Okay, so I've looked up all the online help areas and whatnot. I've seen that some recommendations are to use a "charcoal chimney" and whatnot. To stack your charcoal in a pyramid...etc.
However, I keep failing...
The first time I lit up my charcoal, the fire went out. I had put the charcoal in the grill and poured enough lighter fluid on it to coat it. Then I lit it up. However, the fire went out and eventually the charcoal stopped burning (the grill got cold in about 45 minutes, there went my food...).
The second time, I put about 15 briquettes down, poured lighter fluid on it, then repeated two more times. I then lit the charcoal. It stayed lit this time, BUT it got really really smoky! Horribly smoky...I basically made a smoke signal... :'(
My question here is how do I properly burn charcoal? I want to keep it burning to the point that it cooks, but not to where I create a smoke signal for planes...
Like I said, I've looked up all the online stuff, but nothing helps..
2007-07-16 23:15:53 · 8 answers · asked by RMskater 4 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
First, it does sound possible you've got a problem with your charcoal. If you are using store brand charcoal, some are good, and some are just awful. Kroger briquettes are lousy about lighting. You might see a big difference just using a bag of Kingsford.
But I see a couple possible issues.
In your first instance, maybe you lit the charcoal to soon after putting on the lighter fluid. Make sure you stack your charcoal in a pyramid (use tongs to spread it out before cooking). Soak it down good, and spray some in between the briquettes to get some on the inner briquettes. Wait one minute for the fluid to soak in before lighting.
As for the second instance, you might have put down too much lighter fluid. But either way, the smoke should dissapate before you cook. Don't cook until the coals are ashed over gray, meaning the fluid is all burned off. There may be some smoke at the beginning, but by the time you cook there shouldn't be any.
Basically, you might want to go out and buy a new bag of Kingsford briquettes. There are other good and better brands, it's just that Kingsford is almost surely available where you live and is pretty reliable if not perfect.
2007-07-17 11:14:32 · answer #1 · answered by Lou C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get a charcoal chimney. Its a metal tube with a hollow bottom. Just fill with charcoal, fold up 4 pieces of newspaper in the bottom and light the paper. No fluid is needed. It works every time. You will also taste the difference between this and the lighter fluid method.
2007-07-17 07:09:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
OK, no chimney. Make one layer of charcoal, and then another layer but oddly placed. Do a another layer. Use lighter fluid in between and over the coals. Light in several places. Sides, and middle. That should give you plenty of fire to catch the coals and only after they start to turn white on the ends and part way up cook
2007-07-20 22:08:50 · answer #3 · answered by John 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Use the chimney thing by putting the charcoals on top, but do not use fluid it can cause cancer, put either newspaper under it or a cardboard egg container piece with a ball of dryer lint and a chunk of candle inside, under it, light it and let the coals heat up, then pour your coals into the under neath of the grill and put the food on for a few minutes with the lid on
2007-07-17 06:22:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm no expert on this, but my husband is, although he is not here. He generally stacks his in a small pyramid. He says the key is to soak the charcoal good with lighter fluid and let it set and soak in for about 10 minutes before you light it. You then have to let it burn about 15 minutes or so before you put your food on. Hope that helps.
2007-07-17 06:19:41 · answer #5 · answered by zento1110 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Could it be that your charcoals are damp or you lighter fluid had water in it? I have also found that the off brands of lighter fluid and charcaols don't work as well. I grill with charcoals a lot and the pyramid method works fine. Try Kingsford.
2007-07-17 08:57:15 · answer #6 · answered by kerrbear 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
use match light.
put a layer of it across the bottom of your grill.
light it in a few places with a grill lighter. it should catch on fire automaticaly. do it when it's not windy outside
the fire will spread
when the coals are hot red but not on fire you are ready to cook.
the fire will burn your food. the hot coals are less likely but you still need to tend your cooking
2007-07-17 08:02:55 · answer #7 · answered by nataliexoxo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So THAT was where all that smoke was coming from! :-)
2007-07-17 08:47:31 · answer #8 · answered by Gram 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋