As the summer heats up, the grills of most grill lovers and aces have already returned to their rightful places in homesteads, on boat decks and in gazebos at campsites. Among them, new modern barbecues have been purchased, waiting to be lit and demonstrate their advantages. However, in order to achieve the best possible result, it is time to think about what kind of coal we will heat them properly. So before you take home a bag of coal, let's find out why quality coal is important and what kind of coal we need in any case.
Regardless of the form of charcoal or how it was processed, they all consist of some type of wood that has been heated. By burning wood slowly at high temperature and in a closed space without oxygen, most of the water and natural resins in it are removed during the process, and the carbon is carbonized (the transformation of organic matter into carbon). This produces fuel that burns hot, clean and efficient. Undeniably, one of the secrets of successful cooking on the grill is proper heat regulation during cooking. For this, it is important to buy a good thermometer and use the right coal. Long ago, barbecue and grill masters noticed that it is better to fry food and adjust the cooking temperature when the wood is already charred, otherwise the food may be permeated with smoke and acquire a bitter and spicy taste.
All quality types of charcoal emit more concentrated heat, so it is not surprising that many grill masters around the world choose charcoal specially prepared for grilling. Ready-made high-quality and natural charcoal will allow you to achieve the desired result every time you cook and will reduce time consumption compared to burning ordinary wood. It is advisable to choose charcoal from well-known brands that meet the highest standards, so you can be sure that the charcoal will maintain an even heat and will be free of harmful chemical impurities. Avoid the cheapest charcoals that are made from wood waste, such wood is treated with many harmful chemicals to ward off termites and other parasites. So by setting up your barbecue with hardwood charcoal from reliable manufacturers, you will be assured of cooking quality and healthy food.
It is also important to know that there are several types of heated wood, it can be charcoal briquettes, ordinary charcoal, flavored briquettes or coconut charcoal briquettes. In order to make it easier for you to choose a high-quality and suitable charcoal for your barbecues, we present their overview and main features:
Natural wood charcoal (coal) – made of natural hardwood. For example, bThe charcoal burning time is about 15-20 minutes and the cooking time is up to 2.5 hours, depending on the environmental conditions and the burning control. This type of coal has a hot and continuous burn, but the heat can be uneven, hotter at the beginning and cooler at the end. Charcoal is made without the use of additives, burns cleanly and leaves very little ash, it is easy to start a fire. Suitable for use on all charcoal grills.
Charcoal briquettes of various hardwoods (pressed coal) - it is ready-made fuel for uniform continuous combustion and maintaining a constant temperature. The burning time of this fuel is from 10 to 20 minutes, the cooking time is up to 3 hours. When choosing quality briquettes, it is important to pay attention to the fact that they are made of 100% natural organic materials without chemicals, then the cooked food will not have any extraneous smell or taste. For faster and hotter cooking, it is recommended to choose oak pressed charcoal briquettes. Cooking with briquettes requires a much smaller amount compared to regular charcoal to achieve the same results. Suitable for use on all charcoal grills. It is the most efficient fuel for both entertaining and professional baking.
Pressed coconut shell charcoal briquettes (pressed coal) - completely natural cushion-shaped briquettes made from coconut shell charcoal. Closing time –15 minutes, the briquettes emit heat for up to 4-5 hours. Coconut briquettes have a higher heating temperature than charcoal. 1 kg of coconut charcoal replaces approximately 2 kg of any other wood charcoal. This natural fuel is chemical-free, sulfur-free, which is very important for cooking. A little more ash remains, but this fuel does not emit any smoke or smell. Suitable for use on all charcoal grills. This fuel choice is great for all types of smaller grills, such as Cobb Premier or Cobb Supreme, and especially for those owners of barbecues for whom environmental friendliness and comfortable cooking of good food in semi-closed rooms, gazebos, terraces, specific city conditions, or even in the cold season in the kitchen under the hood are important.
Pressed coconut charcoal briquettes with aromas - these are cushion-shaped briquettes made by mixing coconut shell charcoal optionally with flavoring compounds. The burning time of this fuel is 10-15 minutes and it maintains heat for up to 4 hours. Choose only briquettes of the highest quality and natural composition, which when ignited will give food wonderful aromas and a savory and unique taste. This fuel is also smokeless and odorless, so it is suitable for various cooking conditions and does not pollute the environment. Suitable for use in various grills and barbecues and helps to achieve exceptional results.
Pressed coconut shell charcoal tablets – these compact and economical tablets have an ignition time of 4-5 minutes and provide more than two hours of constant heat. If you can't start a fire with ordinary briquettes, a great solution is to try these tablets, which give much more heat and burn longer than charcoal briquettes of the same weight. Perfectly suited for those camping or those who want to bake in urban conditions, because this fuel does not emit any smoke or smell, suitable for smaller barbecues.
