3 Easy Ways How To Put Out Charcoal Grill? A Comprehensive Guide

A charcoal grill is a versatile tool for outdoor cooking, offering that unmistakable smoky flavor to your favorite dishes. However, mastering the art of charcoal grilling also means understanding how to safely extinguish the fire. Unlike other grills with simple on and off buttons, a charcoal grill’s heat source comes from lit charcoal embers, which can be extremely hot, particularly when using hardwood charcoals. This guide will walk you through the process of how to put out charcoal grill, ensuring safety and efficiency throughout.

Why Turn Off Charcoals at the End of Grilling?

Extinguishing the charcoal in your grill is a critical aspect of responsible grilling, and it serves various important purposes. By putting out the charcoal, you ensure safety, prevent potential fires, protect your grilling, and contribute to environmental responsibility. It’s not merely the end of your grilling journey; rather, it’s a fundamental step that guarantees the well-being of those around you, the longevity of your grill, and the sustainability of our environment.

• Leaving charcoal embers burning in the grill after cooking can keep the grill hot for hours. These embers can reach extremely high temperatures and pose a significant fire hazard, especially in dry or windy conditions.
• Grilling often involves family and friends gathering around the grill. Leaving hot charcoals unattended can result in burns or accidents, especially if there are children or pets in the vicinity. It can also destroy the grill.
• If you’ve invested in quality charcoal, you can save any unburned or partially burned charcoal for your next grilling session. Extinguishing them properly allows you to conserve resources and reduce waste, ultimately saving you money.
• Charcoal briquettes, especially those containing binders and chemicals, can release harmful emissions when burning. By putting out the charcoals, you reduce the release of these emissions, contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment.

Parts of Charcoal Grill that Help in Extinguish Charcoals

When it’s time to wrap up your grilling session and safely extinguish the charcoals, several key components of your charcoal grill work in collaboration to make this process efficient and secure.

Bottom Vents:

Located at the base of the grill, the bottom vents play a critical role in regulating airflow and, consequently, the intensity of the fire. To extinguish the charcoals, you can close these vents entirely. By doing so, you restrict the supply of oxygen to the embers, initiating a gradual suffocation of the fire. This method, when combined with other components, ensures a controlled and safe cooling process.

Grill Lid:

The grill lid serves as an essential component in extinguishing charcoals. When you close the lid, it traps heat inside the grill, reducing the amount of oxygen available to the embers. This controlled environment, when combined with closed vents, aids in slowly suffocating the fire. The lid effectively seals in the heat, helping to expedite the cooling process while maintaining safety.

Top Vents (Dampers):

The top vents, also known as dampers, are adjustable openings located on the upper part of the grill. These dampers regulate the outflow of air from the grill. When you’re ready to put out the charcoals, adjusting the dampers by closing them restricts the airflow, limiting oxygen intake. This controlled reduction in oxygen gradually diminishes the intensity of the embers, contributing to the safe and efficient extinguishing of the charcoals.

Tools Needed to Turn Off a Charcoal Grill

To safely and effectively turn off a charcoal grill, you’ll need specific tools and equipment. These tools are essential for ensuring the extinguishing process is controlled and secure. Here are the necessary tools:

• Heat-Resistant Gloves:
  • Heat-resistant gloves are a must-have for handling the hot components of your grill. They protect your hands from burns while you manipulate the charcoals, vents, and other parts of the grill during the extinguishing process.

• Long-Handled Tongs:
  • Long-handled tongs are invaluable for moving and rearranging the charcoals within the grill. They allow you to reach and manipulate the hot coals safely without getting too close to the heat.

• Water Bucket:
  • A water bucket filled with water is used when employing the water dousing method to extinguish the charcoals quickly. It’s essential to have this on hand, but be cautious not to use too much water too rapidly to avoid generating excessive steam or damaging the grill.

• Fire Extinguisher (Optional):
  • While not a tool specific to grilling, having a fire extinguisher nearby is a prudent safety precaution. In the event of an uncontrollable fire, a fire extinguisher can be invaluable in ensuring the safety of yourself and your surroundings.

How to Put Out Charcoal Grill

Extinguishing the charcoals in your grill is a vital step to ensure safety and proper grill maintenance. Here are 3 methods to put out a BBQ grill, each with its advantages and drawbacks:

1. Suffocate the Fire:

Suffocating the fire is indeed a straightforward and effective method for extinguishing charcoals in your grill. To utilize this approach, simply close the grill’s lid and all the vents tightly. By doing so, you effectively cut off the oxygen supply to the embers, which initiates a gradual cooling process. As the flames are deprived of oxygen, they gradually diminish, reducing the heat within the grill.

Drawbacks:

1. While effective, it’s important to note that this method can be slower compared to some alternatives. If you find yourself needing to clear the grill space quickly, suffocating the fire might not be the most time-efficient option.
2. The Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association even recommend allowing the charcoals to suffocate for up to 48 hours to ensure they are completely extinguished.

It is crucial to consider the urgency of your situation and the time available when choosing this method.

2. Douse Coals with Water:

When a swift extinguishing is required, dousing the charcoals with water is a rapid and efficient method. Using a water bucket, slowly and carefully pour water over the charcoals. This approach ensures that the charcoals cool down rapidly, making the grill safe for handling and storage.

Drawbacks:

While highly effective in terms of speed, the dousing coals method does come with several drawbacks to consider:

1. One significant concern is the potential generation of a significant amount of steam when water meets hot charcoal embers. This steam can be scalding and may cause burns if you’re not cautious. To minimize the risk of steam burns, it’s vital to stand back and pour water slowly.
2. When water is poured onto hot charcoal embers, it can cause ashes to spread all around the grill area. The combination of ashes with water can create a muddy residue that sticks to the grill and clogs the air vents, affecting airflow and temperature control. This can make a challenging grill cleanup process.
3. Repeatedly using the dousing method over time can indeed pose a risk of damaging the grill. The prolonged exposure to water can potentially lead to issues such as corrosion, rust, and deterioration of the grill’s components, particularly the bottom of the grill. While the bottom can be fixable through DIY repairs, they can still impact the grill’s overall functionality and lifespan.

Consider using alternative extinguishing methods, especially if you’re concerned about long-term grill maintenance and functionality.

3. Use Water Bucket and Drop Burning Charcoals:

For a more controlled approach, you can utilize long-handled tongs to pick up individual burning charcoals and place them in a water bucket. This targeted method speeds up the cooling process, ensuring that the charcoals are thoroughly extinguished. By systematically dropping the burning charcoals into the water, you can manage cleanup and disposal safely.

Drawbacks:

• The drawback here is the need for careful handling when using tongs to transfer hot charcoals. Additionally, this method may be less practical if you have a large grill or a substantial number of charcoals to extinguish. However, it is the safest and easiest way to put out burning charcoals in a limited time.

Choosing the most suitable method depends on your specific circumstances, including time constraints and the size of your grill. Understanding the advantages and drawbacks of each method allows you to make an informed decision and safely put out your charcoal grill when needed.

Reducing the Cool Down Time of Charcoal Grill

Minimizing the time it takes for your charcoal grill to cool down after a grilling session is not only convenient but also a practical way to conserve charcoal and ensure efficient grill usage. Here are some strategies to help you achieve a faster cooldown:

1. Use the Right Amount of Charcoal:

When grilling on a charcoal grill, it’s essential to use only as much charcoal as you need for your specific cooking task. Avoid overloading the grill with excessive charcoal, as this will not only lead to longer cooldown times but also waste charcoal resources. Utilizing a chimney starter to measure and prepare the precise amount of charcoal required for your grill.

2. Grill a Bit More:

After you’ve finished your primary grilling, if there are still some burning coals left in the grill, consider placing some additional food on the grates for a short time. By utilizing the remaining heat to cook a little extra, you effectively consume the residual charcoal while speeding up the cooling process.

How to Reuse Partially Burned Coals

Reusing partially burned coals is a practical and economical approach, especially when you have leftover charcoals from a previous grilling session. Here’s a straightforward method to make the most of these partially burned coals:

1. Begin by examining the partially burned coals from your last grilling session. Ensure that they are not entirely ashed over and still retain a reasonable amount of burnable material.
2. To effectively reuse these partially burned coals, start by placing them at the bottom of your grill’s charcoal grate. These coals, being partially burned, light more easily than fresh ones, which is advantageous for igniting the grill quickly.
3. Once you have the partially burned coals in place, add a layer of fresh charcoal on top of them. This arrangement allows the partially burned coals to serve as a foundation and heat source for the new charcoal, facilitating a consistent and efficient ignition process.
4. Light the coals using your preferred method, such as a chimney starter or charcoal lighter fluid. The partially burned coals at the base will quickly catch fire and provide the necessary heat to ignite the fresh charcoal above.

The process of igniting charcoals can be expedited by using a chimney starter that is designed to light the charcoals easily and does not need any lighter fluid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Effectively extinguishing a charcoal grill is a crucial step in responsible grilling practices. Whether you choose to suffocate the fire, douse the coals with water, or employ a water bucket and tongs, it’s essential to prioritize safety, minimize waste, and protect your grill from damage. Additionally, reducing cooldown times, reusing partially burned coals, and understanding the reasons behind these practices enhance your overall grilling experience. By understanding and practicing these methods, you can enjoy outdoor cooking while being mindful of safety, sustainability, and efficiency.