How to make charcoal burn hotter?

So I just bought a brand new barrel style BBQ pit and I tried it yesterday for the first time. I followed instructions on how to light the charcoals and everything but i felt that i needed them to burn hotter. I started the coals and let them burn down for about 20 minutes before adding the meat and closing the pit. Both air vents were fully opened and it seemed to be hot just not as hot as i wanted them to be. Instead of white they were burning orange and at no point was the fire hot enough to not come close with my hands. Cooking the chicken almost took two hours!! So is there anything I can do to make my coals hotter?? Maybe add more coals the next time? What do you recommend?How to make charcoal burn hotter?
The only thing is that the rack could have been to far from the heat.

Doing whole chickens is difficult, next time try pieces and put them on as soon as the embers stop flaring.

When the coals are white, that is ash.

To get more heat give the coals a rake from time to tim and drag under the chickenHow to make charcoal burn hotter?
Light the coals in several spots let them burn until orange hot and then add another layer of coals, sPREading them out until even.Shake ashes off an give them enough time to become hot enough to heat the grill. You should close the top of the barrel to concentrate your heat. My friend, it is much better and quicker to precook your chicken inside your house first, this will cut the cooking time in half an reduce the chance of food born illness by reducing your exposure time. If you are bar-b-queuing cook the chicken in oven until done with the skin lightly browned. Place on hot grill apply an apply sauce on both sides.Please remember that your sauce has a lot of sugar in it that will burn black fast if not watched and turned.The sugar an fat from the chicken will keep your coals burning . If the coals become to hot an start to flame move the chicken to the cool spots [ edge of grill ] an squirt a little water from you squirt bottle until flames subside. Hope this helps HAPPY GRILLING. pre cook my friend pre cook for health an speed. Promise OK.Cut legs at joint halfway thru
Barrel style bbq's... is this the type with the offset fire box (charcoal/hot burning stuff goes in a smaller barrel on the side) or does the charcoal go into the same barrel with the meat?



If the coals were burning orange, you're getting enough oxygen to them so they should be their hottest.



A couple things come to mind.

1. You're not using enough charcoal for your new bbq.

How big is your bbq?

2. The cooking grate is too high from the charcoal.

3. Too much venting - usually, the lower vent should be wide open and the exhaust/chimney/higher vent is adjusted to control air and temperature.



Is the charcoal grate installed?

The charcoal grate gives a little space below the charcoal so air can circulate. Charcoal laying on the bottom of the barrel will not burn as efficiently.



Another thing you can try is to use lump charcoal (usually burns hotter) than charcoal briquettes.