Safety First
- It’s recommended to keep your grill at least 10 feet away from your house and place it in a well-ventilated area.
- Find a stable, level surface away from flammable materials to set up your portable grill. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
- Never use portable grills on wood decks and vinyl siding.
- Use gloves which are made of fire-resistant material such as aramid gloves. Wear these throughout grilling to protect your hands from high temperatures and hot tongs.
- For propane grills, always perform a leak test before you start. Apply soap solution near the hose connections of the propane tank. If bubbles appear, there is a leak, and the tank must be replaced.
How to Use a Portable Charcoal Grill
There are two ways to place and cook your food using a portable charcoal grill:
- One method is to cook the food on the grate with the charcoal briquettes burning directly below it.
- The other method would require you to create two heat zones. In this method, place the charcoal briquettes on one side of the grill and set the food on the other side. This arrangement allows the gentle smoke and heat from the charcoal to cook the food indirectly, enhancing the flavor while ensuring even cooking. This kind of cooking is safe for food items that need less heat.
The method you use will depend on the kind of food you are cooking. Usually, you can use the direct method for searing and quicker cooking times and the indirect method for slower cooking.
Light the Briquettes and Place Them
- Place a few unlit briquettes into the grill. If you’re cooking with direct heat, simply layer them evenly.
- For the indirect method, layer them to one side of the grill.
- If you’re using a chimney starter to light your briquettes, start by filling the chimney halfway with briquettes and lighting it up using fire starter cubes. After the charcoal has started to ash over, you can place the briquettes into your grill over the unlit charcoal.
- If you don’t have access to a chimney starter, place fire starter cubes directly over the charcoal and light it. This might take some time as compared to using a chimney starter.
The other empty side will require you to place a water pan. While a water pan is not entirely necessary, it can be beneficial for moisture and temperature control and prevent your food from drying.
Keep the bottom vents open so that oxygen flow will allow the briquettes to light up effectively.
If you want to smoke your food, consider placing soaked wood chips or wood chunks amongst the lit charcoal.
Cook Your Food Over the Grill Grate
- Before you place your food over the grill grate, it is important to allow the charcoal to burn. Cover the grill with the lid of the grill and keep the top vent open entirely.
- Allow the grill to reach the desired temperature, then open the lid to check for a layer of ash. Brush this off before you place your food.
- Direct cooking allows you to cook your food anywhere over the grill.
- The indirect method will require you to position the food above the water pan you've placed underneath and not over the lit charcoal.
- Cover the lid again and make sure that the vents are placed above the food.
- Follow the recipe for any specific requirements or methods as your food cooks.
Let The Grill Cool Down
- After using the grill, close the vents and the lid. This will restrict air flow which will eventually extinguish the charcoal.
- Let the grill cool down completely and get rid of the ash once the temperature is low and store it away in a waste bin.
- Store the grill in a secure, dry location away from children and pets.
Get Rid of the Ashes
- Make sure that the ashes and coals from the grill are cooled down.
- Once cooled with the help of a small ash shovel collect the ashes and wrap them in an alluminum foil.
- The next step is to dispose of the ashes in a residual waste bin.
Carefully rake through the ashes to check for any flames and help release any leftover heat. You can put them out with water or sand before disposing in the trash.
Transfer the ashes to a metal container and dispose of them in a designated outdoor area, away from flammable materials. Avoid dumping ashes directly into the trash, which can pose a fire hazard.
How to Use a Portable Propane Grill
Connect the Propane Gas Tank
- Place the propane tank next to the portable grill so that the hose reaches. Check to see that the knob is turned off.
- Locate the tab on the safety cap and pull it firmly to remove it.
- Connect the grill hose to the gas tank's valve and ensure it clicks into place.
- Once the hose clicks into place, turn the knob on the hose clockwise as far as it goes to tighten it securely.
Propane tanks come in various sizes, so choose a tank size depending on the amount of grilling you need to do.
Light the Grill
- Allow the gas to flow through the grill hose by turning the knob on the gas tank. Make sure that before you do this, the lid to the grill is open so that the gas does not build up.
- With the gas tank connected, press and turn the grill's ignition button to light the flame.
- Turn the knob to a high flame setting and cover the lid. Let the grill preheat for at least 10 minutes.
Cook the Food
- Open the lid and lower your flames depending on your recipe requirements.
- Follow the recipe for any specific instructions to cook your food.
- If the recipe calls for indirect cooking, simply turn off one burner or lower the temperature on one side.
If the flames go out, turn off the grill knob and shut off the propane supply first, then wait for 5 minutes before you re-light the grill.
Clean Up
- After you’re done cooking, turn off the grill knobs, followed by the knob on the gas tank. Make sure you recheck both the knob on the grill and on the gas tank to ensure that it is shut off tightly to prevent any gas leaks or fire hazards.
- Leave the lid open and allow the grill to cool down.
- Clean the grill surface using a wire brush (if it’s a grill grate) or use hot water and a soft cloth to clean, followed by seasoning with oil (if it’s a griddle) before you store it away.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning and maintaining your portable grill is crucial if you want to prolong its lifespan and ensure a safe and perfect grilling experience every time. Check out our comprehensive guide on how to deep clean and maintain portable grills.