!#8# BBQ Tips and Tricks for Cooking on a Charcoal Grill

!±8± BBQ Tips and Tricks for Cooking on a Charcoal Grill

I love my gas grill, really. It's a no fuss, no muss option for grilling outdoors. Mine is even connected to my home gas line so I don't have worry about replacing the tank. But for real BBQ or smoking, I still turn to my charcoal kettle grill, you just can't beat it for it's simplicity and great flavor. Huh? Isn't grilling and BBQ the same thing? No, there is a difference, let me explain and share with you some BBQ tips and tricks for cooking on a charcoal grill.

Grilling vs BBQ vs Smoking

Grilling is cooking directly over a high heat. You grill a steak or a hamburger. BBQ is cooking directly or indirectly over a lower more moderate heat. You BBQ ribs or chicken. Smoking is very slow cooking over indirect heat in an enclosed space. You smoke a turkey, ribs, brisket etc. The slower cooking of BBQ and smoking allows the addition of seasonings to permeate the meat and for the meat to absorb more moisture to make it oh so tender. Yes, you can season a steak with a rub but it is cooked at a higher heat and more quickly, therefore the seasoning is an addition to the surface of the meat not a flavoring throughout it.

Light My Fire

Light your charcoal about 30 to 40 minutes before you plan to cook over it. If you use lighter fluid be sure it has burned off well before you put the meat on the grill, otherwise you end up with lighter fluid flavored BBQ. Ick. The charcoal is ready when it's mostly ashy gray in the daylight or glowing red in the dark. Place your hand over the grill to determine the heat; 2 seconds is Hot, 3 to 4 is Medium Hot and 4 to 5 seconds is Medium.

Control The Temperature

Keep a spray bottle of water handy for flare ups. Move the meat to the side, spray the flare up with water, wait for it to die down and replace the meat. You can also smother it with the lid, but make sure to move the meat as well so it doesn't char. If you need a hotter fire, push the charcoal together into a concentrated pile and fan it or lower the grill closer to the coals. If you need to decrease the heat; spread the charcoal out, spray lightly with water, raise the grill away from the heat.

These are just a few BBQ tips and tricks for cooking on charcoal. Check out some of my other articles for more ideas.