Prep the Grill
Place the grill outside on a flat surface away from trees, rooftops, or other structures that are overhanging. Vent the bottom is open.
Add Charcoal
To get the fire started, you’ll need to add charcoal. You can do this by using a charcoal chimney or your new grill’s built-in starter. If you use lighter fluid, be careful not to overdo it!
Lighter fluid contains chemicals that can affect flavor and can even cause an unpleasant aftertaste. In addition, too much fuel will make it difficult for oxygen to reach your coals and keep them burning hot, so don’t pour in all of the charcoal at once! Also avoid briquettes if possible; they’re made from coal dust instead of wood or natural gas like real BBQ coals are.
Use oil to start a fire
If you’re using lighter fluid to start your small charcoal grill, it’s time to stop. It may have been the last resort of a previous generation, but today there are much better options for getting your fire going.
Use oil instead of lighter fluid to start a fire in your small charcoal grill. Oil is an excellent alternative because it doesn’t leave behind any chemical residue that can affect the flavor of foods cooked on the grill.
Lighter fluid might seem like a good idea at first glance. It’s easy to use and comes with instructions printed right on the bottle but consider what other disadvantages there are:
You’ll probably end up with too many flames going for long periods of time, which can burn food and cause smoke damage inside your house or car (or wherever else you happen to be grilling). These excess flames also increase the amount of ash produced during cooking time. The result is more cleanup work later!
Most importantly, leftover chemicals from lighter fluids could contaminate food if not properly disposed after each use; this would make it unsafe for human consumption and could even cause cancer if eaten regularly over time!
Let the Coals Get Hot
When it comes to small charcoal grills, you don’t need to worry about how long it takes to get the coals hot. Just follow these simple steps:
- Light the coals and place them on the grill
- Make sure they’re spread out evenly so that they’ll be easier to manage later on
- Don’t worry about how many coals you need (it’s always good to have a few extra). Smaller grills are designed for smaller amounts of food. This means that if you’re cooking something small like burgers or chicken breasts, you won’t have as much room on your grill grate as someone cooking larger cuts of meat like steaks or pork chops.
Spread Out the Coal
The next step is to spread out your coals so they are evenly distributed across the bottom of your grill. To do this, use a spatula or other similar tool to push and spread the coals out in one layer.
Make sure there is enough space between them for airflow. If you put them too close together, then they may not get hot enough to cook properly!
Oil the Grill Rack
Once the grill is heated and ready, it’s time to oil the grill rack. The easiest way to do this is with vegetable oil. You can also use other oils like olive or peanut oil. Do not use cooking spray as it won’t have much flavor.
Don’t even think about using water to clean your hot grill rack. The water will steam and become trapped under the food causing it to soggy and not crispy when you want it that way.
