The process of cooking with charcoal barbeque grills involves dry heat being applied directly to the surface of food – otherwise known as direct grilling.
This is as opposed to indirect grilling which involves a standard grill with a lid, but with the meat placed at a distance from the heat source – not directly above it, and therefore lower cooking temperatures.
This effectively roasts meat in a more oven-like setup. Charcoal is still the most popular fuel for barbecue grilling, although gas is catching up fast.
Where gas grills are highly convenient to use, the charcoal grill is for those who like the ritual of lighting a fire and controlling it to cook to perfection.
Personally, I prefer charcoal barbeque grills, they add a smoky char-grilled flavor to meat – and there’s something manly about controlling fire to cook on them!
Outlet Deals on Charcoal Grills
Charcoal Grill Reviews
Charcoal Grill Features and Designs
A simple charcoal barbeque grill consists of a grate to hold the coals, with a metal grid for cooking above it. Cheap or specifically portable models may consist of nothing more than this (this type is technically called a brazier).
Most charcoal BBQ grills have legs (with or without wheels), a lid (with or without vents), and should have a height-adjustable cooking grid. They can be rectangular or circular in shape – or spherical in the case of kettle grills of which I am a big fan – they are well worth considering.
If you don’t have the DIY skills to build a BBQ pit out of an old oil drum, you can buy something that looks the same – the barrel shape is a traditional and practical design.
The Char-Griller 2222 Pro Deluxe Charcoal Grill at $150 is a fine example of this shape of the grill for the price. The lid gives you the opportunity to try indirect grilling and smoking – both ideal for large cuts of meat that don’t cook too well via direct grilling without the lid.
With the lid up you can still grill burgers, corn on the cob and all the usual favorites.
If you want real bargain basement stuff, the Marsh Allen 717HH-1 Golding Charcoal Grill is very cheap and cheerful and could last a few years if you keep it your garage between barbecue sessions.
Amazon has a massive range of charcoal grills from unbelievably expensive right down to foil disposable versions.
Amazon’s whole range of charcoal grills can be seen here.
Direct Grilling over Charcoal
Temperatures can reach 500F/260C or more and food cooks quickly, so controlling temperature is the main skill to master.
Turn the food frequently and adjust the height of the cooking grid, either closer or further away, as you need to, to maintain constant heat.
Use tongs rather than a fork for turning, or better still put a quantity of food in a hinged gridiron.
A fork will pierce the food and cause juices to drip on the coals causing flames and therefore burning flames = bad i.e. burnt food.
Where to Find the Best Charcoal Grills
Search Amazon.com for gas grill deals on these well-known brands:
- Weber charcoal grills
- char-griller
- char-broiler charcoal grills
- Brinkmann charcoal grills
- Landmann charcoal grills
Basics of a Charcoal BBQ
The beauty of a charcoal grill is its simplicity. At the base of a quality charcoal BBQ is the charcoal griddle to put the charcoal fuel on, some of which have an adjustable height mechanism that allows you to place your food further away from the heat which gives you more control over overcooking your food.
Construction
Use your eyes and your hands when you view a charcoal BBQ at a local retailer. Move the grill on its stand to ensure that there is no wobble, and examine the fittings to ensure that they look well secured and unlikely to fail for a long while to come.
Choose a charcoal BBQ made of high-quality steel. Also, choose a ceramic finish if possible, these retain heat very well and are easier to clean. The stand should be strong, castors should turn without a problem, and the BBQ should have a quality finish.
Grates
Cooking grates are usually constructed from heavy gauge plated steel or chrome-plated aluminum. A denser, heavier-gauge cooking grate will last for many years and diffuse and retain the heat more efficiently. Charcoal BBQ Grates that are coated with a ceramic finish are a common upgrade and one that you should consider purchasing.
The best grates are made of cast iron, stainless steel, or porcelain-coated aluminum or cast iron. Note that while ceramic coated parts are particularly efficient in some respects, they are also quite easy to damage. So extra care needs to be taken when cleaning them to avoid grazing and chipping the finish.
Assembly
When choosing a charcoal BBQ grill, you should be looking at ease of assembly. See if you can take a look at the instruction manual that comes with the particular charcoal BBQ that you are interested in, and see what work and tools are involved to complete building the BBQ.
See if the BBQ requires special tools to complete the build and also check that the supplied fittings are complete and in good order before starting the construction of the charcoal BBQ grill.
Maintenance
You will also need to look at the manufacturer’s enclosed warranty, and see if there are dealers who are local to you who are capable of supplying replacement parts easily and inexpensively should a part of your charcoal BBQ become damaged.
Some manufacturers have a website that offers parts delivered to your door via their online store, so check to see that the parts for your charcoal grill are readily available.
Safety
Ensure that the charcoal BBQ is well designed. Are the griddles easy to move and handle?
Does the grill or BBQ legs or stand move as it should? Any additional force required to operate parts of your charcoal grill could mean the difference between having a well-cooked barbecue or a well-cooked body part.
As always, have a bucket of water, a fire extinguisher, and a good pair of tongs and oven mitts to use during the operation of your charcoal BBQ.
Shop Charcoal Grills
Royal Gourmet CC1830 30 Barrel Charcoal Grill with Side Table, 627 Square Inches, Outdoor Backyard, Patio and Parties, Black
$99.99 in stock
Features
- 627 Smoking Space: 443 sq. in. porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates with 184 sq. in. chrome-plated steel wire warming rack offer enough space to cook large cuts of meat at the same time.
- Heat Control: Close the side air vent completely that cuts off the oxygen flow to help extinguish coals and adjust the smoke stack for extra heat control.
- Adjustable Fire Grates: 2-level height-adjustable fire pan ensures more controlled cooking and holds up to 6 lbs. of coal.
- Ample Storage Space: The mesh bottom shelf holds up to 20 lb. accessories when they are evenly distributed. Three integrated extensions are used for hanging grilling tools and utensils.
- Easy Cleanup: Removable charcoal pan makes ash disposal easy and efficient every time.
Royal Gourmet CD1824EN 24” Charcoal Grill Outdoor Smoker with Side Tables Backyard Griller Party BBQ Picnic Patio Cooking, Black
$138.65 in stock
Features
- Collapsible Side Tables: Two collapsible side tables keep sauces, seasonings, plates and tools within arms’ reach. When the grill is not in use, you can fold down the side tables to save space. Two collapsible side tables offer ample space for food preparation, and you can put on some BBQ tools, dishes and condiment bottles.
- Large Cooking Area: A total of 490 square inches cooking area, including 384 sq. in. porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates and 106 sq. in. stainless steel warming rack. The large cooking area holds up to 22 burgers at one time.
- Easy to Add Charcoal: Front charcoal access door with a cool-touch handle enables you to add charcoal easily during the grilling time. In order to meet different needs, the maximum charcoal weight of this grill could be up to 4.5 lbs.
- Height-Adjustable Charcoal Pan: It’s easy to adjust the height of the charcoal pan by just rotating the crank handle of this grill. With our height-adjustable charcoal pan, you can easily control the distance between charcoal and food for better heat control.
- Hassle-Free Cleaning: A large movable, easy-to-dump ash tray will help you collect ashes effortlessly, ensuring no fussy cleanup.
Flamaker Charcoal Grill Barrel style BBQ Charcoal Grill with Three Item Racks Thermometer Double-Layer Chrome-Plated Iron Baking Pan Ash Catcher for Camping Outdoor BBQ
Features
- [Barrel Charcoal Grill] Iron barrel charcoal grill, combined with plastic spraying process, will not cause harm to human body and environment, durable, corrosion-resistant and wear-resistant, the 6inch wheels may keep the charcoal grill steady while moving.
- [Double-Layer Grill] Double-layer grille design, the charcoal grilling area is 133 sq. in and 432 sq. in, the upper grill is rotatable for heating and keeping food, and the lower is the main grill for charcoal grilling, which can cook up to 20 patties at the same time.
- [600 sq. in of Storage Space] Flamaker charcoal grill is equipped with a shelf on the front and right side of the grill, a total of 341 sq. in, which is easy to install and foldable. and 264 square inches of storage space at the bottom for additional ingredients.
- [Controllable Temperature] Flamaker charcoal oven has a total of four 6-hole dampers and a 4-hole damper on the ash collector, which can be adjusted simultaneously to control the temperature inside the oven, with real-time feedback via a thermometer.
- [Adjustable Ash Catcher] The charcoal grill is equipped with an upgraded version of the ash catcher. Compared with the problem of carbon ash flying around during the use of the open ash basin, the ash catcher can achieve a sealing effect by adjusting the handle, create a dust-free charcoal grilling space.