How to Light a Charcoal Grill (Properly!)
Friends don’t let friends use lighter fluid or newspaper to light charcoal
Why shouldn’t you light charcoal with chemicals you ask? Oh, let me count the ways:
Flavor: nobody likes a chemical taste on their food
Health: there are actual studies showing that chemicals in lighter fluid can create harmful fumes that can be inhaled by friends and family close to the grill. Look it up!
Safety: You’ll never see a seasoned pitmaster doing this…
Incompatibility: Lighter fluid can actually negate some of the benefits of using good charcoal.
If you’re a BBQ enthusiast and food-lover like us – you know this is important, and if you’re here you’re looking for a clean burn. And there’s just something fun about using a charcoal grill, right? The ritual of lighting the coals, the anticipation of cooking, and the satisfaction of creating great flavors all start with how you ignite your grill.
In other words, at Starter King we don’t ruin our charcoal with chemicals, nor should you.
Our fire starters offer a cleaner and more efficient way to get your charcoal glowing (just watch the video). Curious about the different methods for various types of grills? Stick around; we're about to dive into the best practices for lighting everything from kettle grills to charcoal smokers, without the chemicals. How do you light charcoal with a fire starter? Here we go:
Lighting a Kettle Grill
Kettle grills are a solid choice – classic, right? To light it, break up your fire starter brick and place the pieces in the center, surround them with charcoal. Remember, a little goes a long way! Light the fire starters pieces and let them ignite the surrounding charcoal evenly. Allow the coals to heat until they are covered with white ash before spreading them out. This method ensures an even heat distribution, perfect for searing, roasting, or slow cooking.
Lighting a Ceramic Grill (kamado grill)
Ceramic grills, also known as kamado grills (your Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe), are versatile and efficient and will definitely up your game and open you up to an entire world of smoking and BBQ. They’re awesome. To light one, create a small nest of charcoal around the fire starters. After lighting, close the lid to allow the heat to circulate and the temperature to rise evenly. Patience is key here, as rushing can cause temperature spikes and uneven cooking.
Lighting a Hibachi Grill
You may not have one of these, but small hibachi grills are fantastic for quick and flavorful cooking. Highly recommend it for your next backyard grill-out. Place natural fire starters at strategic points under the charcoal grate and light them. Allow the charcoal to glow evenly before placing food on the grill. The direct heat from a hibachi is excellent for searing meat and charring veggies.
Lighting a Campground Grill Station or Fire Ring
Believe it or not, my old man has one of these in his backyard (because why not!) – you’ll often see these at state parks and campsites. Lighting one with a Starter King fire starter is a breeze. First, make sure the area is clean and free from debris. Arrange your charcoal or wood to ensure good airflow, then place your fire starter underneath and light it. Once lit, you really don’t need to fuss with it after that, let the fire starter do its job – it will burn long enough to ignite.
Hangry or Just Enjoy Being Efficient? Use a Charcoal Chimney
A charcoal chimney is a metal cylindrical gift from the grilling gods. It’s a simple device featuring holes on the bottom and a handle on the side. Starting charcoal has never been so easy. To use a charcoal chimney, all you have to do is fill the chimney with your desired amount of charcoal, place one ¼ piece of a 3in Starter King bar under the chimney, light it, and get ready to cook because you won’t be waiting long. Charcoal Chimneys and Starter King are a match made in heaven because of how quickly they get charcoal white hot. We even surprised ourselves with this one (check out the video above).
Where does Starter King come in?
If you're looking for an efficient and natural way to start your charcoal grill, we’ve got your go-to solution literally right here. With food-grade ingredients, it provides a mess-free, clean-burning, and odorless experience that gets your BBQ going in no time.
Boom, baby. Happy grilling.
– The Starter King Team (Alliance, OH)
