During summer, one of the perfect bonding moments with the family is having a barbecue picnic. But grilling can sometimes pose a challenge for people who are not used to it. However, once you have perfected the art of grilling, especially in a charcoal grill, you can seriously create some great-tasting food and at the same time, show off your grilling skills with your friends and family. In order to achieve the perfect grilled dishes every time, you need to learn the important basic skills that would help you produce a really good barbecue.
For charcoal grilling, you would need to pick out the type of charcoal that you prefer to use before you start anything. This is an important factor to learn. There are three main types of charcoal that you can use: standard charcoal, lump, and match light; all of which are available commercially. Each type has its own upside and downside when being used. The most popular type these days is the standard charcoal. It gives a good well rounded flavor to your food. However, setting and lighting it up requires a bit more time compared to other types. The match light type requires lesser work because it only requires a source of fire to light up. However, a match light type costs more than the standard one. If you want a really authentic barbecue flavor, you can use the lump charcoal type. This is commonly used by professionals and barbecue enthusiasts. This type is the most expensive type and could sometimes not readily available. But the flavor it gives your food is second to none.
Once you have chosen your charcoal type, you can then decide if you would like to use a flavoring chip such as applewood or hickory. Using a flavoring chip could really give your food additional flavor and significantly improve the taste. These chips are readily available in the grocery or you can order online for a wider selection of exotic flavors that can’t be found on the store.
Once you have all the supplies ready, you can now light up the grill and let it come up to a temperature that you desire. You can use a lighter fluid to light up your standard charcoal. For the match light charcoal, you need a single source of fire. Lighting up a lump charcoal requires a little bit more complicated work. One of the best ways to light it up is to use a “chimney starter”: a metal canister where you can place the coals on top of some paper, and then lighting up the paper to start the charcoal. Using paper can avoid giving your food a chemical taste that you sometimes get from lighter fluids.
You can do some additional preparations while waiting for your charcoal. Separate your raw meat from the vegetables and use utensils in handling.
Keep your heat low and steady to avoid overcooking your food. Avoid burning your food and keep it attended at all times. Additionally, make sure that you evenly cook both sides of the meat. Avoid pressing on the food especially on hamburgers as it squeezes out the juices and would make your food dry and tough.
You can use a thermometer to check if the inside is done to avoid guessing. This will also make your food as moist as possible.
