Using charcoal to grill your meats takes longer than propane or electric grills, but the results are far superior.If you remember the last time you had really good BBQ it's likely that it was cooked over coals. And it's also likely that you followed the trail of smoke to find the place!
Here are some helpful tips on using charcoal in hopes of converting you from a Propane Peter to a Charcoal Charlie.
How do you choose charcoal? – People have been grilling with charcoal for hundreds of years, and it's only until recently that Man has begun to manufacture metal grills with lids and shiny handles – which means that even the most rudimentary charcoal should do the job. However, since you live in an age of modern technology and nice things, you might as well look for the following attributes when choosing your grill.
1. It should have a lid.
2. It should have an intake air vent, and an exhaust vent to allow you to control the flow of air.
3. You should be able to move the cooking grill, or charcoal pan, up and down to control the heat.
Once you have found a grill meeting the above criteria, decide how much to spend. Consider buying a $30 grill at your local bargain shop. Or, you can cancel Christmas, and spend several hundred dollars on a Big Green Egg grill. Keep in mind that, although the more expensive ones will have some advantages, they will both do pretty much the same thing – cook food over hot coals.
I use the Char-Griller 5050, a gas grill and a charcoal grill in one convenient package. It''s not the longest lasting grill, but the replacement parts are reasonably priced, and it was fun to put together.
This article appears in Jun 21-27, 2012.