Charcoal grills have a long and illustrious history in the North Americas. Edward G Kingsford, a relative of Henry Ford, invented the modern charcoal grill. The charcoal was made from wood waste generated at Ford's Model T assembly line!
Since then, charcoal grills have come a long way to transform into efficient outdoor stoves for gourmet barbeque cooking. Today, 71% of grillers endorse them as their preferred choice. If you are thinking of buying a charcoal grill, get all the necessary information from this article. Maybe, it will provide you with the "fuel" to make your smoked ribs the talk of the town.
How do you determine the efficiency of charcoal grills?
Charcoal grills work on the principle of radiation. Coal embers emit a lot of radiation which is converted into heat when it comes in contact with food to be cooked. The grill that you are considering to buy must have the below-mentioned features to ensure its efficient operation.
- Controlled heating. This means controlling the temperature at which charcoals burn, and controlling the amount of heat that reaches the food to be cooked. Good charcoal designs will have tight-fitting lids that prevent heat from escaping, and well-placed vents that stoke consistent fire inside the grill.
- Adjustable height of the charcoal tray. Pushing this tray up or down will bring the embers closer to the cooking food or move them apart, giving you control over the direct heat transmission.
- Accurate temperature reading. Make sure that your charcoal grill has a digital device to give you accurate heat reading. It is important that your cook BBQ varieties at the right temperature to give the sumptuous bite that feels right.
- Spacious charcoal chamber. Apart from providing enough space for charcoal fuel and air circulation, a roomy chamber will let you shift and shuffle embers. This will control or concentrate heat areas as desired.
- Charcoal adding mechanism. The charcoal grill should have a sliding or hinged opening that lets you easily add or remove the charcoal. It should operate smoothly, or you may burn your hands while struggling to open it. A good opening of appropriate size and shape will also let you "shake off" ash from the embers. Being a good insulation agent, excess ash can hamper the heat generation process.
- Grating surface. A good grate is the one that offers superior heat radiation, holds various foods properly, it does not cause over or under-cooking, and gives uniform burn on the food surface. We recommend the old-fashioned wire grill to other fancy grates. It still has the ideal grid system to facilitate proper BBQ cooking. Avoid cast iron, as it is difficult to maintain and does not hold meat and some other foods properly.
Which Are the Main Types of Charcoal Grills to Check Out?
BBQ recipes have their charm around authentic and "rustic" cooking. The exotic smoky flavor of grilled pork chops or the burnt aroma of bombs offers unmatched culinary delights. Below are the types of charcoal grills that make it all happen.
Kettle Grill
This is an all-time classic design. Although there are many variations available today, the basic design and operation remain unchanged. Their body consists of two halves – a dome-shaped upper lid and a globular lower half. Inside, there are the charcoal chamber, cooking grate, lid, and other assemblies.
The kettle grill looks like… a kettle. So, how is this shape helpful? The globular lower half which houses the charcoal tray distributes heat more evenly than a flat charcoal bed; hence, cooking is uniform. And the upper dome traps heat efficiently, adding to cooking efficiency and retaining the smoky flavor.
Kettle grills are also available as mobile outdoor stoves fitted with castors. If your outdoor space is compact, you can move them away once the cooking is done.
