How Lump Charcoal Make The Best Grilled Meals
The best time to fire that grill is when you need to celebrate a momentous occasion. But today, people can grill anytime they want. They don’t need to wait for Memorial Day or Fourth of July to taste the best barbecue.
Because of this, the majority of American households own a grill. It has been a typical household outdoor fixture. And since 2016, charcoal grill sales have continued to grow, and grilling steaks have become a favorite choice of grillers. Proof of this is the USD$804 million sales in beef leading up to Memorial Day in 2016.
There are two types of charcoal used in a grill—briquettes and lump charcoal. Briquettes are chunks of wood that are typically substitutes for coal and charcoal. They’re not made of pure wood; instead, they’re mixed with binders such as cornstarch and borax that’s shaped uniformly to create a consistent fire. But the one widely used by grill purists is lump charcoal.
What Is Lump Charcoal?
Lump charcoal is wood that’s been charred through burning with as little oxygen as possible, leaving you with a burnt wood that’s essentially carbon. Get the best out of your barbecue days with the Barbecue Company’s lump charcoal.
If you want to know how lump charcoal makes the best grilled meats, here are the reasons:
- They Burn Hotter
Lump charcoal burns up to 1400 °F, and that’s the best temperature to sear steaks and lock in the flavor inside. With this temperature, you can create great sear and distinctive grill marks while the inside of the meat remains rare or medium rare and juicy.
Since lump charcoal burns hotter, you’ll also be able to achieve the hard crusts on your steaks, which are somewhat difficult to attain with other types of coal.
Many grillers prefer rib-eye for grilling because it offers a piece of tender meat with a big beefy flavor that’s easy to cook. Meanwhile, some prefer to grill porterhouse since it’s also an excellent option because this steak cut will cost you an arm and a leg in a steakhouse, but grilling it at home using lump charcoal would let you enjoy the same thing.
- Imparts A Hard Wood Flavor
Grilling using lump charcoal gives your meat a smoky flavor that you wouldn’t achieve in a gas grill. Since most bags of lump charcoal could contain a combination of hardwoods from oak, maple, cherry, and pecan, there will be a rich aroma coming from the wood that’ll produce a desirable smoke that the meat will absorb during grilling.
When the fat from the meat drips on the coal, the smoke that’ll float will give off a unique umami flavor, permeating the meat and tantalizing the senses of the people around the grill.
- Will Burn Cleaner
Since lump charcoal is pure wood without additives and binders, it’ll burn more cleanly than briquettes. It’ll only impart a natural smoky flavor and nothing more. Some self-starting charcoals have lighter fluid additives that leave a bad taste on the meat being grilled. Aside from leaving a bad taste in the meat, it’s also not great for the environment.
Some charcoals will impart a bitter taste to the meat, which would be unpleasant and not enjoyable for you and your guests. The convenience of using self-starter ones can’t overcome the fact that the taste won’t be as superior as using lump charcoal.
- Easier To Control Temperature
Lump charcoal is more responsive to oxygen. So, if your griller has adjustable air vents, you can move the pieces around and attain a desirable temperature for what you’re grilling.
After searing the meat, you’d want to move it to a slightly lower temperature to achieve the doneness you like. Pushing your coals to the side will allow the other parts of your grill to have a cooler temperature, ideal for keeping your meat to your desired doneness or warm while waiting for the serving time.
- Longer Burn Time
Lump charcoal’s density and size allow for longer burn time, letting you enjoy the grill and consistently cook steaks without reloading charcoal often.
Some coals burn too fast and become ash quickly while you’re not yet done cooking your meat. This could be a challenge for grillers since you have to stop momentarily and replenish coal and reignite them, affecting the cooking time and consistency of your meat.
Conclusion
There’s no wonder why many grill aficionados prefer lump charcoal. It provides more benefits than other types of coals in the market and would give you the best tasting meat to enjoy with your family and friends.
Practice your grilling techniques and get ready to serve the best barbecue on the Fourth of July and the coming summer season using lump charcoal.