What the barbecue virgins don’t seem to realise is that charcoal has to get hot, really hot and glow red before you even attempt to cook food. I have witnessed barbecue virgins trying to get the thing to light with firelighters, paraffin or worse. I have watched with horror as other barbecue virgins throw hunks of flesh onto barely warmed cinders in a determined effort to get food poisoning...If you enjoyed this article, take a look at my websites: http://barriemahoney.com and http://thecanaryislander.com or read my books, podcasts and blogs about living and working in Spain and the Canary Islands.Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoney© Barrie Mahoney 2026