Does pouring water on burning charcoal when grilling make the meat more smokey?

Does pouring water on burning charcoal when grilling make the meat more smokey? - Grilled Meat on Black Charcoal Grill at Nighttime

Does anyone know if pouring water during grilling on the charcoal, which makes the fire smokey, would actually make the taste of the meat being grilled more smokey?



Best Answer

No, as that isn’t creating smoke. It’s creating steam. A steamier cooking environment may actually inhibit desired grilling flavors as it could inhibit browning via the Maillard reaction.




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Does pouring water on burning charcoal when grilling make the meat more smokey? - Grilled Meats on Skewers
Does pouring water on burning charcoal when grilling make the meat more smokey? - Skewered Meat Cooked in CharcoaolGrill
Does pouring water on burning charcoal when grilling make the meat more smokey? - Skewered Meat Cooked in Charcoal Grill



Quick Answer about "Does pouring water on burning charcoal when grilling make the meat more smokey?"

The "smokey" taste does not actually come from the charcoal - it is produced when the juices from your food drip onto the charcoal, turning into highly fragrant compounds that then waft up with the smoke and stick to your food. So no, just adding water to the charcoal wouldn't help reproduce the "smokey" taste.

Is it OK to pour water on charcoal grill?

Can I Pour Water On My Charcoal Grill? If you pour water on a hot charcoal grill, it can damage the grill and be dangerous to you. Poured water can cause cracks and holes in the metal of your grill. It also leaves a mess of sludge to clean up from the bottom of your grill, making the process even longer.

How do I get my charcoal grill to smoke more?

Close the lid and position it so that the vent is on the side of the grill opposite the charcoal; this will draw the heat and smoke over the food and out the vent. 6. If you will be cooking for more than 30 minutes, you will probably need to add more charcoal over time.

Is it okay to pour water on a grill?

Always avoid pouring water onto your grill as a means of cooling it down. The water will make the hot grill contract and develop cracks. Spraying water over burning coals will also form hot steam that can cause serious and nasty burns. This method is completely different though.

Why do people spray water when grilling?

What you *can* do is fill a spray bottle with water in case you get any flare-ups during grilling, this will help keep the heat down. Water can also be sprayed on the grill after you're done to loosen up the burnt bits and more easily clean it off with a brush.



Perfect Grilled Steak On The Weber Charcoal Grill | Steak And Potatoes




More answers regarding does pouring water on burning charcoal when grilling make the meat more smokey?

Answer 2

Do not do this. You will rapidly cool and may even extinguish your fire. This will also cause ash and cooler, more astringent, elements of smoke to land on your food. The results will be very unpleasant.

If you want your meat more smokey, you just need to apply the appropriate techniques for smoking. Grilling imparts some smoke flavor, but that is generally not the primary intended outcome.

Answer 3

The "smokey" taste does not actually come from the charcoal - it is produced when the juices from your food drip onto the charcoal, turning into highly fragrant compounds that then waft up with the smoke and stick to your food.

So no, just adding water to the charcoal wouldn't help reproduce the "smokey" taste.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Everson Mayer, samer daboul, Mariakray, Mariakray