temperature cooking (such as searing a steak), place the food on the coals. For low temperature cooking (such as smoking meat), place the food next to the coals.
   • Use of Temperature Control: If your grill has a temperature control, utilise this feature to keep the temperature stable.

5. Cooking Food:

   • Brush with Oil: Brush the surface of the grill rack with a little oil to prevent food from sticking.
   • Place Food: Place the food on the grill rack carefully.
   • Rotate: Rotate the food periodically so that it cooks evenly and does not burn.
   • Use a Meat Thermometer: To ensure the doneness of the meat, use a meat thermometer.

6. Cleaning the Furnace:

   • Allow to Cool: Let the grill cool down before cleaning.
   • Remove Ashes: Remove all ash from the grill.
   • Clean the Bake Rack: Clean the grill rack with a wire brush or steel sponge.
   • Wipe with Dry Cloth: Wipe the entire surface of the furnace with a dry cloth.

Additional Tips:

Pre-heat: Pre-heat the grill before placing the food. By preheating the grill, you will get a better end result in terms of flavour, texture and appearance.
Keep your distance: Do not place food too close to the embers to avoid burning. If food is placed too close to the heat source, the outside of the food will burn quickly and become charred before the inside is fully cooked. This will make the food tough, bitter and less appealing.
Alternate: Rotate the food periodically to ensure even cooking. If the food is not flipped, the parts exposed to direct heat will cook faster and may even burn, while the parts not exposed to direct heat will remain raw or undercooked.
Use tools: Use tools such as a meat thermometer to check the doneness of the food. Using a meat thermometer is the most accurate and effective way to ensure food, especially meat, is perfectly cooked without being overcooked or undercooked.

Advantages of Grilling Using Charcoal Briquettes:

Perfect Natural Flavour: The natural smoke aroma from the briquettes gives your food a distinctive and delicious flavour. Experience the authentic barbecue sensation in every bite!
Healthier and Safer: Unlike other fuels, briquettes produce cleaner smoke and less harmful substances. Enjoy delicious dishes without worrying about the health of you and your family.
Environmentally Friendly: Briquettes are made from natural materials such as sawdust or coconut shells, making them more environmentally friendly. Moreover, briquettes can also be recycled to reduce waste.
Easier Temperature Setting: Briquettes allow you to regulate the burning temperature more easily, so you can get the perfect level of doneness for each type of food.
Durable and Efficient: Briquettes burn longer than other fuels, saving you time and energy.

With all these advantages, it’s no wonder that more and more people are choosing to use briquettes for grilling.

Would you like to know more about how to choose good briquettes or interesting recipes for grilling using briquettes?

Keywords: grilling, briquettes, how to cook, fuel, cooking tips, recipes, jacoid

Hope this explanation was useful!