When grilling, it's essential to know how to test the heat of your charcoal. One common method is to use the hand test.
To do this, hold the palm of your hand a safe distance away from the charcoal, around 10-12cm above the cooking grate. Imagine a can of soft drink is on the grill directly above the coals, and your palm is resting on the top of the can. Remember to remove any flammable clothing, such as long sleeves, from your arm.
Pull your hand away from the heat before it becomes too uncomfortable. If you can only keep your hand above the charcoal for 2-4 seconds before needing to remove it, the heat is high. If you can keep it there for 5-7 seconds, the heat is medium. Finally, if you can keep your hand above the charcoal for 8-10 seconds, the heat is low.
Time Ranges
These time ranges correspond to different temperature ranges:
- High heat is between 230°C to 290°C,
- Medium heat is between 180°C to 230°C, and
- Low heat is between 120°C to 180°C.