Grilling directly on coals?

[BigBarry]

Folks,

Alton Brown cooked skirt steaks right on the hot lump coals. He blew off the ashes first and then plopped them right on the red-hots for 1 minute per side. He said it prevents flaring and they looked awesome.

Anyone ever try this?

 

[Mooner]

I have never tried it but it seems to work. I saw the same episode and I think the trick is to make sure the coals are white hot then when you remove the meat make sure no coals are sticking too it.

 

[tommykendall]

That has to leave soot on the meat, blowing the ashes or not.

 

[qman]

I have seen a couple of other hot-shots on TV do it that way. I think Steve Rachelin demo-ed it once.
Have not ever tried it [on purpose] myself.

 

[RichardF]

did it at a camp-out once when someone:wink: forgot the grill. It does work and there was no ash issue.

 

[Westexbbq]

Maybe if you filter the white hot coals to sift out any ashes?

 

[thirdeye]

Some of the Eggheads do it with flank steak and also with boneless marinated lamb. It takes a hot a$$ed pile of lump to pull it off. Me, I'm too chicken to try that, so I cut a piece of expando small enough to set right on the lump. I figure, what is 1/16 of an inch difference going to make. So I have tried it a couple of times. It's not for me.

 

[HB-BBQ]

I saw the same episode and thought it wouldn’t work but sure enough it did. I cannot see any reason to try it myself when I have a perfectly good grill to cook on though...

 

[mkatts]

In boyscouts, we always had minute steaks, that we cooked right on the coals. Never had any problems. No ash or soot. No difference in taste from using a grate though. It was just less equipment to have to pack when camping and "roughing" it. Wasn't much roughing going on, when we packed steaks in igloo coolers though!

 

[jgh1204]

I am guessing you have to use lump and not regular charcoal.

 

[HoDeDo]

It works fine. We tried it a couple years ago right after we saw that episode. No ash issues. As was previously stated.... I didnt see any value to it over and above using a grate, so I use my grill as it was intended now -- but it did work fine. Give it a shot!

 

[grillfella]

Just keep a spray bottle full of water handy

 

[DaChief]

I've only tried it accidently when that damn runaway dog rolled through the side of the grill. As with others, can't see much benefit.

 

[Steppenwolf]

I've seen that episode several times but never tried it with flank steak.I have done corn and such without any "big ash issues" (say thast 5 times fast). Don't have a desire to make my fajitas that way. I like to grill the meat already cut and marinated. Usually go for chicken fajitas over beef anyway.

 

[BBQ_MAFIA]

I saw it on TV but don't plan on doing it.
I have a grill and don't have the need to change.