How long should you heat a charcoal grill before add the food on?

For direct grilling, where the food is placed directly over the coals, the coals should be hot enough that you can hold your hand over the grill grate for no more than 2-3 seconds before needing to pull it away. This means the coals should be white with slightly blue tips. To establish such heat, it usually takes between 15 and 25 minutes for most standard-size charcoal grills.

For indirect grilling, where the food is placed over a drip pan and not directly over the coals, the coals should be medium-hot. This means the coals should be mostly gray with some areas of orange or red. To establish such heat, it usually takes 25 to 35 minutes for most charcoal grills.

Here are a few tips for getting your grill hot quickly:

* Use lighter fluid or an electric starter.

* Place the coals in the center of the grill grate.

* Avoid using too many coals.

* Keep the lid of the grill closed as much as possible.

Once the coals are hot, add your food to the grill and start cooking!