Barbequeing with a charcoal grill
Today I headed to a nearby camp ground which had some charcoal barbecue stands. I put in around 2 pounds of charcoal and put a thin slice of pork meat on the grill. After 40 mins, it was well...lukewarm. Also after around 10 min of burning, the charcoal had a layer of ash deposited on the surface and after that it hardly gave off any heat. My question is : To cook 1 or 2 pieces of pork or steak how much charcoal should I put? Also what can I do to make the flames rise a bit like in a campfire so that the flames actually touch the grill.
Best Answer
You should first set fire to your coals.
When they are really hot (red/white), but the flam is out, put the meat on top on the grill. Really, you should avoid flames in a barbecue to prepare the meat.
The amount of coals isn't that important. Just make sure the ground is well covered. The more coals, the longer you'll have heat. Since you only want to grill a few pieces, your two pounds was certainly enough.
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But you think you will never be able to make your own smoked barbecue. Don't despair, if you have a charcoal grill, you're in luck. An average-size charcoal grill can make some great barbecue similar to what a smoker will produce. The secret is keeping a close eye on the fire and having plenty of patience.How do you use a vent on a charcoal grill?
Place the steaks on the grill and cook until golden brown and slightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the steaks over and continue to grill 3 to 5 minutes for medium-rare (an internal temperature of 135 degrees F), 5 to 7 minutes for medium (140 degrees F) or 8 to 10 minutes for medium-well (150 degrees F).How long do you cook steaks on a charcoal grill?
Light enough coals to bring the grill up to the desired temperature. Usually around five lit coals will get you up to 225-250\xb0F. Spread unlit coals evenly on one side of the coal grate. Place the lit coals evenly amongst the unlit coals.How To Light a Grill the Right Way
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Answer 2
I suspect your fuel was being starved of oxygen. Charcoal burns well, but it requires a really strong oxygen supply. That's why, in a charcoal grill, you will see a grate that ensures airflow between the fuel and the bottom of the grill. Most likely, your lit coals were at the bottom of the pile, and were snuffed out by the unlit coals that were on top of them.
Answer 3
Start your coals in a chimney starter - use some shredded newspaper as kindling. Once the coals are going strong, remove the chimney, put the grate back on the grill, and then use the air vents to regulate temperature. The more air flowing thru the grill, the hotter it gets - narrow the vents to cool things down a bit. Remember, there will be vents on both the bottom and the top of your grill. Here is a more thorough article on the art of operating a BBQ grill.
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