How to Empty an Ash Catcher

Many charcoal grills come with an ash catcher, a saucepan-shaped metal receptacle attached to the bottom that’s designed to hold the ashes that accumulate as the charcoal burns out. To use the ash catcher on a Weber kettle grill, open and close the bottom vent several times to knock the ashes into the catcher. When the catcher is full, unfasten it from the base of the grill and discard the ashes. Warning: Never discard hot ashes in a paper bag or plastic trash pail. Be sure ashes are stone cold before transferring them to the trash. I usually wait until the day after I’ve used the grill to discard the ashes. The last thing you want to do is to combine hot ashes with other potentially flammable rubbish.