Grilled food lovers are aware that wood pellets and charcoal are affordable and easily available fuel sources. Charcoal grills are especially popular because the fuel source – charcoal and wood pellets are now easily available. If you are wondering – can you put wood in a charcoal grill or how to use wood pellets in a charcoal grill, you will get the answers to all your queries in this article.
Though charcoal grills are popular for years, many people are still not aware that you can use wood chips on a charcoal grill for cooking. In fact, cooking with wood pellets or wood chips is easy and convenient.
The popularity of pellet grills is increasing amongst the grilled food lovers. People are now looking forward to cooking with wood pellets. This resurgence of cooking using wood pellets might be due to that irresistible smoky flavor in the food. It can also be a desire along with a sense of nostalgia.
Thus, to meet the increasing demand of users, wood pellets are available in a large variety. You can select one according to your needs. Cooking with wood pellets is now a trend and used widely all over the world.
Understanding Wood Pellets
Wood pellets are compressed wood & sawdust. When specific binding agents are exposed to heat, wood pellets are formed. Wood pellets are a favorite as they bring in a unique smoked wood flavor to the meat. It is impossible to get this flavor through any other process. Barbecue pellets are used in smokers and BBQ grills. There is a wood-fired meat flavor.
Barbecue pellets are completely safe and suitable for use in cooking. They do not pass any kind of dangerous chemicals to the food.
When cooking with wood pellets, ensure that you buy only good quality wood pellets. These are the ones which are suitable for outdoor cooking or BBQ. Wood pellets are available in different flavors. Selecting the right pellet is also vital because it helps in enhancing the flavor of food.
What Are Wood Pellets Used for?
Most people know charcoal as a fuel source, but wood pellets can be used instead of charcoal. There are many benefits of using wood pellets:
- These are eco-friendly and are not harmful for the environment.
- Wood pellets are a lot more efficient than gas or other kinds of fuel.
- Users can buy different types of wood pellets.
- They offer a unique smoky flavor that people love to enjoy.
- They do not cause a lot of mess because they do not leave a lot of ash residue.
Check out our reviews of gas grills for more choices in the range of $200, $300 or $1000.
So, can you use wood pellets in a charcoal grill?
Yes, and the process is quite simple and will take you just a few minutes to get things started.
How to Use Wood Pellets in Charcoal Grill
Step 1 – Light up a charcoal fire in the grill. You can use a chimney starter as well for the process.
Step 2–Wait patiently and let the charcoal heat up. Wait for the burning glow which indicates that the fire is hot, and you are ready for cooking.
Step 3 – Place the wood pellets on the top of the burning coals. Do not create a big but you can ensure that there are enough wood pellets. These will ensure that there is a delicious smoky flavor.
Step 4 – Close the grill lid. However, ensure that there is proper ventilation so that the ideal cooking temperature is there for the food to cook well.
Step 5 – Keep an eye on the flame. You may have to add some more wood pellets. This depends on the duration of your cooking.
Step 6: Your fire will burn, and your cooking will continue. Enjoy your delicious flavored food.
That is all you must do! It is simple and efficient to cook and get the flavor you love.
Benefits of Using Wood Pellets for Cooking
If you compare wood pellets to charcoal (used in traditional cooking), they are a lot eco-friendlier. Since these are made from repurposed materials, they are good for the environment and will not create any additional burden.
Wood pellets do not create much of mess and they are easy to clean. They burn evenly as well as there is lesser heat fluctuations than charcoal.
Wood pellets are energy efficient, and the best part is that they are available in a variety of aromas and flavors. Grill food lovers prefer mesquite, hickory, and oak, though fruitier varieties of wood pellets are equally popular.
In fact, different flavors match different types of meat. For instance, the applewood variety is just perfect for pork. Hickory brings the best flavors in a beef basket.
Wood Pellets and Wood Chips in Grill – What are the differences?
Wood chips are also an option as grilling fuel, but wood pellets have many advantages which makes them popular.
These are nothing but hardwood pieces that go through a woodchipper. These are small and have an irregular shape. Wood pellets provide a steady smoke stream which is necessary as well, but wood chips burn quite fast.
Wood chips burn away quickly and faster than wood pellets. Thus, if you are cooking for a lot of people, you might need a lot of wood chips. If this happens, it might in a way increase your fuel costs.
Also, wood pellets are always advantageous and cost-friendly, if you buy the right quality. Wood pellets burn hot and at a steady rate as well. Thus, it is easy to control the temperature when cooking. These are just perfect for cooking meat when there is a need to keep the temperature low.
Final Thoughts
Wood pellets are now becoming quite popular as more and more people are looking for ideas and techniques to improving their grilling. The main idea is always to enhance the flavor of food while ensuring convenience and ease of use. Pellets come with a number of advantages – especially they burn a lot quicker when compared to charcoal.
