Using the right charcoal can make or break your barbecued masterpiece. There are many different kinds on the market, however care must be taken in choosing the right one, as it can greatly affect the flavor and outcome of your grilled dish.
Charcoals for grilling come in lumps or briquettes, which is a block of charcoal that maintains the fire underneath the grill. Using pure charcoal achieves much better results than using charcoal filled with by-products.
Many companies use fillers such as nitrates and clay in their charcoal, and if possible this is something you would want to stay away from. When buying charcoal, take a look at the packaging to make sure that it is in fact 100% charcoal. If it isn’t, steer clear.
Pure charcoal, which is made from carbonized wood burns cleaner and maintains the fire longer, free of any additives that might change the flavor of your food. It comes in irregular shapes, unlike briquettes and is usually made from hickory, mesquite or oak wood. With some research, pure charcoal isn’t that difficult to find. Some supermarkets and home improvements stores like Home Depot should have them in stock. Putting in the extra time to find a good charcoal for your culinary adventures will pay off.