Why Do We Need To Put Out A Charcoal Grill After Cooking?
Preventing Uncontrolled Fires
When you’ve nailed the exact amount of charcoal for your grilling session, there’s often a sense of satisfaction. However, any burning embers and coals left unattended can quickly become a hazard, especially if the grill is knocked over.
It’s crucial to put out these coals to eliminate the risk of starting a fire, safeguarding both the grill and its surroundings.
Managing Leftover Heat
A common problem with leftover burning charcoal is that it keeps the grill hot for a long time, making it risky to cover.
Putting a cover on a hot grill is a bad idea, as the heat could melt the cover, potentially damaging it and leaving the grill unprotected from the elements.
Differences from Gas Grilling
For those who have spent the majority of their grilling life using a gas grill, adjusting to charcoal requires understanding the differences. With gas grills, shutting off the burners and the propane tank suffices, and you can let it cool before putting a cover on.
Charcoal grills demand additional considerations due to their continuous supply of heat, which can’t be switched off as easily.
Safety and Convenience
Especially important during activities like camping, where time is of the essence, and you may need to pack up and leave in minutes, ensuring the charcoal is extinguished promptly is vital.
Employing a method that uses every single word of caution and preparation helps manage time effectively, making the process of cooling and safely handling the grill more efficient.
By adopting these practices, we ensure our grilling adventures are both enjoyable and safe, leaving no lot of charcoal burning unnecessarily and no essence of risk behind.
How to Put Out Charcoal After Grilling?
After a delightful session of grilling, it’s crucial to dispose of and handle the used coals and ash with care. Remember, these remnants should only be approached once cooled.
My go-to tips for safe handling involve letting nature do its work, ensuring all charcoal is devoid of heat, and preventing any accidental mishaps.
What You’ll Need
- Heat-Resistant Grilling Gloves
- Spray Bottle with Water
- Aluminum Foil
- Non-Combustible Outdoor Trash Receptacle
- Fuel and Tools
- Charcoal Grill and Lid
- How to Cool Your Coals?
To eliminate the possibility of accidental flare-ups, cool down your used charcoal and ash effectively. Two common methods for extinguishing and cooling coals stand out.
One is to suffocate the fire by closing the grill side and shutting the vents for a solid 48 hours until everything is completely cooled. Alternatively, you could douse the coals with water, pouring and stirring slowly and carefully to avoid creating hot steam.
This approach eliminates the possibility of dormant embers reigniting, ensuring a safe environment.
How to Dispose of Used Charcoal and Ash?
When your grilling session ends and the charcoal and ash have completely cooled, it’s time to dispose of them responsibly. I recommend thoroughly wrapping the remnants in aluminum foil before tossing them into a non-combustible outdoor trash receptacle.
It’s essential to never compost or fertilize with used briquets, as the ingredients in products like Kingsford® and Kingsford® Match Light® do not aid in the breakdown of organic matter.
How to Reuse Partially Burned Coals?
For those looking to reuse partially burned coals, avoid submerging them in water. Instead, carefully spray them down to prevent further burning. Once they’re completely cooled, allow the coals to dry.
You can then keep them in your grill for later use. This method not only conserves resources but also ensures your grill is always ready for your next barbecue adventure.
Can I Douse My Charcoal Grill With Water?
Pouring water on your charcoal grill might seem like a quick solution, but it’s rife with risks. This method can instantly create steam capable of causing burns and send hot ash flying, creating a safety hazard.
For those with ceramic grills such as the Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe, or Primo XL, the sudden thermal shock could lead to damage or cracking, severely affecting your grill’s durability.
Additionally, this approach turns ash into mud, complicating cleanup and promoting rust development at the grill’s bottom. In essence, while it technically works, the potential for harm and mess suggests looking for safer alternatives.
How to Use Water to Extinguish the Coals Quickly and Safely?
Dunking Method for Safe Extinguishing
Remove pieces of charcoal from the grill and dunk them into a bucket of water. This method reduces the production of steam and is safer than pouring water directly into the grill.
It also allows you to potentially salvage good-quality charcoal for future use, though be aware that cheaper charcoal may not withstand the process.
Safety Precautions and Equipment
Always use grill gloves to protect your hands from the heat when handling burning charcoal. Keep the bucket of water conveniently close to the grill to ensure a quick and safe process.
Spritzing Method for Cooling
Spritzing charcoal with water can accelerate the cooling process with less risk compared to pouring.
However, this approach must be done carefully to avoid creating a mess inside the grill and to minimize the risk of steam burns.
Considerations and Recommendations
While dunking offers a way to reuse charcoal and minimizes steam, it’s important to approach it with caution due to the downfall of handling hot coals.
The spritzing method, although less messy, is not highly recommended because of its potential for creating steam and mess. Always prioritize safety and follow best practices when extinguishing coals with water.
At Home, With Plenty of Time
Closing the Grill Properly
After removing the food from the grill, ensure to close the lid and all vents. It’s important for safety to wear insulated gloves or mitts, as the vents can be hot.
This step is crucial and takes time, potentially a whole day, for the coals to eventually go out.
Avoiding Water for Extinguishing
It is strongly advised to NOT pour or spray water on the coals to put them out faster. Applying water can lead to extremely hot, billowing steam that could burn.
Moreover, dirty, dusty water might splash onto your deck or cooking area, leaving a mess. Ash and dust getting wet can also create additional cleanup challenges.
Away From Home and Need to Act Quickly
Efficient Packing After Competitions
On the competition barbecue circuit, fellow competitors and I often feel anxious to pack up and head home once the contest is over. A practical solution I’ve adopted is to carry a small, metal trash can.
Once ready to pack up, wearing insulated mitts, I dump the hot coals and ashes into the trash can and tightly close the lid. This method is more airtight than leaving them in the grill, which effectively puts out the fire and cools the coals quickly.
Safe Transportation
After everything else is cleaned and packed up, the trash can usually becomes cool enough to pick up by the handles and place in my truck bed.
It’s important to not put the can inside your vehicle unless it’s cool to the touch. The cooling time depends on the amount of coals left to burn.
Alternatives to Water for Extinguishing
If you’re near built-in fire pits, you might opt to dump your coals there instead of having to haul them home. It’s vital to ensure they’re completely extinguished before you walk away.
While I generally avoid using water to extinguish coals due to the risk of steam, if coals are dumped in a fire pit and still too hot to leave, carefully pouring water into the pit can help extinguish them. Always be careful of the resulting steam.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, safely extinguishing a charcoal grill requires careful consideration and methodical steps, whether you choose to let the coals burn out naturally or expedite the process without water.
Key practices include allowing the charcoal to fully cool and turn to ash over time, with the grill lid closed and vents shut, as recommended by the Hearth, Patio, and Barbeque Association.
Alternatively, cutting off the oxygen supply by closing vents and the damper can effectively extinguish the coals without the use of water, preventing potential hazards such as steam burns or damage to the grill.
Regardless of the method, safety and patience are paramount, ensuring a responsible and effective conclusion to any grilling session.
FAQ
How to put out a charcoal grill without a lid?
Disperse the coals evenly across the grill grate to facilitate even cooling. Gradually pour water or sand over the coals in a slow and controlled manner, being cautious of steam and hot ashes that may rise
Do you just let the charcoal burn out?
According to the Hearth, Patio, and Barbeque Association (HPBA), the best practice is to allow the charcoal to burn out and turn to ash.
This involves cooling for at least 48 hours with the grill’s lid closed and all vents shut. For convenience, it’s advised to remove the grill rack.
How do you put out a charcoal grill without water?
To extinguish coals without water, fully close the vents at the bottom of the kettle and the damper on the lid to cut off the oxygen supply to the coals. This will cause the coals to be extinguished.
