There is no doubt that grilling with charcoal is going to deliver the best flavor if you love the authentic barbecue taste, and chicken is certainly a prime candidate for the charcoal flavor we all love. Grilling a whole chicken on charcoal is not without its dangers though, so here, as a part of the charcoal grilling tips category, I wanted to give some tips for grilling a whole chicken using charcoal to ensure that it is delicious, full of flavor, and very importantly, safe for you to eat.

Charcoal Grilling A Whole Chicken

My technique has served me very well for many years, and I can honestly say that it delivers the absolute best flavor chicken I have ever tasted, even if I do say so myself. It revolves around pre-cooking the chicken, and this is  step that is pretty much a must if you want to do a whole bird.

The advantage is that because of how we cook it we also get an amazing stock to use for soups, stews or even to cook rice in.

The Process

It is actually very simple.

1. Chop up some carrots, onions and celery and place in a large pan of water
2. Bring to the boil
3. Place the whole chicken in the water
4. Cover with a lid
5. Turn the heat down to the lowest possible temperature
6. Cook for an hour and a half for an average sized bird
7. Remove and allow to cool for 30 minutes
8. Pat dry
9. Put it on the charcoal grill on a medium temperature
10. Turn regularly until golden brown all over

And that is about all that there is to it really.

By boiling the chicken first you are ensuring that it is safe to eat. In fact by boiling it you really intensify the flavor as well. Which is what we want. As it is cooking in the stock the juices continually go back into the bird, and the added vegetables really do make a difference too.

You will find that the result is a very succulent bird that tastes delicious as it is. But once we actually get it on the charcoal grill then it tastes out of this world!

It normally takes about 30 minutes to then grill the chicken, which is pretty quick. In this time we need to keep turning it so that the whole bird begins to get nice and crispy.

Added Flavor

I like to keep it simple so all that I add is some salt and pepper. But I also like to rub in a little butter too. This is a taste sensation and you are not going to believe just how good it tastes. Use a good grill like a Weber smokey joe silver charcoal grill, or the gold version, and you are going to be in food heaven.

The bird will crisp up amazingly well because of the addition of the salt and the butter, and the flavor is so intense you are going to be amazed.

And don’t forget that the water the bird was boiled in is going to be delicious in its own right. Take out the vegetables and either put them through a blender or discard. You now have a very intense stock that can be used in a variety of ways.

My favorite is to use it to boil rice, use Bismati if you possibly can.

And here is a quick tip for the perfect way to cook rice. Use double the amount of water to rice. Bring to the boil, turn down low, and put the lid on. Boil for 10 minutes then remove from the heat. Allow it to stand for 10 minutes more. Perfect rice.

So, 2 cooking tips for the price of one, I hope you enjoyed this article on cooking a whole chicken on charcoal. Me, I am feeling hungry already!

After countless years of trial and error and countless different brands and types of charcoal, I am in no doubt about a few facts.

Firstly, you do NOT need to buy expensive charcoal to get optimum results. In fact, brand has little, if anything to do with the results you get. It is the type of charcoal that is all important, and a generic brand is just as good as some expensive name that you may see advertised quite a lot.

Charcoal Types

Wikipedia has some great information, although maybe a little more than we need to concern ourselves with really. It basically is going to come down to two types for our purposes.

Lump charcoal

Briquettes

There are a few key differences to note, and I feel that they are important.

Lump Charcoal vs Briquettes

Lump charcoal is the most natural form. Usually made from hardwood, it is the simplest option. It is simply carbonized hardwood broken up to be suitable for the grill. Natural, not contaminated with any additives, and about as pure as you can get. You may be surprised to read that charcoal can contain all manner of additives, but iis the case.

Briquettes are often not as natural. They can be made from compressed sawdust, may have additives  to help them light or burn, and may even have paraffin or other fuels added too.

I guess this article is over now!!!

It is pretty obvious from the above what it is that I am going to recommend isn’t it?

Lump charcoal each and every time is what I recommend as the best charcoal to use. It is natural, has no additives, and I have actually found that it burns much better anyway.

Why would we risk contaminating our food with smoke from petrol and other binding agents when the whole point of  cooking with charcoal is to keep it as natural as we possibly can? I think that this is a very important point to bear in mind. If you want to get the best results, and this means the best burn and the best flavor, then go for lump charcoal each and every time.

What Brand Of Charcoal Is Best?

In my experience it honestly does not matter. It may be worth trying a few different options if you can find them. But in my experience most areas usually stock the same brand, or generic bag of charcoal for the most part, so we are usually stuck with what is readily available.

The main thing is to buy something natural and this means lump charcoal wherever possible.

You should be able to find it readily enough from local sources, and if not then it may be worth the extra drive to stock up on what is at the heart of a successful barbecue.

Being an avid gardener I am going to give you a great tip that you can all use if you are wondering what to do with your charcoal after grilling.

It is actually a simple idea so this really isn’t going to take that long.

Put it on the compost heap!

All that nitrogen is going to help to make the best compost in the world. All you need to do is to crush up any lumps that are a bit big and, along with the charcoal ash, simply spread out onto the compost heap. If you don’t have one then it is a great way to improve your plants and crops. But you could also simply sprinkle a little bit of the leftover charcoal after grilling directly onto the soil around the base of your plants.

This is just one of the many charcoal grilling tips I hope to have up here over time, so I hope that you did find it useful. It may be short and sweet but there is no point my taking up more of your time than I need to.

Oh, one other thing.

If the lumps are still very large on the grill then save them. There is absolutely no reason why you cannot simply use them again the next time you want to do some grilling. Saves money and you could even just leave them on the grill so you don’t get your fingers dirty! Who said it was just barbecue grill reviews here? I hope you enjoy all the articles as well as the grill reviews.

I admit, I am biased. For me there is simply no comparison between grilling with charcoal and using anything else as your fuel source. In the charcoal grilling tips category here at Barbecue or Boogaloo you will find any number of articles on how to get the best out of charcoal grilling. Plus you will find recipes and information on many aspects of charcoal grilling. In this article I want to simply cover some of the basics, so that you have a better understanding of just why charcoal grilling is going to give you the best results.

It certainly gives you that barbecue flavor that many of us are in search of.

Charcoal vs Gas Grilling

The bottom line is that gas is much more convenient. It is quick, you can totally control the temperature, and it means you don’t have to get your hands dirty!

But where is the fun in that. Give me my Weber smokey Joe grill any day!

So why use charcoal for grilling if gas is so much more convenient.

Flavor!!!

Charcoal gives off a great flavor that can transform your meat, fish or vegetables into something wonderful. It is simply the best way to add real depth to your courses without the need for all manner of spices, sauces and marinades. Not that these do not have their place, of course. Also see  my article on the best charcoal for grilling to make sure you use a charcoal that is as natural as possible.

How To Control The Temperature With Charcoal Grilling

It is not actually as difficult as it seems. Once you have allowed the charcoal to go totally white then it is time to cook. We want to make sure it is not too hot so the best thing to do is to put your food on the grill and see how it begins to cook. If it is too fast then the solution is simple. We simply close the lid on the grill for just a few seconds.

TOP TIP: If your grill does not have a lid then a simple sheet of silver foil will work just as well to starve the coals of oxygen and cool down them down.

If you do this it will cool down the charcoal instantly.

Then we remove the lid and the coals will slowly begin to heat up again.

I have done this countless times and it really is the best way to stay in total control of your grilling temperature.

Charcoal Grilling Instructions

It is not difficult at all. If you want to know how to grill with charcoal then here are the simplest steps:

• Use two small firelighter cubes and light them in the center of the grill
• Build a pyramid of charcoal around the cubes
• Use the whole grill surface to fill with charcoal, making sure it peaks in the center
• Leave it for about 45 minutes
• Once the coals are all totally white they are read to be used to grill

That really is about all there is to it.

Ensure the coals are white and you are ready to go.

Use the tip above to cool down the coals if your food is too hot.

And get ready for a taste sensation

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Camerons Products Stovetop Smoker Review

This piece of equipment is easy to use with some practice. It comes with a sampling of wood chips to get you started, and works on any heat surface. It is a healthy alternative to pan fried, deep fried, or other high fat and calorie cooking styles, without sacrificing flavor in the process.

The stainless steel construction is an easy cleaning item, and resists rust making it ideal for someone to use repeatedly for a lifetime of use. It has a tight fitting lid to keep the smoke in, and can be used in any type of kitchen situation, whether gas, electric, or even over a grill or campfire.

It comes with a 7 year warranty, which is plenty of time to put it through the use and abuse that comes with any type of kitchen equipment. The cooking uses of this product also work with other cooking techniques, such as poaching, or steaming. If you are interested in trying to lower your fat intake and this seems to be a product that will help along with this quite a bit.

Its large cooking area could accommodate a full side of salmon, but a couple of chicken breasts wouldn’t feel too small for it either. The handles stay cool during the cooking making retrieval of the meat easy to accomplish.

What I Like

First thing that I noticed was the shiny exterior, almost a mirror finish, to this grill. It was a beautiful sight. I have seen some smokers that are unattractive to have in a kitchen, and this definitely was not one of those. Seeing as you can place this in your kitchen and cook inside looks happen to be important. Between the beautiful finish, and its compact size (only 7 pounds unlike some of the other “portable” grills on the market) this grill would be perfect for those living in apartments, condos, or an older home with a tiny kitchen.

My wife and I actually purchased this grill my little brother when he got his first apartment and even with the little cooking skill he has my mother no longer worries if he is eating. I showed him what he could do with the addition of some cooking spray, and aluminum foil for the bottom.

I went to work with some of the hickory chips placed in the bottom, with a spritz of water, and I started smoking a filet of salmon. Within minutes of use I had the pleasing aroma of smoking salmon in the kitchen, without it overpowering the senses, as there was no noticeable smoke creeping around the sides of the lid. After the sufficient amount of time had past, the flesh of the fish was cooked perfectly. It was moist, not tough at all, and the salmon flavor was not overpowered by the smoke. It was almost too easy. After seeing these simple steps he grew in confidence and will not grill himself steak, fish, burgers and just about anything else that fits on the grill.

What I Do Not Like:

There is not a lot bad about this grill. It is more of a beginner grill than one for a season pro, but for what it is meant for this stovetop smoker is pretty much perfect.

Although light weight it is still a bit big to fit easily in with my sons other pans in the cabinet. Also after a few uses a bit of burnt wood did stick to the side of the pan, and it was a bit difficult to get the steel shiny in that one spot again.

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Cuisinart CGG-200 Review

This versatile piece of equipment, the very cool Cuisinart tabletop gas grill, can be used stand alone or on the removable legs. Either way the cooking height would be perfect for most adults. Its 1200 BTU loop coils offer enough heat to sear your steaks and chops to perfection. The porcelain enamel coated stainless steel grates have a flat wide side for good grill marks one side, and then the grates flip for a smaller food contact surface for more delicate items, such as fish or large vegetables. The Cuisinart CGG-200 price is also amazing, buy online for the best price.

Its swinging stainless steel trays can be used over the grill for flat top grilling, such as pizza, or swung out to use as a holding platform for utensils or plates of food. These attachments hold up to 10 pounds, so there is no worries about holding your stack of steaks to be ready for the heat. It also has a grill attachment, specifically designed for smaller items, such as smaller cut vegetables.

The Cuisinart CGG-200 has a heat resistant handle for the lid for ease of opening to check on, or serve the food. Finally the sturdy wide grill base is of one piece construction for the perfect height for grilling, and perfect fit for the optional folding stand.

What I Like About The Cuisinart Gas Grill

The looks of this product are very attractive and modern. So much so that I would have a hard time keeping it out of sight not letting any of my family or friends see it. The twist start ignition system is easy to use and the grill heats up very quickly. And not just to the average 350 degrees of most portable gas grills, but all the way to 500 degrees for a great hot cooking experience.

Its 35 lbs make it easily portable for use on the go to the beach, a friend’s house, or to a tailgate party. It can accommodate the smaller propane canisters, as well as the large 20lb tanks with the optional folding grill stand. The grates provided amazing grill marks on meat and vegetables, as well as being narrow enough to handle kabobs without fear of losing your food as is the case with some older fashioned grill styles.

It is ready out of the box without lengthy assembly, so no need to look at those pesky directions. The food cooked to perfection, in a speed fitting of such a modern looking cooking apparatus. The Cuisinart gas grill price is certainly another thing I love as well, excellent value for money!

What I Do Not Like

The fold in stainless steel trays can stick a bit when cooking pizza or other grilled breads. Although I like that you can make this a self-standing grill, the grill legs are sold separately, which was a bit disappointing. The 3 year warranty seems a bit short for a good gas grill, but with its sturdy construction, I doubt it is insufficient.

The size is not conducive to large parties, only holding about 8 patties at once, so if a bigger party is happening, plan on cooking in more than one batch. All in all, this grill is a great alternative to much pricier models.

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Weber Portable Barbecue Go Anywhere Grill Review

The Weber Go Anywhere Grill price is stunningly low, plus it is completely collapsible and portable. With collapsible legs, use of parable propane tank, plus its small size makes this grill great for travelers. It has the weber standard porcelain coated nickel plated grate. It comes with a push button ignition system that makes lighting your grill fast and easy.

With 160 square inches of cooking space there is enough space to grill a few steaks or pork chops at a time. The legs lock into place and the lid also locks to the body so you can carry it one handed while walking it to where ever you may be going. The whole grill has a porcelain enamel coating to prevent rusting in the rain. It also comes with Weber’s heat distribution flavorized bar to make your food cook evenly with out to much work.

If you are planning on using this at home I recommend getting the hose to connect the grill to your large LP tank as it will last you a lot longer and cost you less in the long run. The last thing it comes with is Weber’s ten year warranty, once again showing this company stands by its product.

What I Like

As an avid fisherman, I was extremely happen with my fishing partner Sam brought this grill out to the lake one day. The portability and ease of use turned our normal peanut butter sandwich lunch into steak and eggs. Who would not love that!

Weber allows a 16 ounce propane tank and that tank will last for a summer of fishing trips. The grill is extremely portable. We can carry our fishing equipment and the grill without having to make additional trips back to the truck. The grill heats up quickly and cooks meat very well. After grilling we simply wash the grates off in the lake to make sure they do not get any grease caked on it. Sam will hose them down once he gets home and they are good as new.

There is nothing fancy about this grill. There is no extra gilts and glam but it is dependable and durable. So many companies are trying to take fashion forward upgrades to their grill but not Weber. If it is not broke don’t fix it. It is the same shiny black grill our fathers and grandfathers cooked on.

What I do not like

Being able to use a small portable tank as well as your standard large tank is a great benefit to the grill, one of the best portable gas grills. With all Weber does to insure your grill is a great grill, they do not include the hose attachment for the larger tank.

I am also not completely thrilled about the legs. They seem a little fragile compared to the standard grills and at first I was concerned a wind would blow this over. It has not happen but if I had my way the legs would be stronger and look thicker. It does not seem to be a big issue as there has never been a tip over on any of Sam and my fishing trips. Yet, I would make sure you are on solid ground if you do choose to use the grill as a self-standing grill.

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Marsh Allen Hibachi Review

This best price March Allen hibachi is unique in the fact that it is cheap. Most Marsh Allen grills seem to be of the high market. But don’t let that fool you it does have most of the amenities that other Hibachi’s have. It has three position adjustable cooking grates with 157square inches of cooking surface. The grill, one of the best cheap portable charcoal grills,  heats quickly and cleans even quicker.

There are wood handles to prevent you from burning yourself. It also has nicely rounded edges to prevent the meat from falling off the grill. The two vents are a nice touch most grill this size only have one but having two makes charcoal burn control a lot more manageable. It comes with four legs or can be used as a table top grill. Also included is easy to read instructions for the assembly. This is just a great little grill for the occasional grill master or someone who is experimenting with or expanding on their dinners.

What I Like About The Cheap Marsh Allen Hibachi

Above all things this grills easy assembly is a huge selling point. Three simple steps and you are practically up and running. If you are single woman, or simply a unhandy man this grill will give you no trouble when you attempt to put it together. I am not completely sure why there even are instructions for the assembly but even the instructions are the easiest instructions I have ever read. If only my high school math teacher knew how to explain things this easy…

The adjustability of all three grates makes cooking a synch. Of course we cannot talk about likes if we do not discuss price. At thirty dollars I had to make sure it was not a typo on the website. It amazes me, especially today, when it seems that the price of everything in America is skyrocketing.

Hibachi also made the grill extremely easy to clean. The wide grates will allow you to reach right in and get the gunk out. The grates also come off with little effort and are small enough to rinse off in your kitchen sink. The legs come off with ease so when if you head out to a park you can take off the legs and use the picnic table instead of having to wheel the grill down a slope or in sand.

What I don’t like

At risk of sounding a bit odd the paint on the grill runs. I have seen and heard several people complain that if they touch the grill with wet hands the paint becomes like water colors and will run right down the grill itself. To make sure this is not an issue for you, I would recommend running warm water over the grill for several minutes before you first use your grill. This should fix this problem.

Also depending on the size of your family you might have issues with this grill. This is not made for a large family. However, for a single person or a couple without a lot of kids, or growing teenage boys, the grill should be large enough for dinners. Just do not think you can cook 12 burgers, 20 dogs, and so on for the family reunion.

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Weber Smokey Joe Grills Review

Most of the features of the Weber Smokey Joes Gold and Silver models are the same. They both come with a 14 1/5 inch diameter grate that is porcelain enameled to lock in the flavor of your meat and make this grate last a life time. They come with Weber’s standard glass reinforced nylon handle to keep the heat away from your hands while removing the lid.

With a vent on the top and bottom you can control the temperature and flame height. Both the Gold and Silver weight about 9 pounds when empty, making them one of the lightest grills around. Also being so small these grill are very portable. You can fit 3-4 burgers on at once, or a steak or two depending on how thick your steak is. Both also feature a 10 year warranty, and cost about the same.

There are two differences between the Gold and Silver Smokey Joes. The Gold Grill comes with a lid that locks into place, and also a holder for the lid for the times you do not need to have the meat covered. This is a handy feature and frees up a hand to turn the meat, or add your favorite sauce. The Silver Smokey Joes actually comes with an ash catcher whereas the Gold does not. And you will find a great Weber smokey joe grills sale via the link to the best price smokey joe grills I supplied earlier, great stuff, and an amazingly cheap price for this quality item. One of the best value cheap charcoal grills available currently.

What I like:

These grills are simple. They are straight forward Weber charcoal grills. The oval shape helps the smoke surround the meat and gives it a get smoky flavor. If you have limited space or do not feel like you will grill often the size of this grill is perfect for you. It is extremely light and portable. Living in an apartment or with an unfinished small backyard does not need to stop you from having a home cooked meal.

Even though Weber made these grills a little smaller they did not skimp on the quality of the product. They use the same grates as in the larger version, as well as, the same coating of the grills that cost hundreds of dollars. Because of its size, you can save a lot on coals. It does not take much to get the grill heated and for it to stay hot. If you are only cooking for two people you do not need to have a huge grill for 20 people. It would be a waste of money and space if that were the case. It is wonderful that Weber has made products for people no matter where they are at in their lives.

What I do not like:

I wish you had the option to expand the length of the legs. I always have a problem with grills that are less than two feet off the ground unless it is solely used for camping or fishing. If this were just my backyard grill I would be constantly tripping over them.

I also do not understand why Weber removed the ash catcher with the Gold model. I love the lock for the top and the handle to hold the lid when not in use, but why remove a nice feature. Now when you empty the ash out you have to have a separate ash holder. It just does not make a lot of sense to me.

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Coleman Road Trip Grill Features

The Coleman Road Trip Grill is completely collapsible 36 inch propane grill that can be used at home or on the road. With 285 square inches of cooking space this grill also has a porcelain-coated cast-iron grates allowing easy clean up and durability at the same time.

When you cook meats over the two 10,000 BTU straight burners you will require to purchase a 16.4 ounce disposable propane tank. Also, whereas most portable grills are extremely light weight this grill is 285 square inches of cooking space and about 60 pounds. However when fully collapsed the grill will measure 36x22x13 making it easy to fix into a trunk and bring with you for road trips or tail gates.

What I like:

After doing research many times people attempt to decide to purchase either the Weber Q or the Coleman Road Trip LXE. When you take a look at these two grills you will notice the Coleman does have most everything the Weber has. However, the Road Trip is much easier to set-up and take down, the BTU output is much higher and there is a dual burner set-up where most of the Weber Qs does not have any of them unless you purchase them separately. If you do choose to upgrade to the top of the line Weber Q you can get some of these benefits but it will cost you a bunch more money.

Coleman does make set up very easy. The grill is practically put together as soon as you open the box. With the attachment of the handles and wheels you are good to go and enjoy your grill. It should not take any longer than 15 minutes to completely assemble the grill. This is much better than some of the grills I have seen where it takes hours on end and 40 pages of instructions.

This grill does heat up extremely quickly and remains hot for a long while as well. Even with the solid grill surface not letting flames get through over the top of the burners you will get a good flavor to the meat. What the closed grate does allow is the grease to fall somewhere else instead of on the burners themselves. This will help to keep your burners looking and acting new for much longer and make clean up a synch.

What I don’t like:

This grill is nice and a bit cheaper than some of the Weber grills but I am not too excited about grilling without a lid. This means you will not be smoking your meat in any way. I suppose this gives you the true taste of the meat but many people, like me, do like that smoky taste. You are not going to get that on this grill.

Also, although this claims to be completely portable it is a bit large if you do not have a truck or SUV. Not to mention that 60 pounds of cast iron is not going to be able to be lifted in and out of a trunk all that easily by some people. I know my wife could never do it by herself. Between the weight and the length of the grill there is just no easy way to get out of a trunk of a sedan or compact car. Even when it is out of the vehicle it gets heavy really quick. My suggestion is to park close to where you are transporting the grill.