Charcoal Barbecues

Eating out with your family and friends is a great way to spend some quality time together. But what is even better and more economical than eating out is to make it into a house party with some charcoal barbecue.

Charcoaling can be a fun activity with an exciting reward at the end of it. Not only does it ensure the participation of everyone in the group, but it also gives you something to look up to, i.e., a tasty meal at the end. However, for those who are not experienced, charcoal grilling can be a bit intimidating as well. And if there is a horde of hungry guests waiting for the food to be ready, it can be even stressful. This article will tell you everything you need to know about charcoal barbecues. Having a better understanding of them will help you make the right choices while shopping.

A guide to using charcoal barbecues

Every natural produce has its own unique taste and smell. So is the case with charcoal. For the same reason, it is also a part of many recipes. Half of the taste of charcoaled meat lies in the way you cook it. You need to know how to cook the meat with perfect doneness. Getting this is different from the way it is done on a regular stove. But first of all, clean the grates and the grill using a wire brush. Make sure that there is no ash sticking onto the grill. This can not only contaminate the chicken but will also get in the way of heat transfer. Also, to prevent the food from sticking to the grill, preheat it before you place the marinated meat on top of it.

Lighting the charcoal

Next up, you need to light the charcoal. Depending on the method you use to light the charcoal, it can be extremely difficult or really easy. The crudest way to start a fire is to use a matchbox and, maybe, a piece of paper. You will have to blow wind to the charcoal to keep the fire burning and help it spread. This is a lot of work. The simplest option is to use a Rapidfire chimney starter. So, you can choose any of these methods depending on what you have at your disposal. In either case, making use of some kerosene will help to start the fire faster.

Direct heat

There are two ways to use a charcoal barbecue: direct heating & indirect heat. Direct heating is to lay the meat directly on top of the burning coal. While directly heating the meat, you should spread out the coal in a single layer to reduce the heat in a particular spot. Also, this will distribute the heat over a wider area. Also, spreading out the coals can prevent unexpected flare-ups to a great extent. However, cooking meat using direct heating requires more skill than indirect heating. Leaving the meat a bit too long on the charcoal can charr the meat.

Indirect heat

Indirect heating is when you raise the grill above the burning coal so that the coal is not directly in contact with the meat. This will shield the meat from direct concentrated heat and effectively slow the cooking process. This is also more suitable for people who are not that experienced. Slower cooking gives you enough time to make sure that no part of the meat is overcooked. The best strategy to follow with indirect heat is to divide the charcoal into equal parts and move them to either side of the charcoal barbecue. This will spread the heat more evenly and also provides enough room for airflow.

Cooking time

Depending on the type of meat and the cut, the cooking time also varies. The thumb rule is that if the meat requires more than twenty minutes of cooking time, then it is better to use indirect heat. But if the slice of meat is small, then you can use direct heat. Foods like steaks, burgers, and chicken breasts will do fine with direct heat. On the other hand, if it is a whole chicken or a large piece of lamb, then you are better off using indirect heating. And to keep the coal from flaring up, you can close the lid closed. Move the meat around so that all sides of the meat cooks evenly.