Charcoal grills are versatile, and unlike gas-fuelled ones, they can be heated up using alternative types of fuel. Besides charcoal, you can use wood pellets. Using wood pellets in a charcoal grill is an efficient and eco-friendly way to add amazing flavors to your food.
There are several pellet options to choose from. Here are some of my favorite:
Using Wood Pellets in a Charcoal Grill
Start by firing up the grill
There are several ways to start-up fire in a charcoal grill, but a chimney starter is relatively faster and effective. Also, mixing your wood pellets with charcoal when grilling is recommended. The charcoal helps with the heating, while the pellets bring in the flavors.
If you don’t have a chimney starter, you can always use any other charcoal grill firing methods at your disposal.
Transfer the lit coal to the grill
Transfer the coal from the chimney starter into your grill. To retain heat, make sure you put the grill lid on. But, leave the vents open to speed up the process and prevent the coal from dying out.
Add the wood pellets
Once the grill is heated to the desired temperature, you can then add a thin layer of wood pellets over the coals. The number of pellets to add will depend on the time you will take to cook, as well as the amount of smoke and flavor you want. Normally, half a cup of wood pellets should keep the flavor flowing for about 30-40 minutes.
Place your food on the cooking grate or grilling mat
Once the wood pellets you put over the charcoal has properly ignited, then it is time to start the cooking. The time it takes to properly ignite will depend on the amount you used.
Close the grill lid
After everything is set up, close the lid and let the grill be. Also, tweak the grill vents to be half-open. If you require more time, then after 30 minutes you’ll need to remove the grill’s lid and add more wood pellets.
I recommend you try using a pellet tube smoker to create a stronger smoke flume and add a stronger flavor to your food. The tubes are fairly inexpensive and are available on online stores like Amazon. To use them, you fill them with pellets before placing them on top of your lit coals.
Can I Use Wood Pellets in Smoker Box?
You can also use the wood pellets in a smoker box. A smoker box allows you to control the temperature of your wood to maintain low, stable heat that allows for maximum flavor-rich smoke. Don’t use just any wood, but instead get high-quality wood pellets we listed at the start for desirable results.
Here is how to use smoke pellets in your smoker box:
- Fill your smoker box about 3/4 full
- Close the lid
- Then, add your smoker box to the grill
Wood pellets are an affordable fuel source for grilling and are available in a variety. With the above easy steps, you should be able to make nice-tasting food to enjoy with your family and friends.