Charcoal Barbecue Buyers Guide
Charcoal Barbecues have long been the most popular form of barbecue due to their relatively low cost, and the smoky flame grilled taste they give to the food.
Charcoal barbecues tend to be lighter and more versatile than large gas barbecues, and they are also less expensive to buy. However, they are much harder to control whilst cooking.
Which size Charcoal Barbecue Should I buy?
When deciding on what size of barbecue to buy weigh up the amount of people you will want to cook for on a regular basis, against the problems you might have moving or storing a larger model. It may be tempting to go for the largest barbecue you can find, but bear in mind where it will go when not in use.
Control
Control of the cooking temperature is normallly achieved simply by raising or lowering the cooking surface (grill or rack). Obviously the closer to the heat source the faster the food will cook.
Some charcoal barbecues also have vents to control the air flow and this can also affect the intensity of the flames / heat.
Lighting the Barbecue
Generally you have to light a charcoal barbecue manually using a lighter or matches, sometimes using a firelighter or fire lighting fluid to make the task easier.
It is possible to get charcoal in paper bags that is impregnated with fire lighting chemicals to also make lighting the barbecue easier.
There are some modern charcoal barbecues that have a gas powered lighting mechanism, so you can get the barbecue lit and up to temperature quickly, but still have the traditional method for actually cooking the food.
Grill Surfaces
There are 3 main types of grill surface - the area where the food is actually placed :
- Wire Rack - most common on models of charcoal barbecue
- Cast Iron - heavy and very durable, cast iron helps to even out the heat, and can withstand some harsh cleaning - found on some premium charcoal barbecues
- Porcelain Coated - also heavy and helps spread the heat, but the coating prevents the food sticking as much, although you need to be more careful with cleaning - found on some premium charcoal barbecues
Cleaning
You will need to dispose of the burnt ashes once the barbecue has cooled down - take note where you are allowed to dispose of these as some local authorities might not like them mixed with some other types of refuse. Under no circumstances put them in a bin whilst still hot.
Each time you use the barbecue scrape off as much residue as you can from the grill plates. If a deeper clean is required use hot soapy water while the barbecue is still warm as the residue will be easier to remove.
If you grill surface can take it a brass wire brush is ideal, or if not use a plastic fibre brush.
Winter Storage
Before putting away for the winter it is advisable to give your charcoal barbecue a deep clean, ensuring that you remove all of the grease. This is important to stop mould developing on your barbecue during the cold / damp months.
If you have room in a garage or shed it it probably best to store the barbecue inside, or get a good quality fitted weatherproof cover if that is not possible.