Bought a cheap charcoal grill just to try it out. I realized I made a few mistakes. I have only used cheap gas ones a few years ago. I also started with really cheap charcoal.
Next time I'm going to have a charcoal chimney to preheat charcoal, without realizing I spread them evenly with lighter fluid and let it sit for 10 minutes or so with the grill open until they ashed over, I then closed it with the vents open for a few minutes. I know I could also do the pyramid method to start now as well.
I'm also going to do a zone for the charcoal that way there is a hot and warm side to the grill so I can sear (direct), and cook (indirect) food.
Also going to buy a few flavors of wood chips and some better charcoal.
70/30 1/3lb wagyu burgers, sams club polish sausages, asparagus. I plan on diving into chicken, steaks, salmon, more veggies like potatoes and broccoli, etc soon.
The flavor was insane despite being a noob, never tasted so much smoke in my life which was awesome.
by biggranny000
16 Comments
Your grill grate is upside down
I use the pyramid method on my little Weber Smokey Joe charcoal grill. I usually cook hot and fast. I only cook for myself most of the time. Lid open for me.
Invest in an instant read thermometer. This will come in very handy.
Run that asparagus perpendicular directly on the grates.
Definitely use a different method for lighting your coals and leave out the lighter fluid. The food will taste 100x better for it. Good start for your first time though.
https://tenor.com/HXfO.gif
Hey, my suggestions – get the coal chimney the charvoal will light very fast and easy and will taste better.
And let one half or a third without coal. Thats ur indirect cooking zone. Watch a yt short for it and ur good to go!
You will never go back to gas now
those are brikettes.. ur looking to get lump charcoal.. lights a lot faster..
Just put a pile of lump to 1 side.. use a lighter cube to light it. (never use lighter fluid).
Try indirect heat method for asparagus if you don’t want them burnt but cooked through
Good starter grill but won’t last you long. Paint will start chipping and pieces will break after a few uses. My friend bought one a few summers ago and it didn’t last the summer.
Looks great! Enjoy!
Heck yeah, sounds like you have a clear path going forward too. Chimneys definitely make life easier to get things lit up evenly.
That’s a big enough grill that you can do some smoked dishes too—I’d try a meatloaf (most underrated bbq dish IMO). Just put all the coals on one side and try to stick to 225-270F as well as you can until the meatloaf comes up to 150F and pull. It usually only takes a few hours so it’s way less daunting than a brisket or pork butt. You’ll learn a lot in the process.
Great job on first time grilling! I must say though, as a fire insurance adjuster, please put some sort of mat that is fire retardant underneath that grill. A rubber mat might be good enough but metal is best… If embers fall, it can catch your deck on fire. Safety first!
Much love
Lucky you, all the charcoals burned 💀😅
Nice. I find the aluminum pans make great tools for cooking asparagus over charcoal. Easy to shake and move around the fire. Inexpensive in bulk from Costco. And disposable. Even reusable.