Can you grill steaks directly on charcoal?

Question

So I'm watching Food Network last night and on one of the shows, the host grilled steak directly on charcoal. I mean, he removed the steel grate and put the meat right on the coal.

Is that safe and healthy and if so, can you provide any tips on cooking this way! Also, would you cook a filet mignon this way or what kind of steak would you cook this way?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Personally, I would not want to do this because I would think that it would make the meat gritty. Who wants gritty steak? Maybe there is a trick to it. I'd check out the Food Network's website and see if I could fine the recipe section.

Here's a link.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/

Answer 2

Seasoning and which cut is a matter of personal taste and economics so I'll skip that. I use a different seasoning each time for variety. The really important part is to not overcook the steak. A steak should have a hot pink center. Regardless of which cut you buy, you can make even a cheap steak like a London Broil come out great if it's not overcooked. Also, I never buy a steak that's not at least 1 inch thick. Thin steaks are for sandwiches. I have a gas grill (never cook a steak indoors in my opinion). I actually prefer charcoal but that's another story. I heat the grill for about 10 minutes on high then reduce to about medium. Place your steak on the grill. Watch for juices starting to come up through the top of the steak. This is your queue to turn it over. Now with the steak turned, watch for the juices to start coming up through the top (previously cooked side) of the steak. Once this happens your steak is DONE! if you push on it with tongs, it should give as if your pushing the center of your palm. NEVER EVER cut your steak before or during grilling. I use this method and it works every time. My free hand is usually holding a beer rather than a meat thermometer.

Answer 3

No, this does not work. It grills the ash into the meat and thus makes it gritty. A much better steak grilling method is to gently raise the internal temperature of the meat by soaking it in warm water for a half hour (in a bag, of course) then cooking it for a shorter period on the grill. Check: http://www.thepauperedchef.com/2006/11/fajitas.html and don't try Alton's method.

Answer 4

Yes, you can grill directly on coals....usually you spread a thick rub, or some other coating that gets charred on the outside, and then "knocked off" when you take it off the coals....I often use a thick layer of mustard that gets chared.

If you can, use real hardwood lump charcoal, and NOT briquettes...also NO LIGHTER FLUID....use a charcoal chimney or parifin starters. Unless you are eating this every night, do not worry about any sort of healt effects (at least not from the charcoal grilling)

Answer 5

ever see red pumus? Its a vulcanic rock that is very porous and retaines heat very well. It is frequently used inside of gas grills.
These are what you can cook steaks on and you will need to be using a thin cut steak like flank or strip steak to be cooked with. You can use actual coals though you will need to blow off the ashes first and you cant use berquets. Not idea for filets. Ill take mine Med. Rare! thanx

Answer 6

Just do what he said. It's not like we're going to know more than one of their network cooks! Go to their website and get the recipe. I'm sure you could use any type of steak.

Answer 7

i would not cook anything directly on charcoal maybe you can move the grate as close to the charcoal as possible cook your steak hot and fast

Answer 8

I wouldn't grill on the charcoal..It can be very bad for your health.They have even debated about just grilling with charcoal being poison.Don't take a chance,you get one life in this world when ever you can eat healthy.You must have heard about it also or this wouldn't be one of your question. Remember we are not kids and we can't do redo's in this life.

Answer 9

Unless he was using the fake charcoal briquettes. made of stone cooking on gas I can not even think of eating it or wasting my food on it. Seems to me you would end up with ashes and a whole bunch of other stuff on it.

Answer 10

I wouldn't eat a steak that had charcoal ashes on it myself but hey to each his own.