How to Put Out a Charcoal Grill
The best way to extinguish charcoal is to close the lid on your grill, cutting off the charcoal’s air supply. Fire needs oxygen to keep burning, so by completely closing your grill, any flames will die down and the charcoal will cool. It may take up to two days for the coals to completely cool off; there isn’t a great method for how to put out a charcoal grill quickly that’s as safe as just letting the coals burn out and cool on their own. However, once it’s no longer hot, you can remove the larger pieces of charcoal, store them in a dry place, and reuse them for another grilling session. Remove any other coals and ash and wrap them in aluminum foil (or place them in a metal container like a coffee tin) and put them in an outdoor garbage bin once they are completely cool. Though it might seem like a quick fix, never pour water over hot coals. The water will turn to steam when it hits the coals, which can burn you if you’re not careful. The hot water can also cause damage to your grill, even to the point of making cracks and holes more likely to develop in the metal. If you want your grill to last through multiple summers of backyard barbecues, stick to the slow method of letting coals burn themselves out and cool down.
How to Put Out a Charcoal Grill Fire
Hopefully, you’ll never need to actually put out a charcoal grill fire, but it’s always good to be prepared just in case. Any time you’re grilling, no matter what type of grill you use, have a fire extinguisher nearby just in case. Don’t lean it against the grill, but have it in a place that’s easy to grab if needed. You might occasionally see small bursts of flame; these are just flare-ups, usually caused by fat dripping from the food onto the coals. You can usually control them by moving the food to a different part of the grill. You can also extinguish flare-ups by putting the lid on the grill if it’s safe to do so. Using a charcoal grill is easy with the right knowledge. Once you’ve mastered lighting and putting out the grill, you can focus on what really matters–perfecting your grilled ribs and steak recipes for the summer!
