Nothing could replace a perfectly juicy steak or succulent grilled vegetables made on a charcoal grill. The innovation and taste brought to food using a charcoal grill are extraordinary. You cannot resist overeating when having perfectly grilled tender meat in front of you.
However, using a charcoal grill is not everyone’s cup of tea.
Your grill often turns too hot and starts burning your food. It will keep your food undercooked from the inside.
Are you tired of ruining your food taste every time you grill it due to overheating the charcoal grill? Don’t worry! We will tell you how to cool down a charcoal grill.
Why Do You Need to Cool Down Your Charcoal Grill During Cooking?
If you are confused about why you should cool down your charcoal grill during cooking, here are the top 3 reasons.
Reason#1: To Avoid Food Blazing
When your charcoal grill has more than enough heat, it will burn your food. You will never want to eat burnt food that does not taste good. Therefore, to avoid this issue, you must cool down the grill.
Reason#2: Undercooked Meat
Why do you prefer to use a charcoal grill for cooking meat? Because it assists you in getting perfectly tender meat with all its flavors. However, when your charcoal grill is overheated, it will burn the outer layer of meat, leaving the inside undercooked.
Reason#3: To Enhance the Life of Your Grill
Too much heat in your charcoal grill will damage its material. Though it’s made up of suitable quality alloys, it still cannot resist high-temperature levels for a long time. Therefore, you must cool down your grill upon overheating to make it last longer.
How to Cool Down a Charcoal Grill While Cooking?
Cooling down a charcoal grill once it gets overheated is not easy. However, we will provide you with some advanced methods of doing so. Let’s start exploring these methods and find which one is suitable for you.
Method#1: Adjusting the Grates
Step#1: Check the Temperature in Different Zones
The first step is to check the temperature at different zones of your charcoal grill. Start from the point where grates are currently adjusted. Then find the point where the temperature is most suitable for your food.
Step#2: Remove the Grates
The second step is to remove the grates of your charcoal grill. Never touch them with your hand, as the grates will be hot enough to burn your hand. Use a grate lifter tool for this purpose.
Char-Broil 9264369R06 Universal Grate Lifter will do the job for you. It has a 2 pong design to lift any grates. Moreover, it also has a rubber grip, making it easy to hold without slipping. It is usually made up of heat-resistant material.
Step#3: Adjust the Grates
The next step is to adjust the grates. You have to keep your grates at that point where the temperature is suitable for your food. You will manage to find the sweet point quickly after a few trials.
This method will work only if your grill has adjustable grates. In case your grill doesn’t have this feature, you can opt for the following alternate methods.
Method#2: Adjusting the Air Vents
Air vents decide the combustion rate of charcoal present in your grill. They require oxygen for combustion. Vents control the intake and release of air, directly impacting the combustion rate.
Step#1: Adjusting the Lower Vent
The lower vent provides air from the downside to the charcoal. More air means coal will burn at a higher rate, and the temperature will rise.
First, close it entirely for a few minutes. This will lower the temperature immediately. Then adjust the lower vent accordingly to maintain a constant temperature. Remember, continuous closing will create a lot of smoke.
Step#2: Adjusting the Upper Vent
The upper vent works as a chimney for your charcoal grill. It will exhaust the air and smoke out of the grill. Partially close it to block the passage of air. This will reduce the airflow rate, and coals will not burn with the same efficiency. This will lower the temperature of the grill during cooking.
Pro-Tip: Keep the upper vent completely open and control the airflow via a lower vent. Closing the upper vent will add a smoky smell and flavor to your food and ruin the taste.
Method#3: Shielding the Grill
This method is used for the immediate cooling down of your charcoal grill. It is an easy and quick process. Take aluminum foil and fold it. Then place it over the burning charcoal in your grill.
This will block the direct heat. It will allow a limited amount of heat to reach your food. So, you will have it perfectly cooked at the desired temperature. Folding layers of foil will assist you in adjusting the temperature.
Precautionary Tips
Following safety measures are a must to consider if you need to grill safely and avoid hazards.
Wear Heat Resistant Gloves
Wear heat-resistant gloves regardless of the method you use to cool down your grill. This will prevent your hands from burning by the high temperature of the charcoal grill.
Avoid Throwing Water
Don’t throw water onto the burning coals. It will release a lot of steam that can damage your face and the material of the grill. If you must cool the grill immediately, use a spray bottle to throw water.
Conclusion
As promised, we have delivered the complete guide on how to cool down a charcoal grill while cooking. We have told you about three different methods.
Use the grate adjustment feature to cool down the grill. If your grill doesn’t have this feature, you must adjust the airflow by closing the vents. If you are in a hurry and want to cool It immediately, use the shielding method. Covering the burning coals with aluminum foil will do the trick by blocking the heat.
Never ignore precautions when cooling your grill, and say goodbye to burnt and undercooked food!
