Whether you use charcoal or any type of wood as fuel, in the beginning, the temperature rises beyond needed and drops below the optimum required temperature for grilling food over time. Maintaining a desirable temperature takes a lot of unnecessary effort. You’ll constantly fan your charcoal to keep them burning or refill the wood.
There has to be an alternative that solves these problems by providing the optimum cooking temperature and for longer durations. Lava rocks serve the purpose efficiently.
How to use Lava Rocks in the Charcoal Grill
Lava rocks are hard and reusable. They don’t burn away like charcoal or any other fuel. They heat up to 500 Fahrenheit in less time than charcoal and stay hot for more extended periods.
To use lava rocks in the charcoal grill, open the lid, remove the grates, spread a layer of burning charcoals, and then add a single layer of lava rocks over them. Replace the grates, and close the grill. Let the lava rocks heat for 10 minutes or until they are red hot and grill your food over them.
Step By Step Guide To Using Lava Rocks In A Charcoal Grill
Using lava rocks is easy. This doesn’t require any special consideration except a few simple steps. So let’s begin.
Step 1: Remove the Grill Grates
Open your charcoal grill’s lid and remove the grates.
Step 2: Spread Lava Rocks
Spread the lava rocks over the grill in a single layer. Adjust the edges side by side and achieve a uniform layer of rock spread.
Step 3: Replace the Grates
Replace the grates and close the lid. Preheat the lava rocks for 10-12 minutes at high flame.
Step 4: Start Grilling
Once the lava rocks reach the desired temperature, start grilling your food over them, following the recipes of your choice.
Isn’t it simple? Indeed it is. The technical aspect of using lava rocks is not in using them but in storing them. Spices and oil drip over the lava rocks during barbecuing. This build-up deteriorates the rock’s quality over time and sometimes causes a grease fire.
How to reuse lava rocks?
Lava rocks can be reused in a variety of ways, depending on their condition and size. Here are a few suggestions for how to reuse lava rocks:
1. Reheat Lava Rocks
When you are done barbecuing, heat lava rocks on high flame for 10 minutes again. This step will burn out food residues from the rocks, increase their life, and remove odor. You can use the same lava rocks in the next barbecuing session.
2. Cool The Hot Lava Rocks
When you have used the lava rocks for 5-7 grilling sessions, reheat them following the first step and wait to cool down. Once lava rocks are cooled, remove the grates and turn them upside down after reheating. This will keep lava rocks good to use many more times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to clean lava stone?
Heating is an effective way of cleaning lava rocks. Washing the lava rocks using water or any other solution is not recommended as these rocks are porous and absorb the liquid. After the wash, the lava rocks can disintegrate upon heating again.
Is lava rock better than charcoal?
Yes, lava rocks are better than charcoal in many aspects. They offer more constant heat at optimum temperature for perfect grilling. Lava rocks also last longer than charcoal.
Are lava rocks good for grilling?
Lava rocks grill the meat perfectly. They provide constant heat for an hour or more and cook the meat from inside. They save you money from gas bills, don’t require frequent replacements, and are environmentally friendly.
Where do lava rocks come from?
Lava rocks come from volcanos. They are mined from ancient volcanos or found on the earth’s surface due to frozen lava after the volcanic eruption.
Does lava rock last forever?
No, lava rocks don’t last forever. You can use them for up to 2 years if you follow maintenance steps and clean your lava rocks. They are low maintenance and last longer than any other fuel source.
Conclusion
Using lava rocks in the charcoal grill has many benefits over charcoal or other forms of fuel. They are effortless to use. Just spread the lava rocks in a single layer by lifting up the grate. Preheat the lava rocks for 10 minutes and grill the food. After cooking, reheat the lava rocks for another 10 minutes to burn away oil and food residues and remove odor. This way, you can keep reusing the lava rocks for up to 2 years until they start disintegrating.