What do you guys use to get your charcoal started?

I've always used paper under my chimney, but I've never been satisfied with it. I saw on Alton Brown that he uses veg oil on the paper to get it to burn longer and thought I might try that.

Yesterday, I was at Lowes and saw an electric starter, so I figured WTF.

It works better than I thought it would. So, I was wondering what others are using.

Sorry, didn't ask Ram first, but I think he'd approve due to the nature of the question.

Lighter fluid and lots of it...lol

charcoal lighting fluid...

Gasoline

^ diesel is a little safer... I hear you can use crude if your're by the gulf now...

The side burner on my big gas grill that has otherwise gone completely unused for at least 5 or 6 years now.

Takes a few minutes on high to get the bottom rows of charcoal in the chimney going to the point where they are white ashed over, then I move the chimney to the firegrate of one of the weber kettles I'm not using for that cook or to an exposed ag paver I have elevated up on bricks to keep it from setting **** on fire. From there, it's no different than had you lit the chimney with newspaper.

(you don't want to leave the lit chimney on the side burner, it kicks off so much heat that it'll damage the grill hardware)

Pliny, I put my chimney over the side burner on my gas grill.

Works like a charm.

LOL!

🙂

Fastest and cleanest way to do it bruddah.

NINE times faster and cleaner than newspaper I would estimate.

^Hmm, never thought of putting it over the burner, LOL! I just pack my chimney full of lump charcoal and line the bottom with newspaper then light it and I get a pretty even start.

I use crappy propane

I use propane 98.2% of the time...

I use those little paraffin blocks to start mine. At one point I used electric starters which work great but don't have a long life expectancy so I stopped using them. If I need to add hot coals during long smoking periods I use a chimney

im gonna try and use my firepit.

seriously tho.. a map gas torch will light the coals very quickly..

Try drying out orange or citrus peel, use those in combo with the newspaper.

newspaper

RE #15

Try a weed burner. Now you're talking. *insert Tim Allen Tooltime grunts here*

http://www.eweedcontrol.com/images/BIG-BP-2512-C.jpg 

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd23/powercatpurple/BBQ/IMG_9653.jpg?t=1239763274 

Electric starter on da grill at home, chimney with paper at tailgatin......

Fritos.

Try it some time.

Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)