You can put charcoal on aluminum foil. In fact, it is the most efficient way of cooking with charcoal so that you have even heat distribution and less mess.
Let’s look at some of the key information when placing the charcoal on aluminum foil.
How to put charcoal on aluminium foil?
Spread your charcoal in an even layer on top of the foil, then place your food on a grate/wire rack above the coals.
The best part about this method is that you don’t need to flip food over halfway through cooking.
Just turn the grill every few minutes so each side has equal time in contact with the coals.
I’ve also seen this method with an aluminum drip pan. Line the bottom of the pan with foil, then place the hot coals on top.
What are the benefits?
You get more clean-burning coals with less ash. You can even get those commercially bought briquettes to burn evenly.
Aluminum is a good conductor and will distribute the heat evenly.
No need to flip food halfway through grilling and no messy grease dripping down the side of the grill. Clean-up is a breeze!
What are the cons?
There are a couple of concerns about using aluminum foil to cook over hot coals.
The first is the potential for flaring. If the aluminum foil gets too hot, it can release certain chemicals that are toxic when inhaled.
The second is that aluminum can leach into food when it is overheated or cooked at too high a temperature.
However, this only happens at 570 degrees Fahrenheit (300 degrees centigrade) and higher which is extremely unlikely on an open flame.
It is also recommended that you not use non-stick aluminum foil, as it may have toxic chemicals from its manufacturing process.
Read Next: Scallops On The Grill In Foil Recipe (Things You Should Know)
Are there any alternatives?
There are several alternatives to using charcoal on aluminum foil, including these:
A. You can use a Weber grill with a wire rack.
B. Use an indoor grill pan, or griddle to cook in your oven or air fryer.
C. Buy a bottomless wok to cook meat and veggies with charcoal.
Is it good or bad to use charcoal on aluminum foil?
Overall, it depends on your personal preference. It is really up to you whether you want freshly made food with crispy skin or food that requires less work to flip and more time spent grilling.
If you choose to use charcoal on aluminum, remember that no matter how hard you try, it will never be as good as wood, which has direct heat contact with the food.
However, many people prefer aluminum for grilling due to its cleanliness it and ease of use. There are plenty of different types of charcoal briquettes available for sale.
If you’re not comfortable or experienced with charcoal, a starter grill would probably be better than using charcoal on aluminum foil for your first time.
Conclusion
So, is it useful to use charcoal on aluminum foil? Yes, you can use charcoal on aluminum foil. It is a very easy and fast way to cook food on a grill.
The cleaning process is also very easy as you can just wrap the coal in the foil and throw it over some trash bins.
It’s obviously better to use charcoal briquette sold in grocery stores rather than homemade charcoal from scrap wood, as it may contain harmful chemicals that can be released into the air upon burning.
