How to Cook On a Charcoal Barbecue Grill (Step-by-Step)

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Learn how to light and prepare a charcoal grill
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Grilling is a fun, tasty way to prepare a meal year-round. Charcoal grills aren’t as easy to use as gas grills, but they give food even more flavor. In this article, we’ll make charcoal grilling easier with step-by-step instructions on heating up the charcoal , preparing the grill , and cooking your food . Plus, we'll share grilling tips from food and cooking experts.

How to Start a Charcoal Grill: Quick Steps

Fill a chimney starter with 3 lb (1.4 kg) of briquettes. Wad up a piece of newspaper, wet it with 1  tsp (4.9 mL) of vegetable oil, and put it in the center of the chimney. Light the newspaper with a long match or lighter. When the coals are ashed over, pour them into the grill. Let the grate heat up before cooking.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Heating the Charcoal for the Grill

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  1. Most chimney starters hold about 3 pounds (1.4 kg) of briquettes . If your chimney has a fill line, use that as your guide. [1]
    • A chimney starter is a metal cylinder with a grate at the bottom, holes on the side, and a handle. It heats up the charcoal briquettes before you transfer them to the grill.
    • Alternatively, use lump charcoal or a mixture of lumps and briquettes.
    • According to the BBQ experts at Julian Beer Company, a chimney starter is the best way to heat your briquettes because it does so "quickly and more evenly" than any other method. [2]
  2. Take a piece of newspaper and wad it up. Pour about 1  tsp (4.9 mL) of vegetable oil onto the paper and place the wad in the bottom of the chimney, underneath its grate. [3]
    • The oil helps the newspaper burn longer after it's been set on fire.
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  3. Rest it on a flat, fire-safe surface, like a concrete driveway or the grill grate. Strike a long match or a lighter and stick it in one of the holes on the side of the chimney to light the newspaper. Let the flames ignite and burn the charcoal until it's ashed over. This should take about 20 minutes. [4]
    • Keep an eye on the chimney as you wait to ensure the flames don't get too big and catch anything on fire.
    • If you don't have a chimney fire starter, load the charcoal into the grill and light it with an electric charcoal starter . Or, use instant lighting charcoal and ignite it with a simple match. These methods will help you achieve a slow, even burn.
    • Lighter fluid is another option for getting your coals smoking, but grilling experts don't recommend it because it leaves a chemical aftertaste in your food. [5]
  4. Lift up the grill grate and gently dump the hot coals into the grill. Distribute the charcoal in a single, even layer for fast-cooking foods or create 2 zones of heat—one direct and one indirect—for slower-cooking foods. To make 2 heat zones, dump the coals in your grill, then move them to one side with grill tongs . The side with no coals will cook food thoroughly without burning. [6]
    • Hot dogs, hamburgers, and vegetables cook quickly.
    • Bone-in chicken, roasts, pork loin, and similar foods cook longer and slower.
    • What is a heat zone? A heat zone is an area of your grill with a different level of heat compared to the rest of the grill. Creating these zones allows you to cook a variety of foods that require different cooking temperatures at once.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Preparing the Charcoal Grill for Food

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  1. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice over the heated grate. Next, use tongs to slide the cut side of the lemon half back and forth across the grate. Then, take a clean rag and wrap it tightly around one end of a stick, spatula, or long metal spoon, so it forms a ball. Dip it in water, then run it back and forth over the now-hot grill grate to remove grease, old food, and other debris. Keep dipping the stick in water to keep it wet. House cleaning professional Fabricio Ferraz says this is the best way to clean a charcoal grill without chemicals. [7]
    • Some people recommend cleaning your grill with a stiff wire grill brush before heating it. However, this can potentially cause small metal particles to end up in your food.
    • Cleaning with lemon juice and a wet rag is food-safe, fire-safe, and effective!
  2. Dump 1 or 2 handfuls of wood chips on the coals just before you add your food. This will give your food the most contact time with the smoke, helping it get the rich flavor you want. [8]
    • Use only food-grade wood chips . Find these wherever grilling supplies are sold.
    • Hickory, mesquite, and applewood are popular varieties of wood chips for grilling.
    • Soaking the wood chips in plain water for 20 minutes before grilling helps them burn more slowly, increasing the flavor they impart to your food. According to classically trained chef and BBQ expert Mark Nichols, "You can also sit them on a little bit of foil, and that'll help them from burning up." [9]
  3. Wait a few minutes after adding the coals to the grill before placing your food on the grill grate. This allows the grate to heat up, so you'll get a good sear and reduce food sticking. When the grate is hot, place quick-cooking foods directly over the coals. Set foods that take longer to cook to the side of the coals so they can receive indirect heat. [10]
    • Brush a little oil on your grill surface before putting the food on it. This will also help prevent sticking.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Cooking Food on the Charcoal Grill

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  1. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and other quick-cooking foods can be grilled with the lid off. If you have slower-cooking foods like bone-in chicken or pork loin, place the lid on the grill. This extra step increases the amount of indirect heat in the grill, helping the foods cook thoroughly. [11]
    • Add new coals every 30-60 minutes if you have any foods that take a long time to cook.
    • Don’t open the lid too often to check on your food, since this will cause heat to escape.
  2. Open the dampers if you want to increase the heat, like when you want to sear a steak. Close them if you want to cook something at a lower temperature, like when you're roasting a pork loin or vegetables. [12]
    • Opening the dampers makes the coals burn hotter since they receive more oxygen. Closing them has the opposite effect.
  3. Insert a digital food thermometer in the center of your food to check its temperature and monitor the cooking process. Take the food off the grill only when it reaches the temperature that indicates it's safe to eat. This is the best way to ensure it's cooked thoroughly. [13] For example, cook: [14]
    • Pork to 160 °F (71 °C)
    • Chicken to 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Medium-rare steak to 125–130 °F (52–54 °C) (according to private chef and food educator Ollie George Cigliano) [15]
    • Medium steak to 135–140 °F (57–60 °C)
    • Medium-well steak to 145–150 °F (63–66 °C)
    • Well-done steak to 155–160 °F (68–71 °C)
    • Vegetables until they're fork-tender (or to your liking).
  4. Once you’re done cooking, cover the grill, close the dampers, and let everything cool down. When the grill is cool to the touch, scoop the ashes out and put them into a metal bucket or basin. Soak them in water overnight, then throw them away. Remember to clean the grates using a lemon half and a wet rag the next time you light the grill (and before you cook food)! [16]
    • Is the lemon not getting rid of the stubborn, stuck-on food and stains on your grill grates? Make your grill grates sparkling clean by soaking them in vinegar and baking soda. Then rinse them with water and let them dry completely before using them again.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you clean a charcoal grill covered in grease?
    Fabricio Ferraz
    Grill Cleaning Expert
    Fabricio Ferraz is the Co-Owner and Operator of Hire a Cleaning. Hire a Cleaning is a family owned and operated business that has been serving San Francisco, California homes for over 10 years.
    Fabricio Ferraz
    Grill Cleaning Expert
    Expert Answer
    The easiest thing you can do is just cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice over the grease. Then, wipe it down with a damp rag. The lemon juice will cut through the grease pretty well.
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  • Question
    Can I use chemical cleaners on the grill grates if they're really dirty?
    Fabricio Ferraz
    Grill Cleaning Expert
    Fabricio Ferraz is the Co-Owner and Operator of Hire a Cleaning. Hire a Cleaning is a family owned and operated business that has been serving San Francisco, California homes for over 10 years.
    Fabricio Ferraz
    Grill Cleaning Expert
    Expert Answer
    I wouldn't recommend it. You cook food on the grates so you really don't want any harmful chemical residue sitting on your grates.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Do I need to use a microfiber cloth on my grill?
    Fabricio Ferraz
    Grill Cleaning Expert
    Fabricio Ferraz is the Co-Owner and Operator of Hire a Cleaning. Hire a Cleaning is a family owned and operated business that has been serving San Francisco, California homes for over 10 years.
    Fabricio Ferraz
    Grill Cleaning Expert
    Expert Answer
    No, you can just use a regular old rag. So long as it's clean, it shouldn't cause any problems. You can use a microfiber cloth if you'd like, though!
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      Tips

      • Avoid using lighter fluid to light your chimney starter. Lighter fluid tends to leave a chemical aftertaste in your food. [17] It also contains hydrocarbons, which are poisonous if inhaled or ingested. [18]
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      Warnings

      • Keep a fire extinguisher, a hose, or a bucket of water handy to put out fires, especially if this is your first time lighting and cooking on a charcoal grill.
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      • If a fire does break out, call emergency services (911 in the United States) and ask for the fire department.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/grilling/how-to-cook-on-a-charcoal-grill/
      2. ↑ Julian Beer Company. BBQ Experts. Expert Interview. 6 June 2023.
      3. ↑ https://www.hungryhuy.com/how-to-start-a-charcoal-grill/
      4. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-light-bbq
      5. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/grilling-lighting-the-fire-without-lighter-fluid
      6. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/grilling/how-to-cook-on-a-charcoal-grill/
      7. ↑ Fabricio Ferraz. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 16 August 2019.
      8. ↑ https://www.delish.com/cooking/a36869381/best-wood-chips-for-smoking/
      9. ↑ Mark Nichols. Classically Trained Chef & BBQ Expert. Expert Interview. 3 May 2023.
      1. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/5-mistakes-to-avoid-when-cooking-on-a-charcoal-grill-230976
      2. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/grilling/how-to-cook-on-a-charcoal-grill/
      3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/5-mistakes-to-avoid-when-cooking-on-a-charcoal-grill-230976
      4. ↑ https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/safe-minimum-internal-temperatures
      5. ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/general-food-safety-tips/safe-internal-cooking-temperatures-chart.html
      6. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      7. ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/grilling/how-to-cook-on-a-charcoal-grill/
      8. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/grilling-lighting-the-fire-without-lighter-fluid
      9. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002833.htm

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To use a charcoal grill, place about 3 lbs (1.4 kg) of charcoal briquettes in a charcoal chimney. Dip a ball of newspaper in vegetable oil and place it in the bottom of the chimney under the grate. Rest the chimney on a flat, fire-proof surface and stick a lit match into one of the side holes to light the newspaper. Dump the coals into the bottom of the grill in an even layer for fast-cooked foods, like burgers or hotdogs. For slower-cooked foods, concentrate the coals on one side to make a cool zone and a hot zone. Place the grate on the grill and lay the food on top of it. If you want it to cook slowly, keep it on the cool side of the grill. You’ll also need to cover the grill if you’re cooking slowly. Check your food every 30-60 minutes. Use a food thermometer to make sure your food has reached the recommended internal temperature before you serve it. For tips on how to check the temperature of your food, keep reading!

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