
The Grill Coach Blog.
Stretching a Bag of Charcoal
Charcoal is expensive. What can we do as grilling enthusiasts to keep the party going? My friends have called me cheap and I wear that badge of honor with pride (sometimes). Buying cheap charcoal though is on my list of don’ts, I find that when buying briquettes only “blue-bag” will do for me, the off brand stuff is just not worth it. I’ve been burned (get it?) too many times by cheap briquettes to do it again.

This week we fire things up with some sizzling highlights: Jay battles the elements during a high-humidity cookout, and Brian takes us to flavor town with a homemade Hawaiian Plate Lunch. Then we’re joined by Alex, Mobile Applications Development Manager at Middleby Outdoor, for Part II of our smart grilling series. Alex breaks down how he’s helping build the future of outdoor cooking—using tiny computers to control fire. We dive into his BBQ background, how he got into the tech side of grilling, and what exactly is and is not considered "AI-powered." Tune in as we explore: What to look for in a smart grill? The evolution of grilling technology, and what the future holds for connected outdoor cooking. Whether you're a backyard beginner or a gadget-loving pitmaster, this episode is packed with flavor and fire.