Having trouble keeping charcoal grill lit.?

Question

Using charcoal + Lighter fluid and i stacked a pile in the middle and poured fluid on then lit it and after about 3-5min the flames go out so i re-light it. How am i supposed to cook like this?

Answer 1

First clean out the ashes below that grate you place the charcoal on. You require a few things to get fire going:
1. An Accelerant ( charcoal lighter fuel)
2. A source of fuel ( charcoal)
3. Oxygen
4. Ignition ( match / lighter)

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Before begining make certain all air ways are open all the way and clear of debris.

Pile the charcoal in a mini - mound so that every piece is touching at least one other piece - no piece should be sitting by itself.

Pour on " A Lot" of fluid to the center of the mound, in a circular motion to "saturate" the center. Wait a moment or two and do this a second time.

Give this about three full minutes to soak in entirely. Then light a piece of notebook paper with a match / lighter. Once this is burning of its own pretty well drop it on top of the mound. it will ignite in a slow fashion, there will not be a sudden burst like one would see with gasoline. It will be a gradually increasing flame. Do Not Close The Lid On The Grill.

In a few moments it will engulf the entire mound and be burning at its highest. This is not the burning state so do not put anything on the grill yet - allow this to " burn down"

Once the flame burns down it will appear to go out at some point, and it won't take too long - perhaps 5 minutes. Then as you look close at the mound you will see some of the edges on the charcoal have turned a white color. This is the burning stage and you can now place the upper food grate on the grill and begin to place food on it to cook, and close the lid but provide air through the adjustable airway on the lid.

As the charcoal burns at this point it will turn to an ash, that is the white color you see. Over time the entire mound will become white to indicate it is 100% ash, but it will still retain its heat and burn for some time.

You may not be able to come back to disassemble for cleaning for about 5 hours or longer. The ashes may remain hot and burning for quite some time - just be sure no one can get hurt from this grill; especially, at this point - when its not in use.

Answer 2

The flames are supposed to go out and the charcoal starts burning on it's own. Could be low grade charcoal. Most charcoal takes about a half hour to get going well enough to cook. It should be gray when it is hot.

Answer 3

Make sure your vent at the bottom is open but not all the way open cause it will get to hot it will have a triangle looking thing on it and then after you light it leave for about 5 min and your charcoal should be grey which means your ready to cook :)

Answer 4

Hello

I'm more a horticulturist but before that I also sold grills. Char coal grills are excellent and there's nothing like them but are a large pain because once you open a fresh bag of char coal it needs to be sealed up as tightly as possible or else the remaining coals will lose the fluids that make them light easily. It's a real pain but usally fresh coals work the best. Even if your going to be using the same bag for a large barbecue ten minutes later seal it up the best that you can. Good Luck.

Greenman

Answer 5

i got tired of playing that same game and of the lighter fluid taste on my food so i went out and got a gas grill about 10 years ago. best choice i ever made now i am out grilling even in the middle of winter ! even at -30 below 0, it just takes a little longer to cook is all !

Answer 6

The flame is supposed to go out. The charcoal will turn ash gray and put off heat enough to cook. You should see them glowing while they turn gray.

Answer 7

I bought one of those chimney starters ,you put a couple of crumpled sheets of news paper under the coals light them ,20 minutes later there are white hot coals. Remember charcoal takes time to catch.

Answer 8

If you use the lighter fluid on the bottom layer of coals and then pile the second layer on top, the bottom layer is ignited and the embers will start the upper layer before you spread the coals. The charcoal must be dry to ignite and burn evenly. Also, the fluid must be given time to soak into the coals before you light them or it burns off before the coals actually catch fire.

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

Make sure the air vent is open and leave the lid off.