The finished charcoal pattern of the snake method should allow about 10 inches in between the start and end of the coals.

The good news? There's a better way. Using one of the smartest charcoal techniques out there—the charcoal snake method—you can transform a basic kettle grill (like the standard 22-inch Weber ...

Snake method works on any circular charcoal grill, like the one you might have at home or the small one you take on camping grills.

First, we set up each grill for a low-and-slow burn, using the charcoal snake method. In the case of kettle models, we arrange coals in a semicircle around the grill's inner wall.

There's one popular way though, that reliably keeps heat in the grill low and stable. The technique is known as the charcoal snake method. The snake also lets your grill burn for hours on end.

Arrange the charcoal in your grill in a snake method and light it. (See accompanying story for how to do this.) Put in the grill grate and place the meat in the middle of the grill over the drip pan.

“The Snake” is a charcoal stacking method where you literally snake your briquettes around the outside of your grill, then light one end and let the coals slowly burn throughout the day.

The finished charcoal pattern of the snake method should allow about 10 inches in between the start and end of the coals.

Arrange the charcoal in your grill in a snake method and light it. (See accompanying story for how to do this.) Put in the grill grate and place the meat in the middle of the grill over the drip pan.