Arrange the Charcoal

The first thing you need to do is arrange your charcoal.

Whether you opt for an even layer or a neat mound, make sure the charcoal is arranged in such a way that it maximizes contact and helps the fire spread.

Once you’ve made a deliberate arrangement, carefully squirt the lighter fluid following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Be sure to never apply the fluid to hot coals or flames as this could be very dangerous.

Light the Charcoal

Once you’ve successfully applied the lighter fluid, it’s time to light the charcoal.

Notably, you should light the fluid immediately after applying it to the charcoal.

When doing so, use a long match or lighter to spark the lighter fluid. After lighting the charcoal, let it heat up for at least 15 minutes before cooking.

Use Long-Handled Utensils for Cooking

During the cooking process, use long-handled utensils to rearrange or add more charcoal as needed to adjust the temperature.

Since the grill may turn out to be quite hot, this will help you avoid burns or accidents.

Know When Your Coals Are Ready

Your charcoals will never provide a good cooking experience if they’re not ready. The best time to cook is when your coals are ready.

They become ready when they’re mostly covered in gray ash, and the process takes around 15 minutes or so.

This indicates that they have reached a uniform temperature and are ready for cooking.

Once your coals are ready, spread them out evenly on the grill and get cooking!

Handling Flare-Ups

Flare-ups are natural, especially when there’s fat dripping from the meat.

The trick is to be prepared.

Have a spray bottle of water at hand to help you handle any flare-ups.

Gently spray the water on the flare-up, and it will settle down.

Ready to Cook

Place the chicken on the grill and sauce well.

Flip chicken every 5 minutes. This keeps it from burning.

Repeat adding sauce at every turn.

Cook until the chicken temps out at 175 to 180 degrees F with a meat thermometer.

This is best for dark meat as it renders the fat at this stage.

Remove and serve with your favorite BBQ side dish.