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Charcoal Barbecues

About 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.

Tips on how to buy Charcoal Barbecues

Finding the right type of charcoal barbecue can be quite difficult. There are different types of barbecue grills, and some of them are expensive. Most barbecue grills are designed for specific uses and are not really versatile. So, you need to be sure about whether or not you are buying the right one before spending the money. However, if you know what factors to consider while shopping for them, finding the right one can be easier as well. Here are some tips that you can follow while shopping for barbecues.

  • Kettle grills – These are very compact charcoal barbecues. A typical kettle grill will measure around twenty-two inches in diameter. One major benefit of this type of charcoal grills is that they are perfect for camping trips. Most kettle grills have legs that you can dismantle and put in the back of a car.
  • Barrel grills – If you are looking for a charcoal barbecue that you can install in your backyard, this is the option. Barrel grills can be really large. When closed, they actually look like a large steel drum cut in half. One of these halves will work as a container to hold the coal and the grill. The other half works as the lid. Carrying them around will be really difficult. Also, you will need at least a pickup truck for that.
  • Ceramic grills – To be honest, ceramic grills cost a lot more than regular stainless-steel grills. However, the benefit is that they do give you superior control of the heat, and with a bit of practice, you can get evenly cooked meat with it. Also, ceramic grills are quite durable and can last for a lifetime.
  • Gas vs Charcoal barbecues – There is no doubt that gas barbecues are easier to use and provide better control over the cooking. But the reason why charcoal barbecues are popular is because of their portability. You don’t need to carry around gas canisters, and also you can use charcoal barbecues pretty much anywhere. Furthermore, when you compare the cost of the two, charcoal barbecues are much more affordable.

There are several other types of outdoor cooking equipment besides charcoal barbecues.These include balcony barbecues, Dutch ovens, gas barbecues, skottel braais, table barbecues, and more. But the best part is that you can find all of them easily using our shopping search engine. That way, you can also compare the prices and features of different barbecues and pick the best one among them. Finally, don’t forget to check out other useful products from the Garden category

Question & Answer

Is a charcoal barbecue better than gas?

Both charcoal and gas barbecue have their strengths and weaknesses. While gas is cleaner and easier to use, gas barbecues are not really portable. Moreover, gas canisters tend to flare up sometimes, and that can be a safety issue, especially in small spaces. On the other hand, charcoal is easy to carry around. Because they are not easily flammable, transporting coal is not a fire hazard. Charcoal burns more steadily and evenly than gas. Because charcoal barbecues do not have any complex mechanisms or valves like a gas barbecue, it is easy to dismantle them and fit them in the back of a car while travelling.

Are charcoal barbecues easy?

Depending on how experienced they are, charcoal barbecues can be extremely difficult or easy. The hardest part is lighting up the charcoal itself. It will be even harder if the weather is cold. On average, charcoal grills will take around forty minutes just to heat up. But if you are really good at building a fire using charcoal, you can get it done in fifteen or twenty minutes. Another factor to consider is the ease of cleaning the barbecue. Because charcoal produces soot while burning, it will take you more work to clean the grills using a steel wire brush.

How do you light a charcoal barbecue?

There are a few different ways to build a fire in a charcoal grill. The easiest method is to use a chimney starter. For that, you need to fill the charcoal in the chimney and put fire beneath it. This will get the charcoal burning within ten minutes. But if you don’t have a chimney starter, you can use a lighter fluid instead. Basically, you use the lighter fluid as a starter and let this fuel burn until the charcoal starts burning. The hardest method is to start the fire without a chimney starter or the lighting fluid just by using match sticks and papers.

If you are looking to buy charcoal barbecues online in the UAE, look no further as you are in the right place. There are more than 500 shops and brands offering them here on Shops.ae. Here, you can find shops that offer products from popular brands like Weber, Char-Grill, Landmann, Brinkmann, Uniflame, Broil King, and Cal Flame.

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