How To Start Charcoal without Lighter Fluid

Are you tired of buying lighter fluid? If so, this guide is for you. There are many reasons to use a chimney style charcoal starter:

• Lighter fluid adds undesirable flavors to foods.
• Chimney starters use newspaper which is economical and easy to obtain. One Sunday newspaper will contain enough paper to last an entire season.
• Chimney starters are faster than using lighter fluid.
• A top end Weber chimney starter is relatively inexpensive. Less expensive chimney starters can be found for much less. The cheap ones do seem to rust out. The model pictured is a cheap one and the rust is obvious. It's about one year old and was about $10. Considering the amount it has been used, lighter fluid would have been a much more expensive way to go.

Three easy steps

Step 1: Fill the chimney starter up with coal
Step 2: Put a sheet of newspaper (not the glossy color advertising flyers, but actual newspaper) in the bottom of the chimney starter. Place on a non-flammable surface and light it through the holes.
Step 3: The paper will light the bottom layer of coals. The bottom coals will light the rest of the coals all the way up to the top. Eventually fire will come out the top. It is best to let the top coals get a layer of white ash on them before dumping into the grill.

Once you put the coals in the bottom of the grill, spread them out evenly. I have tried a number of tools for this task, but a small shovel designed for fireplaces seems to be the easiest to use. Leave the grill uncovered and allow all of the coals to turn white. Put the grate on, allow it to get warm, and lightly scrape with a grill brush. Cover and get the grill to the desired temperature by adjusting the bottom vent. The top vent should always be completely open.

It may sometimes take a second sheet of newspaper if the first one doesn't get the process started. The second sheet always seems to do the trick, almost as if the first sheet gets the coals hot but not quite hot enough.

Although the above pictures are good for illustrative purposes, it is much easier and faster to place the chimney starter on the bottom grate. Be sure that the air vent is fully open.

Once you begin using this method to start the coals you will get very spoiled by it. You'll watch a friend starting his BBQ with lighter fluid one day and really have to fight back giving some advice...

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