Hi Rob:
It has been one crazy weekend around here, and I haven't had much time
until now to even check my email. To answer your questions about charcoal;
the only suggestions that come to mind are to use the chimney starter to get
all the coals lit, then, when you pour the coals out, use a long-handled
spatula or something to gather them all together so they all burn down and
burn hotter. As far as how to turn the food, I will have to look into that.
I don't like using a spatula of any kind on the grill because I feel I don't
have as much control over where the food ends up as I do when I use tongs.
I could check to see if "Cooks' Illustrated has done any tests on what tongs
and spatulas are best for grilling, if you like. For me, right now,
grilling and smoking are something I am just kind of muddling through as
best I can. I realized last week that I badly need a new set of tools for
the grill as mine are either lost or damaged. I had the set a very long
time, so I guess it has to be done. It's just one more thing I want to buy
that I don't have the funds for right now. Let me know if you'd like me to
check for the equipment reviews and I'll check and post what I find.
Jon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob" <captinlogic@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <blindcooks@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, May 06, 2016 10:11 PM
Subject: [blindcooks] A Couple of Grilling Questions
How can you make sure all the coals are involved when you start a fire in
your grill. This morning, when I went to clear it out after using it last
night, I was left with a bunch of unburnt charcoal. Obviously, you can't
stick your hand in there while it is lit to check it out. Any ideas? Reusing
charcoal is not good--charcoal is an absorbant and will thus catch flavors
from the last thing you cooked on it--but I hate to waste it too.
The other question involves turning items on the cooking grate. I kept
finding my spatula going underneat the grate instead of underneath the food
item. When I cook in a pan, I can dart my left hand briefly in there to feel
the edge of the food item I want to turn and then use my spatula to turn it.
Not so easy on a grill. It's a much hotter environment and you could get
burned. The tongs that come with barbecue tool kits are rather long and
noarrow and not really good for grasping things; I actually think you're
supposed to use them to move coals into place. Using a fork is a bad idea,
because once you stick it in the meat or vegetable you're cooking, it lets
out all the juices.
I gave some thought to trying to find something like a pair of salad tongs.
Those things are scooped so you can grab a bunch of greens at once. However,
all the ones I have found are equipped with short handles, and, more
importantly, are plastic--not a good thing to use on a grill.
I'd welcome any further suggestions.
