How To Reduce Smoke When Cooking On Your Grill

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Billows of smoke fill your eyes and burn your lungs. You can barely see through the haze to the burgers and hot dogs on the grate. The unpleasant experience makes it difficult to cook properly and makes it hard for others to enjoy their time, too, especially if you're using a charcoal grill when it is windy. You can't help but think, "There has to be a better way to do this!" Truthfully, all that smoke may not be caused by poor grilling skills. In fact, some of that nasty smoke can come from charcoal that isn't fully lit or isn't getting enough airflow. After starting your grill, if the charcoal does not burn cleanly, you may experience excess smoke. To reduce smoke, make sure you're preparing the grill properly, using good-quality fuel, and maintaining adequate airflow. 

When getting a charcoal grill ready to go, make sure to light the fuel and then wait for it to heat up thoroughly. If you are too eager, your charcoal will not have had time to ash over. Ashing over, or turning gray or white, indicates that the charcoal's outer layer has lit. It also gives the charcoal adequate time to burn off any moisture or buildup. 

You also may be making a crucial mistake while cleaning your grill: not removing the ash left behind from the last use. This leftover residue can burn alongside your new charcoal, but more unevenly and with more smoke. This dust hinders airflow and can make clean combustion difficult.

If you want to reduce unwanted smoke when using a charcoal grill, it also pays to consider the type and quality of charcoal you use. Unfortunately, you can spend extra time preparing the grill and still have issues if you use poor charcoal. For example, poorly-made charcoal may contain more moisture or incompletely carbonized material, which can contribute to unwanted smoke as it burns. Cheaper charcoal often contains binders or contaminants that burn off first.

To avoid these contaminants, choose a lump charcoal product like Rockwood All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal, which the manufacturer says contains no chemicals, fillers, binders, or additives. In addition to choosing a well-rounded charcoal product, make sure that you store it away from moisture, too. Charcoal that's absorbed moisture can become harder to light and keep burning properly, so keeping the bag dry is important. Perhaps find ways to repurpose charcoal around your home the next time it gets wet instead of using it on the grill.

With quality charcoal ready to go, there are two more things to keep in mind for a cleaner, more consistent burn. First, aim for a steady temperature that's appropriate for whatever you're cooking. Steady, stable heat is a good way to get charcoal lit properly and burning evenly. Second, don't forget about airflow. Charcoal needs oxygen to keep burning, so make sure accumulated ash isn't blocking the bottom vents and adjust the grill's vents as needed to control the fire, resulting in cleaner smoke.