How to Light a Charcoal Grill
Lighting a charcoal grill
The best and most simplest way to lighting a charcoal grill. Lighting charcoal can be done without fire lighters or lighter fluids.
When barbecuing burgers, sausages, steaks and some types of fish. You need a direct heat source - which means the fire needs to be directly under the meat. The meat needs to be grilled quickly with a high heat.
When barbecuing chicken, pizza and large pieces of steak for instance. You need to take longer and cook these types of food slower. Barbecuing a pizza on direct heat will just burn the bottom and not cook it on top as you need an oven type cooker or roaster for these types of food.
Use an in-direct cooking method, where the heat source is not directly under the food. Normally the fire needs to be of a medium to low heat when cooking food with this method.
Direct Heat - Lighting Charcoal
Firstly make sure all vents are open with good ventilation to get started. You need a fire starter to get the coal going, either by using fire lighters, lighter fluid or newspaper. When using fire starters make sure that they are properly depleted or evaporated before you start cooking.
Lighter fluid can give off smoke and give a bad taste to the food. For a natural alternative in lighting the fire, crumple a few sheets of newspaper into long strands then place the strands in the charcoal tray.
Place charcoal briquettes around the newspaper in a pyramid shape. Light the newspaper and wait for the charcoal briquettes to catch a light. You can help the process by simply blowing the fire or by using a small fan. Newspaper can burn out very quickly so use enough to burn under the coals for 40 to 50 seconds.
To keep it burning longer, twist and wring the paper, crumpling it together much like wringing a wet shirt then lighting it and get it burning. Or smear a coat of olive oil onto the piece of newspaper before crumpling it up. The more paper you use the greater your flame will be. Lighting a charcoal grill becomes easier with practice.
In-direct - How to Light Charcoal
Using the same process make sure there is enough ventilation in lighting the charcoal. Place a small tin foil tray in the middle of the barbecue grate as a divider from the charcoal and the food. Place a few sheets of crumpled newspaper at the top and bottom of the tin foil tray.
Put the charcoal briquettes on the newspaper sheets using the pyramid shape. You are making two pyramids of charcoal, they need to be half the size of the charcoal pile used of the direct heat charcoal grill. Then light the newspaper and wait for the charcoal to catch a light.
Food will be prepared on the grill over the tin foil tray so there is no direct heat. Wait for the charcoal briquettes to be approximately 70% ashy and gray before you start cooking. As you need a low to medium heat. Create an oven effect for slow meat or pizza by putting the lid of the barbecue on shortly after you place the food on the grill.
Judging The Heat
It can be difficult to judge when to start cooking or when the heat of the grill is right. It can differ from barbecue to barbecue due to size and how far the grill is to the fire. A good way to judge the heat is with your hand. Place your hand palm down where the meat will be grilling and count the number of seconds you can hold your hand there. * 5 Seconds - Low * 4 Seconds - medium * 3 seconds - High
Judging by the charcoal
If the coal is covered completely in ash & gray - this means the temperature is Low.
Coal covered with ash but with some visibility of red glow - Medium
Coal slightly covered with ash but red glow clearly visible - Hot
In addition to this the quantity of coal you use can also play a role in the heat. A bigger fire is a hotter fire!.
Lighting charcoal should not be a difficult process, follow these guide lines and you will have the perfect fire going.
Im 24 years old living in Marbella. My hobbies include tennis, gyming and barbecuing. I have a BBQ website and work for myself here in Spain. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/cooking-tips-articles/how-to-light-a-charcoal-grill-1265835.html
Leave a Reply