How do I start a charcoal grill?

Question

I have the charcoal and I put lighter fluid on it, let it soak, then light it, but it never gets hot enough to cook things. Please Help!!

Answer 1

There's good tips already posted but here's a few more:

1) Use Match Light Charcoal - When you soak your charcoal in all that lighter fluid it makes the food taste really bad - and the stuff actually works.

2) Cut an egg carton in half (NOT THE STYROFOAM KIND) and put it at the bottom of your grill and build your pyramid over it. This is an excellent trick that will help your fire.

3) Patience. You MUST let a nice fire burn your coals for about 20-25 minutes before you begin cooking.

Good Luck and Happy Grilling!

Answer 2

A good appliance to buy would be a chimney grill starter. You can check out the website below for an exact description. It's basically a can with a handle. Just place the charcoal in the can, place newspapers in the bottom and light it up. Since the charcoal bricks are so close together, they'll light up faster. Once they've turned greyish white, that means that they're really hot. Now put on a heat-resistant glove, dump the charcoal in the bottom, place the grid on top, oil it up, and you're ready to grill. Wait for a few minutes for the grill to get hot first. I hope this helped a little. Happy cooking!

Answer 3

I just did a segment on this during a tailgate TV apperence. Depending on the size of your grill you may need more charcoal. Smaller grills, those about the size of a large baking pan, are designed for small foods, hotdogs, thin chops and burgers. They are meant for quick cooking or searing.

A larger grill needs more charcoal. BUT you can regulate heat by lowering the grill grates.

Make a stack of charcoal in the center that will spread out evenly over the bottom surface of the grill. Thats how much charcoal you need... plus some more.

Soak it with fluid and light. Allow the charcoal stack to turn ash colored. Spread the coals our, apply the grill grate and start cooking.

If you have any questions feel free to email me - Kent The Deck Chef Whitaker

[e-mail]

Answer 4

Make sure you have a sufficient number of coals and that they are all lit and allowed to turn white before using them to cook with.

If they do not give off enough heat, they may have absorbed too much moisture over the winter. Get some fresh charcoal and try again.

Answer 5

I bought the greatest thing at a bbq store.Its a chimney starter.All you do is put the coals in it then crumble some paper underneath and light the paper.the coals will be ready in 20 mins.No lighter fluid required.I was kinda skeptical at first but this thing works great.No more sitting there trying to keep the coals lit.I got a decent one for like 15 bucks.I saw Bobby Flay use one on food network and he said it was the best bbq thing he ever bought.

Answer 6

Just buy the bag of charcoal that you light the whole bag. It's easier than lighter fluid if you don't have one of those little chimneys that start the charcoal.

Answer 7

first off you must put the charcaol in a pile then soak with fluid wate 30 minuets then soak again wate then light start at the bottom on each side then in the middle and top last when coles turn white you spread them out and they will all turn white and your food should cook well But make sure the coals are white before you spread them out.And goodcooking!!!!!

Answer 8

How long is never? Patience is key as the coals are not at their hottest until they have completely greyed over. Once the pyramid stacked coals have greyed, then spread them out so that the heat is distributed over the entire grill.

Answer 9

stack the briquets in a pyramid, it is essential for the air flow