With a charcoal basket 16 inch your coals no longer sit loose on the bottom of the firebox, but together in a stainless steel basket. Air can pass by from below and the sides, so your Grill Bill Medium reaches temperature faster and holds that temperature more easily too. Meanwhile ash and grit fall straight through instead of blocking the draw.
What a charcoal basket 16 inch gets you
Loose coals collapse in on themselves during firing and get buried under their own ash. That's exactly where the draw gets stuck and you see your temperature drop, often halfway through a long session. The basket keeps the coals together and raised, so the bottom layer keeps getting air. Afterwards you lift the basket out, give it a quick shake, and you're left with the usable coals.
- Coals sit raised: air reaches them from every side
- Faster to temperature when firing up
- More stable burning during long, low sessions
- Ash and grit fall through, so no dirty hands when refreshing
- Stainless steel, withstands years of heat and ash
- Fits exactly into the firebox of the Grill Bill 16 inch Medium
Using the basket
Fill the basket about three-quarters with charcoal and light one or two points, depending on whether you want low and slow or hot grilling. Don't pack the coals flat: it's the space between them that does the work. For a long session, fill the basket completely beforehand, so you don't have to top it up halfway through.
Maintenance
Let the basket cool after firing and then shake it out over a bin or bucket. Stainless steel discolours from the heat, that's normal and doesn't affect its strength. Store the basket dry if you're not using it for a while.
Going for a fast start? Combine it with the electric firestarter and the ash drawer for the 16 inch. Everything else that fits this size is under 16 inch accessories.
