11 Jun 2007
A Better Way to Light Your BBQ
You mean there is another way besides using lighter fluid? Apparently, by using a charcoal chimney you can not only get your coals hotter, but you can light up your BBQ the old fashioned way - without using lighter fluid/gasoline/rocket fuel/etc.
This guide takes you through the simple usage of a charcoal chimney. Your belly will thank you when you have a fine, evenly cooked steak.
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I’ve been using the Weber chimney for years — I’m on my second one. No petrochemical taste, no fossil fuels, and the match-to-steak time is virtually identical to lighter fluid.
I use two full sheets of newsprint and toss-in 4-5 small pieces of scrap wood on the bottom of the charcoal as insurance.
they really are easy to use and well worth the investment of usually under $10. they will usually last a couple of seasons.
at least for me they did.. and I went through three of them.
I have since switched to gas for my day to day grilling, heavily augmented by hickory chips in a smoke box.
let it be known that I only switched to gas when I started flipping houses. The dang things (gas grills)were everywhere!
I finally kept one.. the rest, if I can’t sell are tin mined, the Grill part is cast aluminum after all
Even better is to use actual charcoal, not briquettes. It starts easier & burns hotter. It burns faster though, so be careful that you don’t end up with a steak half-grilled & no charcoal left.
With charcoal & a chimney starter, I’m ready to cook in about 10 minutes from the time the match is lit.
If you have trouble keeping the newspaper lit. You can put a bit of cooking oil on the paper before stuffing it into the bottom of the chimney.