Cookout™ Charcoal Cooking

Lighting your Cookout™ Charcoal Kettle

We recommend using a chimney charcoal starter, electric charcoal starter, lighting cubes or newspaper to light charcoal. DO NOT USE LIGHTER FLUID.

Chimney Charcoal Starter Instructions

NOTE: If using a chimney charcoal starter, follow the instructions provided with your starter for best results.

1. Remove the lid, cooking grate and open all air vents before building the fire. Charcoal requires oxygen to burn, so be sure nothing blocks the vents.
2. With the charcoal grate in position, turn the chimney charcoal starter upside down, and place newspaper in the bottom portion.
3. Place the chimney charcoal starter into the center of the charcoal grate, in the upright position.
4. Fill the top half of the chimney charcoal starter with charcoal.
5. Using a lighter, ignite the newspaper through the holes provided in the bottom of the chimney charcoal starter.
6. Leave the chimney charcoal starter on top of the charcoal grate with the lid removed.
7. READY: The briquettes are ready when the coals are covered with a light grey ash. This usually takes 25 to 30 minutes.
8. With a heavy, long-sleeved oven mitt, carefully empty the hot coals, from the chimney charcoal starter onto the charcoal grate.
9. Arrange the coals into an even layer using long cooking tongs, or pile the coals in the middle of the grate, if both direct and indirect heat is needed.
   
   

   FLAVOUR TIP: For additional smoky flavour, add moistened flavoured hardwood chips (pre-soaked) directly on the coals before you begin cooking.

10. Re-position the cooking grate, close the lid and allow the charcoal to burn.
11. Wait for the cooking grate to preheat, before adding food.
12. Re-position the lid and ensure that the air vents are open.
13. Consult your recipe for recommended cooking times. Use a temperature probe to check doneness.

Adding Charcoal During Cooking

1. Remove the COOKOUT™ lid and hook it on the side of the COOKOUT™ fire bowl.
2. Move food to one side of the cooking grate.
3. To access the charcoal grate, lift the hinged portion of the cooking grate.
4. Load approximately 12-20 additional briquettes (390 g - 520 g / 0.86 lb - 1.15 lb) for each additional hour of cooking required.

ATTENTION: Never leave your kettle unattended while in use.

Putting Out The Fire

Once cooking is complete, follow these steps to extinguish the fire:

1. Using protective gloves, close the COOKOUT™ lid.
2. Close all vents.

NOTE: Assume that it will take at least 1 hour for your charcoal to extinguish and your COOKOUT™ to cool down.
There is not an ON or OFF switch for a charcoal fire. Always be cautious about making any assumptions about when the fire is completely out and completely cool.

Ash Removal

Remove ash catcher, only after the charcoal has been extinguished and allowed to cool.

TIP: A pile of ash left in the ash catcher can collect moisture and make cleanup a challenge. Clean the ash catcher after every use.

1. Ensure that the ash catcher is in position.
2. Ensure that the fire bowl vent is closed.
3. Once you are sure that the ash has cooled, remove the COOKOUT™ lid, and cooking grate.
4. Sweep all ash and debris from the charcoal grate into the lower fire bowl. Dispose of any larger pieces of charcoal.
5. Grasp the ash sweep handle and move back and forth until most of the ash is swept into the ash catcher. Use a hand broom for any leftover residue in the fire bowl.
6. With your heat resistant ash container handy, remove the ash catcher from its position and carefully dump all ashes into a heat resistant container. Allow it to sit for 24 hours.