Barbecuing is a precise art that requires using the right method. Before even considering the cooking process, you need to know which barbecue fuel you plan to use. Indeed, there are several options available, each with its own advantages.
Summary :
- How do you light a barbecue?
- What fuel should I use for a barbecue?
- Tips for lighting the barbecue
How do you light a barbecue?
Before discussing the type of barbecue fuel to use, it's essential to understand how barbecuing works in order to know how to light a barbecue . For food to cook on a barbecue, you need fire, and especially embers. This requires some preparation to create embers that are hot and plentiful enough for the food to cook. Therefore, several preparation steps must be considered, whether you're using a charcoal or wood-fired barbecue.
In any case, you'll need barbecue fuel to light the charcoal or wood initially. The idea is to find something that ignites easily but also maintains a flame long enough for the charcoal or wood to catch fire as well.
What fuel should I use for a barbecue?
When looking for barbecue fuel, one quickly realizes that there are a multitude of options available.
Charcoal
Charcoal is the essential fuel for a barbecue. It's what transforms into embers thanks to the heat from the initial flame. Therefore, for a charcoal barbecue, you'll need a sufficient quantity of charcoal. To determine how much charcoal you'll need, refer to the capacity of your barbecue and the manufacturer's recommendations.
Care should be taken to choose good quality charcoal, which should be stored in a dry place. Then, all that remains is to apply the correct methods to learn how to get a charcoal barbecue going .
Coconut briquettes
Coconut briquettes can be used as an alternative to charcoal. They provide intense heat for two to three hours and have the advantage of producing little odor, smoke, or ash. This makes them an interesting alternative to charcoal for barbecuing.
Vine shoots
Vine shoots are also an alternative to charcoal, wood, or coconut briquettes. They produce heat and embers very quickly and have the advantage of imparting a distinctive smoky flavor to food. They are therefore very appealing to those who want to diversify their cooking.
The wood
Wood is just as essential a barbecue fuel as charcoal. It produces beautiful embers that last for a long time. It's an excellent fuel for slow cooking, especially in a stone barbecue, for example.
Moreover, it is perfectly possible to consider changing the fuel from one barbecue to another in order to vary the pleasures as well as the flavors.
Tips for lighting the barbecue
More than just the barbecue fuel itself, you'll also need something to light the first flame. Therefore, several tips for lighting a barbecue can be considered.
Newspaper
Newspaper is a classic. It can be used to light both wood and charcoal. With enough of it, simply roll it into a ball and light it; the resulting flame will ignite the charcoal or wood. However, this method isn't foolproof. Therefore, it can be useful to know how to light a barbecue without newspaper .
The firelighter
If you don't have newspaper or prefer another method, you can also use a firelighter. A firelighter is a small cube that you place over a flame to help it burn longer. Placed with wood or charcoal, it will help them ignite and catch fire.
Also read:
- How long should you light a barbecue?
- How do I know if the barbecue is ready?
Discover here the quantity of meat (per person) for a barbecue so as not to waste anything and to satisfy all your guests.
Sources:
- https://barbecue.ooreka.fr/fiche/voir/140698/choisir-un-combustible-pour-barbecue
- https://www.gammvert.fr/conseils/conseils-de-jardinage/comment-allumer-un-barbecue-au-charbon
- https://www.maison-travaux.fr/maison-travaux/renovation-par-type/energies-renouvelables-renovation-par-type/barbecue-combustible-choisir-117894.html