With the advanced technology, it's interesting that charcoal grill is still being used in many households. Perhaps, the reason for this is the taste and flavor that gas grills cannot deliver. Charcoal grills simmer meat using direct heat to remain juicy and tender even after hours of grilling.
Now, if you're a beginner in charcoal grilling, there's a lot of things you should learn. One of them is how to keep charcoal grill hot, especially during the windy and cold season. Whether you're using briquettes or coals, it's essential to understand how to use them to regulate the heat throughout the cooking process.
How to Light Charcoal Grill
If you're using a charcoal grill for the first time, the first thing you need to learn is how to start your charcoal. You can either use lighter fluid or a chimney start tool to get coals burning quickly. However, some pit masters prefer chimney starters as they burn charcoals more safely and evenly.
Allowing the coal to ash over until they turn slightly gray is vital in lighting your grill. Pour the lit charcoals onto the grate while arranging them based on how you want to use the grill, whether direct or indirect. Put the lid back and preheat the grill for around 15 minutes.
In case your charcoal ashed over too much before preheating, you can add some coals so they won't burn down too fast. Results can be different depending on the grilling method you plan to use. Direct heat is ideal for sausages, steaks, and burgers. On the other hand, indirect heat is perfect for low and slow grilling like briskets, whole chicken, and roasts.
Charcoal Grill Temperature Chart
Grill Heat
Medium Low
Medium
Hot
Very Hot
Temperature Range
325 degrees Fahrenheit
350 degrees Fahrenheit
400 degrees Fahrenheit
over 600 degrees Fahrenheit
How to Keep Charcoal Grill at 225
The best temperature when grilling food is at 225 degrees Fahrenheit. It helps keep your meat tender and juicy while cooking in slow heat. However, it's not easy to control the temperature in a charcoal grill. So, here are some helpful tips to keep your charcoal at 225:
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Use a reliable thermometer. To check the grilling surface temperature more accurately, you need to use a good thermometer. Some thermometers may show 225, but are not accurate. So make sure you are using a reliable temperature measuring device to achieve tender and juicy grilled meat.
The best tool you can use is an air probe. This gadget is one of the most reliable grill thermometers you can find in the market today. They check the ambient temperature in your charcoal grill while keeping it at 225. air probes also help track the temperature changes after adding fuel and adjusting the ventilation.
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Adjust the vents. Despite opening the dampers, adjusting them as needed due to heat may deviate from the ideal temperature level. However, do not keep on moving the dampers to get the right temperature. Instead, open the damper throughout the grilling period and adjust the ventilation when needed.
You can use the air probe when monitoring the air temperature every 5 minutes. Too low heat needs the intake damper to be opened up slightly while too high heat needs to be closed a bit. You will surely get the ideal temperature for your barbecue once you observe how the airflow and fuel changes.
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Observe your fuel. Whether you're smoking, cooking, or grilling, it's essential to pay attention to the fuel. Once the coals begin to burn down, the grill surface temperature will drop below 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Don't worry because you can keep your charcoal grill hot with enough fuel supply.
Before you add briquettes or coals to the grate, make sure to light them with a chimney starter. However, you can add new charcoal directly to the grill as lit ones will burn them down together. While this is easier to do, the charcoal may emit thick, white smoke as they ignite. It can change the temperature of your grill. So the better way to supply fuel is to light them with chimney starter before adding.
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Create two-zones. If you prefer indirect grilling, you can set up two-zones to ensure proper temperature control. It is perfect for a charcoal grill as it creates a more moderate temperature for barbecues and other grilled foods. If you master this skill, you can use your charcoal grill as a smoker.
Lit coals should only be placed on one side of the grill. After doing this, put the grate back in. The meat is then placed on the opposite side of the burning charcoal. Covering the grill can help produce low and even heat, so the meat cooks evenly.
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Open the intake dampers. Oxygen is essential in keeping your grill hot, just like the importance of using a good supply of fuel. The grill uses two fuels, oxygen and charcoal. Therefore, you need to make sure that there's enough airflow going into your chamber.
There are two dampers in a charcoal grill, the intake damper and the exhaust damper. These two work together to maintain healthy airflow in your grill. Ensure both are open when your grill food or else it will affect the air supply coming in the dampers.
One last tip to keep your charcoal grill at 225 degrees Fahrenheit is to remove the accumulated ashes. While the coals are burning down and building heat, ashes build up as well. You need to remove them from the grill as you add lit coals to avoid smothering them.
Most of the charcoal grills available today come with ash disposal. Use it every 30 to 60 minutes, so the ashes don't prevent proper airflow. If there's no ash disposal, you can manually scoop the ashes out of the grill, so the temperature is maintained at an ideal level.
What to Do with Charcoal After Grilling
After grilling, it's now time to clear the plates and dispose of used charcoal properly. Wood charcoal is very easy to dispose of because it's natural. On the other hand, lumps, briquettes, and ash leftover can be disposed of in bags. It's essential to consider safety when disposing of, reusing, or recycling charcoal, such as keeping away lighter fluid from pets and children as it's incredibly toxic.
But before you dispose or recycle charcoal, wait for 48 hours to make sure they have completely cooled down. Once they are safe to handle, you can simply toss the charcoal to the trash bin. If you have plants, you can put the charcoal ash on the pots. Leftover charcoal can be used as natural insect spray to repel lice, beetles, and other pests in your home.
Moreover, you can make a natural cleaning solution out of used charcoal. Lye soap can be made from charcoal ash, which you can use as a household cleaner. Also, if you want to make starting charcoal grill easier, you can add the ashes in your chimney to prepare for the next grilling. Charcoal ash and briquettes can be reused, so make sure to keep them after grilling.
How to Make Charcoal Grill Hotter with Vents
One of the best tips for charcoal grilling for beginners is appropriately opening and closing the vents to control airflow. Remember, the key to perfectly grilled meat is in the airflow. The more air coming in the vent, the hotter your grill will become.
When starting, it's essential to allow enough air to light your coals. To do this, you need to open the vents so the fuel will lit up quickly. There are two vents in a charcoal grill, the intake vent, and the exhaust damper. The one sucking the air is the intake vent, while the one taking away the smoke is the exhaust damper.
If there are two vents in your charcoal grill, which one do you adjust to regulate the temperature? Some pit masters keep their exhaust dampers open while adjusting intake vents to control airflow. However, other charcoal grill users do the opposite by keeping their intake vents open while adjusting exhaust dampers to regulate airflow.
Whatever works for you, but the best way to control airflow is to adjust your intake vent. Do not close your exhaust damper because the smoke should be allowed to escape the grill. If you want to get the most effective way to control airflow while grilling food, you can try both methods and see what suits you.
When you preheat your grill, open the dampers completely to get maximum oxygen to your coals while ensuring they burn hotter, so the temperature reaches 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Again, you can use an air probe to monitor your charcoal grill's air temperature every 5 minutes.
Final Advice
Charcoal grilling and temperature control are skills that work hand in hand. If you can't keep your grill hot, remember that the key is in the airflow and fuel. So, are you confident enough to use your charcoal grill for cooking food even as a beginner?