If you are a fan of grilled foods, then it would be of great use if you learn how to build a charcoal grill yourself. Building charcoal grill can be loads of fun and bring you a rewarding experience at the end of it all. So, why waste money on the expensive grills available in the market when you can learn right here - how to build a charcoal grill. Building charcoal grill yourself means you can customize it according to your own preferences. So, if you are ready to savor the delicious charcoal grilled delicacies, then, read on to learn how to build a charcoal grill –

Get the charcoal grill

Your first task would be to purchase a grilled rack, large enough to accommodate enough items to be grilled and feed your diners. The cooking surface of your grill should always be at your waist level or above, but never below.

Arrange for the fuel

Your fuel is charcoal. But remember one thing before you go out to fetch the charcoal. Not all charcoals give you the same results. It is always good to go for the lump charcoal which is marketed with the names of natural, cowboy or hardwood charcoals. However, if you aren’t lucky enough to get lump charcoal, your next best bet would be go for the charcoal briquettes. But make sure they are free from fluids. At any cost, steer clear of the Matchlite charcoal, which will not be of any great use for the grilling purpose.

Use a chimney starter

You can purchase a chimney starter from any hardware store. For loading and lighting the chimney cylinder, this equipment comes very handy. All you have to do is slid in few crumpled newspaper sheets at the base of your cylinder. Then, light the cylinder from the bottom, placing the chimney starter into the grill. Now, dump the coals into it. Once the flames have died down and the coals start graying, you have to gear up for grilling. The coals become very hot during this time. So, stay cautious to avoid spilling coal on the patio, the deck or your feet. 

Customize your charcoal grill

Now, that you have learnt how to build a charcoal grill using the basic equipments, it’s time for you to give it your personalized touch. You can create ‘direct heat’ and ‘indirect heat’ zones in you charcoal grill. It’s easy! Just bank the coals around, pushing them to the sides and creating empty space just in between or the cooking surface. For crispier grill use the sides that give more heat and for juicy low smoked grills, use the central part, beneath which there is less or no coal. Also, create top and bottom vents in your charcoal grill to make sure, your fuel gets the oxygen it needs, to keep the fire burning. Depending on the breeze, you can adjust the closing or opening of the vents.

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