Tips from the Pros: HOW TO LIGHT YOUR CHARCOAL CHIMNEY
June 17, 2013
Larry Gaian of Embers&Flames.com explains to the Grilling.com community the most effective way to light your charcoal chimney.
I use a lot of charcoal briquettes at my house. Close to 500 pounds per year. And I start it all using my trusty Weber charcoal chimney.
When I first started using a charcoal chimney I had to deal with the frustration of not being able to get the chimney lit and having it stay lit. I know for many backyard grillers this is a problem they face and finding the best way to light my charcoal chimney has been a project for me. This method seems to work the best for me.
Start with at least three full sheets of newspaper. Roll two of the sheets of newspaper and give them a little twist or crumble as you go. Turn your charcoal chimney over and place the rolled newspaper along the inside of the charcoal chimney. You should have a hole in the middle with no paper in it.
Next crumble up another sheet of newspaper into a ball. Drizzle or spritz a little cooking oil on the ball of newspaper. You don’t need a lot of oil, about a tablespoon is it. Place the ball of oiled newspaper in the center of the chimney.
Turn the chimney over and add your favorite charcoal. Use a match or lighter to light the paper in the chimney and watch the charcoal chimney do its job.
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i like the oil trick never fails
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I use 3-4 Matchlight briquets in the bottom of the chimney to make sure the charcoal lights easily
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Use the old Charcoal bag instead of newspaper I just rip the old charcoal bag in half or thirds and use it instead of newspaper. Works like a charm and you don't end up throwing the bag into a landfill.
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Paper is a mess! I use a mapp gas torch. Fill the chimney full of coals, and hold the mapp gas torch underneath for about a minute. Works every time!
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Don't use newspaper for your chimney starter. It is unreliable and who even buys a newspaper anymore? Paper towels and a little oil works every time
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Paper is messy I have found the best way to light my coals is a chimney starter and firestarter cubes, made by weber. These cubes burn clean with no odors or residue to ruin the charcoal flavor. You also don't have the ash that often goes airborne when using paper to light your chimney. For about $3 a box , firestarter cubes are well worth it.
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