So you’re done with that BBQ and in a hurry to clear the grilling spot and retire indoors. While we understand this is how people feel after the entire cooking process, there are still steps you must adhere to on how to put out a charcoal grill quickly.
The risks associated with improperly handling your hot charcoal are very significant and should not be taken with a pinch of salt.
Leaving your charcoal unattended can cause serious fire hazards to you, your properties, and your health and introduce negative environmental impacts to your plants, animals, water bodies near you, and the atmosphere in general.
However, ensuring seamless charcoal disposal is not your job alone; the charcoal grill used is also a major determinant. A solid grill like the VEVOR charcoal grill range comes with proactive safety features that protect you during use and promote easy usage.
So whether you are a pro or a curious beginner with little knowledge of grilling, this guide is here to ensure that you put safety first and get an impressive result. How to put out a charcoal grill? Let’s get it started.
Table of contents
Why It’s Important To Put Out A Charcoal Grill Properly
Guidelines exist for a reason, and while the idea of throwing caution to the wind is welcomed sometimes, you cannot be too chill around a charcoal grill. Prioritizing how to put out a charcoal grill fire is a required life hack.
How to put out a charcoal grill fire?
The Dangers of Leaving Charcoal Burning
Charcoal grills do not have an on-and-off mechanism like gas or electric grills. For this variant, you have to physically stop your charcoal from burning as soon as you are done grilling, and failure to do so may have unpleasant consequences.
When you leave your charcoal burning, fire hazards can occur, as the charcoal can catch on nearby trees or leaves, starting a bigger fire that can extend into unwanted spaces.
You also risk releasing carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. Carbon monoxide is a colorless gas that can be very poisonous when left to circulate in enclosed spaces.
If you leave your charcoal burning, the smoke from the fire can poison you and others around you, including livestock, water animals, and healthy organisms responsible for the smooth function of the environment.
Leaving your charcoal grill unattended can also damage your properties. Burn marks on the surface, damage to outdoor structures, and contamination of your soil from ash and charcoal residue are all side effects of careless handling of your burning charcoal.
Environmental Impact of Improper Disposal
How to put a charcoal grill out?
Failing to properly dispose of your used charcoal is a recipe for disaster for your environment, especially in the wake of climate change and the depletion of important environmental components.
You don’t want to be an active participant in harming nature around you, which is why you must pay extra attention as you proceed in this guide on how to put out a charcoal grill fire.
Protecting Your Investment
How to put out charcoal grill fire
Proper care of your charcoal grill can extend its lifespan, and all the steps included in this reading can nudge you on the right path. Combine them with regular and thorough cleaning, and your VEVOR charcoal grill will serve you for a very long time. Do you not love getting value for your money?!
How to Put Out Charcoal Grill: Step-by-Step Guide
There are two primary ways to get rid of those hot coals in your grill once you’re done with your fun activity, but you must also exercise a certain degree of caution with whichever system you choose to stick with.
How to Put Out a Charcoal Grill Using Water
Water is typically the staple for eliminating charcoal fire, but you don’t just rain it down on your grill; doing so for an extended period of time can cause corrosion and instantly release too much smoke, which is not safe for the environment, your health, and your food or even burn your skin!
Instead, follow these steps on how to put out a charcoal grill quickly:
Give your charcoal time to help it burn out completely, as this may take up to 48 hours, depending on your coal material.
- Once the coals have burned completely and are no longer blazing hot, use long metal tongs to even them out. This will get rid of the hotspots and prepare your charcoal for water impact.
- Slowly empty the water in a bowl over the charcoal while stirring. This method is widely used because it is a very fast way to cool your ash completely and also eliminates the chances of hot spots or reignition when you’re away from the grill.
As we stated earlier, be careful when applying water to hot charcoal to prevent uncomfortable injuries caused by steam or sudden flare-ups. Do not stand close to the grill, too, when applying water, and do not apply the water directly on hot coals.
How to Put Out a Charcoal Grill Fire Without Water
If you can’t find water around, you can still put out your grill fire without making a mess or causing a fire accident. How? It’s pretty simple!
- Close your charcoal grill lid to cut off the oxygen supply. Do the same for the sides and the vent. You can also smother the fire by covering the grill with a heat-resistant metal plate to shut off the fire.
- Then, patiently wait for 48 hours until the ash has completely cooled off. After that, you decide on the best way to dispose of your used ash (check below for help on that).
- How to put out charcoal grill fire? You can also dump your hot coals in your metal trash can and close the lid. This process is faster because the can is very airtight compared to typical grills.
- Now, all you need to do is wait for the can to cool for a few hours, pick it up by the handle, and properly dispose of the leftover ash.
(You can also sprinkle baking soda or salt over the hot coal to put out the fire.)
How to Put Out Charcoal After Grilling: The Best Practices
- Assemble the necessary tools and equipment to begin the process, such as Insulated barbecue gloves/ mittens, a small metal trash can with a lid, long metal tongs, aluminum foil, and a metal scoop for ash removal
- Put out the hot coals with water or without water.
- Separate your leftover ash and coal from other waste and materials for easy identification
- Get a designated ash container for easy disposal
What to Do with Used Charcoal and Ashes
How to put out charcoal after grilling
Take a deep breath and keep in mind that your charcoal and ashes don’t stop being of valuable service just because the former is partly burnt and the latter is in its finished state.
Safe Disposal Methods for Charcoal Ashes
Proper disposal of charcoal ashes is necessary to protect the environment and your cooking area. Once your ash is completely cold, wrap it in aluminum foil before dumping it in a non-combustible outdoor trash can.
You can also decide to use your ash in compost or fertilizers to help promote plant growth. However, you must do proper research on how to do this, as not all charcoal ingredients aid the breakdown of organic matter.
How to Store Leftover Charcoal for Future Use
Leftover charcoal is still valuable if stored properly, and it can help you save money on the purchase of new ones. Now, this is why we advised against dousing your hot charcoal in water: you might want to reuse the partly burned ones. How to put out charcoal grill?
After you have taken the fire out, lay a sheet of aluminum foil on the table next to the grill. Use the metal tongs to pick out the charcoal pieces that are still in good shape (ensure they have cooled down enough before doing this))
Keep them in an airtight container or grill for later use. Make sure you place the layer of new charcoal on top of your old coals so they begin burning first and help your old charcoals burn better.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Putting Out a Charcoal Grill
How to put out a charcoal grill fire
We have provided you with a list of all the things you must do to properly set out a charcoal grill, but what about the things you must not do to thwart the process? We’ve got you!
Mistake 1: Leaving the Grill Unattended After Cooking
Never leave your charcoal grill unattended, especially if children or pets are around the yard. The most unexpected fire accident can start in a split second, and your entire food may burn. Endeavor to stay close to the grill and keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of sand closer in case of any emergency.
Mistake 2: Using Flammable Liquids to Extinguish Charcoal
How to put a charcoal grill out
If it isn’t water, do not attempt to use any other liquid to put out your charcoal; it will only make it burn brighter, and this is not what you want. If you use flammable liquid, your charcoal may also let off an unhealthy level of smoke, which is not what you want.
Should you ignorantly apply a flammable liquid to your open charcoal, ensure your fire extinguisher is nearby to curb the flare-ups.
Mistake 3: Not Checking For Remaining Hot Spots
You can never be too careful with fire, and even after you’re done putting it out, you must painstakingly inspect for remaining hot spots and do what is necessary (put them out). Plus, leaving your hotspot unattended can damage your grill surfaces and thus reduce your grill’s shelf life.
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The Advantages of Using VEVOR Charcoal Grills
VEVOR charcoal grills are at the top of our favorite list for multiple reasons, and you’re about to find out why. How to put out charcoal grill?
Built-in Safety Features for Easy Extinguishing
The simple temperature control gives you total control over the functioning of your charcoal grill and also serves as a built-in safety feature that aids in quick riddance of fire and stops unnecessary burning time. It also ensures that your meals don’t overcook with a controlled temperature inside the cavity between 175℉- 500℉.
Durable Design and Easy Maintenance
The VEVOR charcoal grill’s portable design makes it the perfect companion on any journey. It can be folded to maximize portability and effective space management.
VEVOR charcoal grill also has universal wheels for easy setup anywhere—from your backyard to the beach, to the woods, and even on a yacht. The party never stops!
Affordable and High-Quality Grilling Experience
The VEVOR brand prioritizes affordability and refuses to compromise on quality. This means you can own one of the finest charcoal grills in town at an unbelievable price of $741 and still use the ample cooking space on this multifunctional outdoor grill.
Another thing is that you don’t need to frequently fuel your grill when it’s in use. A full load of 15.8 cylinders can serve you through all the cooking and baking you need.
FAQs About Putting Out Charcoal Grill Outside
Can I Leave My Charcoal Grill Outside Overnight?
No, we would not advise you to leave your charcoal grill outside overnight. The safety concerns are too severe to consider letting hot charcoal stay outside for long hours unsupervised. You’re also at the risk of theft and rodent attacks, which can leave diseases on your grill upon next use.
The best solution is to keep your grill indoors after it has cooled down and properly store your charcoal for the next use.
How Long Does It Take for Charcoal To Cool Down
Various factors affect a charcoal’s cooling time, such as the amount of charcoal in your grill, ventilation supply, and types of charcoal used, which influence its heat retention properties.
Most times, the charcoal in your grill should be out between 30 minutes to one hour. However, be patient for more than an hour to help you properly dispose of your charcoal and protect your hands.
What Should I Do If My Charcoal Grill Reignites
Charcoal reigniting is a common occurrence when figuring out how to put out a charcoal grill, but with the right guidelines, you can keep things under control.
- You can cover your grill with non-flammable material to restrict oxygen supply to the fire. Use a fire extinguisher, preferably class K or Class A if you can’t handle the technicalities of using a blanket or sand to stop a fire.
- Water can also come in handy to help you control the flame, but always look out for steam.
The crux of this entire matter is that you can prevent a re-ignition by fully extinguishing your charcoal grill and storing it away from any kind of flame.
Conclusion
The slightest mishap while grilling can result in debilitating injuries and irreparable losses, so safe grilling practices are an important aspect you must not ignore.
Safe grilling reduces the risks of sustaining physical injuries, helps extend the lifespan of your charcoal grill, protects the environment, and ensures you produce a safe and healthy meal at the end of your cooking.
How to put out charcoal grill?
This guide is your first step into optimizing your grilling experience and ensuring your property and the environment do not bear the brunt of your cooking and baking. Don’t be afraid to utilize everything we’ve outlined for positive results.
The VEVOR charcoal grill has two massive layers designed to quickly grill meat and vegetables while still offering maximum durability, easy installation, and a quick clean-up system.
We’re sure you’ll love the humanized temperature knob function that allows you to customize the heat to your preference and do BBQ on your own terms with mind-blowing flavors to explore. So head on to our website and get one for yourself!
