This Is One Of The Easiest Grilling Mistakes To Make (And It Can Ruin Your Barbecue)

When it comes to mistakes you can make while grilling, one of the easiest and biggest is letting ash build up in a charcoal grill. You may already know that, as charcoal burns, it releases noncombustible materials in the form of ash. That ash then gathers at the bottom of the grill. If you're not diligent about cleaning it out, the buildup of ash can ruin your food and your grill.

Speaking to Foodie, expert chef Scott Thomas of The Grillin' Fools told us, "For charcoal grills, too much ash can kill the cook. If the target temperature of a brisket is 203 F, and the grill can only get to 180 F, we've got a problem." In other words, too much ash sitting in the bottom of the grill dampens the fire's ability to heat up. In some cases, it can even extinguish the fire entirely. Not only that, but ash attracts moisture, which can cause rust that will ruin the grill itself. Even the best pellet grills won't work properly if they're rusty and full of holes.

So, how much ash is too much? Really, any amount. At most, there should only ever be a thin layer at the bottom of your grill, and ideally, there wouldn't be any at all. This ash buildup can happen faster than you think. Because it builds up gradually as you cook, keep a close eye on your charcoal to ensure it can burn properly.

So, how do you protect your grill and barbecue from ash buildup? For starters, clean your grill after every use — though it will take some remembering. Wait 48 hours to let the ash cool completely, scoop it all out, clean out the ash tray (if your grill has one), brush out any residue, and throw the ash away. As long as it's cool, you can put all this in a typical trash bag and throw it away with the rest of your garbage.

One great grilling hack to prevent ash buildup is using higher-quality fuel. High-quality fuel has less ash to begin with, which means that it contains less nonflammable material to become ash sitting in your grill. For this, try lump charcoal. It has its challenges but contains more wood and fewer binding agents, so it has a low ash content and burns hotter than briquettes. It's better used for meats with long cooking times, like brisket, so you won't have to worry as much about ash.

If you aren't doing so already, use a charcoal grate to hold the fuel and keep it off the bottom of the grill. Ash will fall beneath, and air can circulate to help it burn better. Though a grate might not be usable with certain grill attachments like a stovetop smokebox for smoking brisket, it can make a world of difference when grilling.