How to Use a Kettle Barbecue

It also allows you to use the grill to roast meats inside. Most people who own kettle grills wouldn't use any other type of grill. Try one out for your next barbecue.

1. Remove the food rack from the grill. Cover the bottom of the grill with charcoal and then put some more on top. The briquettes will take longer to get going than the fast start kind, but they also last longer and give you a more consistent heat. Squirt on some charcoal lighter fluid. Get some of the fluid on the charcoal on the bottom layer. Do not soak the charcoal --- you just need a little across the charcoal.

2. Stand back from the grill a little and light a match. Make sure you don't have any lighter fluid on your hands. Toss the match into the grill. The lighter fluid will ignite and you might have a fire flash at first. It will go down, but that is why you don't want to be right up against the grill.

3. Allow the charcoal to burn until it starts to show a film of white ash on the outside. This means they are burning well and are ready for the food.

4. Spray the rack with some non-stick spray made for grills. Place the rack on the grill and allow it to heat up.

5. Place your food on the rack. If you have some very fatty foods, they will cause the fire to flare up. Try moving the food around a lot or cooking it on top of aluminum foil first, until some of the fat cooks out. Then you can discard the fat with the foil and put the food on the grill. Keep a water spray bottle handy just in case of a bad flare-up, but try not to use it. The spray will kick ash up onto your food.

6. Roast food by placing it in an open roasting pan with just enough liquid in the bottom to keep it from burning. Close the lid and allow the roast to cook for 30 minutes at a time, checking for water at the end of this time. Use a meat thermometer to check when the meat is done cooking as it's very difficult to keep a charcoal grill at an even temperature.

7. Cook meats and vegetables right on the rack. If you want to use wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in water for 30 minutes before you put them on the grill. You can also soak corn on the cob in water and place it on the grill right in the husk. Make sure to turn foods over often so they cook evenly on both sides.

8. Stir up the charcoal when it starts to look like it's going out --- this will get rid of some ash. You can add new charcoal on top if you will need the grill for much longer. They will catch fire from the briquettes under them.