Charcoal & Kamado Grills

When your charcoal won’t light, the impending barbecue stops being an enjoyable experience and becomes a major pain. In this guide, we’ll explore the possible reasons behind your charcoal’s failure to ignite so you can avoid the issue in the future.  Charcoal Won’t Light  When charcoal won’t light, it’s often because the charcoal is damp. … Read more

If your charcoal has been around for a while, you might be wondering: Does charcoal go bad, or will it keep indefinitely? It’s a fair question, and one you should definitely know the answer to if you have a charcoal grill that you use often.  Here’s our guide on the shelf life and proper storage … Read more

Is it safe to add more charcoal to the grill while you’re in the process of grilling your food? If not, how do you keep the fire burning hot enough without adding more? And if so, what’s the best way to add the extra coal without ruining the food?  If you’ve ever wondered about these … Read more

What happens when charcoal gets wet? Is it still safe to use it? There may be more than one answer, which is what prompted us to compile this guide. Keep reading and we’ll discuss it further.  Can Charcoal Get Wet?  Charcoal absorbs moisture easily. If it’s wet, it may not light or burn efficiently. You … Read more

Instant light charcoal eliminates the need for lighter fluid—at least, that’s the idea. Many people automatically reach for this type of charcoal for that reason. But is it really a better option?  Let’s explore the differences between instant light charcoal vs regular charcoal to get a clearer picture.  Instant Light Charcoal vs Regular Instant light … Read more

Grilling with charcoal is a popular summer pastime. Those of us who are serious about grilling as a hobby enjoy it year-round. It’s fun, relatively simple, and results in mouthwateringly delicious food.  Even if you only fire up the grill in the summer, you might be wondering: Just how hot do charcoal grills get? And … Read more

One of the drawbacks of grilling with charcoal is the waiting that’s involved. You can’t just fire it up and be ready to cook within minutes, the way you can with a gas grill. How long does it take for charcoal to be ready for grilling?  How Long Does it Take For Charcoal to Be … Read more

We love to smoke meats using charcoal. While pellet and electric smokers offer convenience, charcoal lends authenticity to the whole process. The problem is, most cuts of meat need to cook for a long time in order to gain any benefit from the exposure to the smoke. That means your smoker will probably need to … Read more

We love traditional charcoal grills, but there’s a certain allure to cooking over an open fire pit. Because it can be tricky to set this up on your own, some companies have stepped in to fill the void. The Rivergrille Cowboy Grill is a combination charcoal grill and fire pit that includes a rotisserie spit. … Read more

A well-constructed kamado grill can be a great investment, especially if you’re serious about grilling on a regular basis. With their eye-catching dome-shaped design and excellent heat retention, kamados are some of the most versatile grills on the market. Although this type of grill has only recently caught on in the US, kamado cooking has … Read more

As grilling aficionados seek to expand their horizons, kamado grills have become more popular. Although the technique has been around for centuries–kamado is a Japanese term meaning place for the cauldron–it’s only beginning to pick up steam in the Western world. If you’re thinking of purchasing a kamado grill, you should start with a quality … Read more

Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish one charcoal grill from the next, particularly when they come from the same brand. In this roundup, we’ll look at the vs to determine what makes each one unique. Weber 22 vs 26: An Overview If you’re in the market for a kettle-style charcoal grill, it’s hard to … Read more

Kamado grills have been used for centuries, but their popularity has increased dramatically in the last decade or so. As a result, more companies have added these impressive and versatile units to their lineup. As you can tell by the company name, Kamado Joe has a vested interest in this cooking style. The company’s founders … Read more

If you’re in the market for a Weber charcoal grill, you might have noticed that there are a lot of similar units available. Specifically, the vs debate is one that sees a lot of traffic in the grilling community. Since the company invented the world’s first kettle-style charcoal grill in 1952, Weber has been an … Read more

When it comes to kamado grilling, a quality unit is the key to success. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, you’ll want to invest in the best tool for the job. That’s where this AKORN vs Big Green Egg showdown comes in. AKORN The AKORN is a kamado-style grill presented by Char-Griller. This … Read more

A kamado grill can be a great investment for barbecue enthusiasts, but it’s important to choose a quality product. In this vs Big Green Egg roundup, we’ll go over the features of each product to help you determine which one is best. Pit Boss Kamado The company behind Pit Boss grills is called Danson, Inc. … Read more

Many people assume that all charcoal grills are the same. While it’s true that they all share at least one common factor, there are actually many things that distinguish them from one another. That’s why we’ve put together these Stok charcoal grill reviews. Stok Grills provide the perfect example. Though the company makes gas and … Read more

Do you like the idea of using wood pellets to flavor your grilled meats, but you aren’t quite ready to invest in a full-blown pellet smoker? You’re in luck–you can use your charcoal grill in the meantime. While the technique is markedly different, you should be pleased with the results. Read on to learn how … Read more

Although lighter fluid can be nice to have around as a last resort, it’s not your only option. When it comes to grilling over a charcoal fire, we prefer to keep the process as chemical-free as possible. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to go about it—and they’re nearly as simple. Here’s how to start a … Read more

It’s important to know how to build a proper charcoal fire, but it’s just as important for the coals to hold their heat long enough to cook your food. This is a particular concern if you like to host long afternoon barbecues, as we do. How long does a charcoal grill stay hot once the … Read more

As far as we’re concerned, meat always tastes better when it’s cooked over a real fire. Gas grills might be convenient, but if you have the time and patience required, charcoal is the clear choice. Even once you’ve decided on charcoal, however, there are still choices to be made. Here, we’ll take a closer look … Read more

Lighter fluid is a quick and convenient way to get your coals ready for action. But did you know that it’s not strictly necessary? If you’re out of lighter fluid or just don’t want to add chemicals to your coals, you have other options–and none of them involve “match light” briquettes, which are an abomination … Read more

Food that’s grilled over a charcoal fire already has a huge advantage in the flavor department, but there are ways to make it taste even better. One of my favorite tricks is to add wood chips to the blaze beforehand, to flavor the smoke. Because there are many different types of wood available for this … Read more

Grilling is my favorite pastime, which means that I’m constantly curious about the latest trends. With kamado grills becoming more popular, I decided to take a closer look at a few of them to see what all the fuss was about. My findings resulted in this Char-Griller Akorn Jr review. Things To Consider Before Buying … Read more

I enjoy all types of grilling, but there’s something about charcoal-fired units that get my taste buds thrumming like none other. When I hear about a behemoth like the Smokin’ Pro from Char-Griller, I want to find out all that I can. If you’re like me, you want to do plenty of advance research before … Read more

Kamado grills represent a badge of honor among barbecue enthusiasts. Their unique design, superb heat retention, and long history all contribute to their appeal. If you’ve never tried your hand at kamado grilling, perhaps the time has come to broaden your horizons. With the market so crowded, however, it can be difficult to narrow down … Read more

If you’re a grilling enthusiast like I am, you’re always looking for new ways to achieve that smoky, savory flavor combination that you crave. Can a kamado grill help you hit the sweet spot? To help you find out the answer, I’ve put together this list of Char Griller Akorn reviews. When you’ve finished reading, … Read more

Did you know that Kingsford manufactures quality grills in addition to charcoal? For a long time, I didn’t. Then I realized that their products were well thought out and as cleverly designed as any of the competition—and more so than some. To help determine which ones are best, I decided to put together this list … Read more

Welcome to the versatile and flavorful world of kamado grilling! If you’re thinking of investing in one of these dome-shaped beauties, you might be wondering which one will provide you with the most bang for your buck—not to mention the best performance. That’s where this Kamado Joe vs Big Green Egg matchup comes in. In … Read more

Weber has been churning out quality grills since the 1950s, so it can be difficult to keep track of all their products. As the competition grows more fierce, the company is still an industry leader, keeping abreast of all the changing technologies in the field. Here’s a head-to-head matchup between two of their top models: … Read more

Are you a serious barbecue enthusiast who’s thinking about buying a kamado grill? If so, you’ve probably heard the name “Kamado Joe” once or twice. This brand is one of the leaders in the industry, and with good reason. To find out why, take a look at this Kamado Joe review. At a glance: here … Read more

There’s nothing quite like cooking over a charcoal fire. There’s a ritual and a romance to the process that’s unmatched in any other grilling style. The only trouble is, there are so many different brands and grill types available, it’s hard to discern which ones are most effective. Sometimes, you’re looking for the best cheap … Read more

In a hurry? Here are the winners: Overall Winner 1: Weber Go-Anywhere Overall Winner 2: Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman’s Grill Best for the Money: Weber 40020 Smokey Joe Premium 14-Inch Premium Pick: Kamado Joe KJ13RH Joe Jr If you’re a die-hard charcoal enthusiast, you know that food grilled over a gas fire can never take … Read more