Your Barbecue Is Suffering Because Of One Charcoal Mistake

When it comes to grilling, it's all about timing. The charcoal mistake that's probably killing your barbecue and leaving you with undercooked meat is rushing the coals.

Charcoal takes time to properly heat and hold high temperatures, so before anything else, make sure the coals are white hot, which means the heat has been dispersed evenly.

If the coals aren't hot enough, your meat won't cook, and you'll have to wait a little longer and try again. Plus, it will result in flare-ups or dangerous bursts of fire.

To properly preheat charcoal, arrange the coals in a heap in the middle of your grill grate to ensure the coals keep in contact and spread heat across the grill faster.

Add lighter fluid to the mound of charcoal, light it with a long-barrel lighter, and let it burn until it becomes white with ash. The process should take between 15 and 20 minutes.