I just wanted a very small BBQ to just cook one steak, but it kept going out and only the fire lighters were burning.
I used a small loaf tray and filled it with small pieces of charcoal, stuck some firefighters between it all and added some bigger briquettes.
Used a long lighter to light the firelighters but it was only the firelighters that were burning and the coal just wouldn’t catch in most places
Thanks
by Lfcbill
12 Comments
Not enough airflow and not enough charcoal
Airflow is almost always the answer, and as others have said unless there are holes in the bottom of that pan it’s never going to work.
I like the idea of the pan in order to control heat easily (and easy clean up). A good tip would be buying a charcoal chimney to get the coals to temperature before putting them in the pan, lots of airflow so very quick and very economic on fire starters. Fire starting has never been a problem for me since getting one of these
https://amzn.eu/d/aQgs1hX
(Other brands and sizes are available)
Also. I may be wrong but those briquettes look old and damp which is probably why you had such a hard time getting them to catch, they look like they’re more crumbly than cracking/powdery which is my go to way of checking
I have a similar set-up that I use for long cooks. Besides the charcoal basket / pan, try stacking a few bricks to create a divider between your fire and rest of the cooking space. This acts like a pseudo-offset. Works like a champ for me.
Airflow. Pick up a charcoal chimney or drill about 30 small holes in this if you don’t need it for anything else.
Try using a charcoal chimney starter for one steak. Plenty of heat and airflow. If you don’t have a small grate, stab the steak with 2 skewers and place it on top.
I’d get a new one that doesn’t have a non stick coating, then drill holes in it for airflow.
“Use propane – taste the meat not the heat …- Call me : Hank Hill – Strickland Propane, Arlen Tx” ….😜
Grilling with charcoal is a lot like building a camp fire. You need airflow for proper combustion. That tray prevents that from happening. Charcoal also takes some time to catch. You need to have your flame below the charcoal for a period of time, or use a torch. Also, too small of a fire is harder to keep lit than a slightly larger fire.
Just buy a Smokey Joe for a steak or two.
Look for a “Perforated 1/2 Pan” at a restaurant supply store.
What you may want is a chimney, then put a grate you have over it. this way you are not buying extra specific items. Instead you are using existing items in different ways.
– Air
– Fuel
– Ignition
It’s missing one of the three.