A Quick Guide to Using Hibachi Grills

Hibachi grills are a joy to use. They quickly heat whatever you place on top of a basic metal mesh above the coals. Due to how easy they are to use and their portability, too,  hibachi grills are getting more popular these days. The only drawback (if you can call it that) is that it’s not that easy to get the right heat level the first time you use the grill. But not all Hibachi grills are made the same anymore. 

To help you out, here’s a quick guide on how to set up a Hibachi grill the right way:

How to Set Up a Hibachi Grill 

While Hibachi grills don’t require much when it comes to prep work, there are still a few things that we recommend you do: 

Set Up Your Grill Space

You want to be careful when choosing where you’ll put your grill. Remember that charcoal gives off carbon monoxide, which can harm your health. That means you should ensure that the space you choose is outdoors or, at the very least, a well-ventilated area. 

There shouldn't be anything near the grill that can potentially catch fire. Also, note that the bottom of your grill will be extremely hot when you use it, so you don’t want to place it on top of anything that could be damaged. Make sure that you put it on something stable to avoid accidents. 

Light Up the Charcoal the Right Way

There are several methods to do this, but one of the most convenient is putting a chimney starter on top of a butane gas stove to get it started. Alternatively, you can heat the charcoal on a stovetop or heat them right from the inside of the Hibachi grill using a blowtorch.

Start Cooking

Once your coals are hot enough, you can start cooking. If what you have is a dual-chamber Hibachi grill, you can place more coal on one side and less on the other. This is a better setup if you have meat that you need to cook more slowly. 

Simply position the grill on top of the coals and let it heat up for 10 minutes or so before you begin cooking.

What Fuel Should Be Used in a Hibachi Grill?

Binchotan is typically used in Japan because it is harder than most other types of charcoal and also produces less smoke. That said, you can use any type of charcoal available. 

How to Cook Using the Hibachi Grill

When cooking steak on your Hibachi, it should be cut up into bite-sized pieces. You might want to consider using yakiniku, too, which is Japanese barbeque meat that is sliced thinly. You may also use Korean-style meat for a similar type of meat. If you are going for a larger cut, make sure to season it with salt and pepper before placing the meat on the grill. Cook each side for four to five minutes.

Conclusion

As you can see, setting up a Hibachi grill and cooking with it is not that difficult. The important thing to remember is to set it up in a spot where it will be safe to grill and far from anything that could potentially start a fire. Once you get that right, you only need to ensure that the coal is hot enough before you start cooking your meat. Now that you know exactly what to do with a Hibachi grill, you can get your very own portable grill with confidence. 

Backyard Hibachi is where you can find high-quality gas Hibachi grills and accessories to make your grilling experience even more enjoyable. Check out our products today!