My neighbor just showed me his trick for easy lighting this weekend. He takes two pieces of newspaper and sprays them with cooking oil that he keeps in a household sprayer and lights them....It only takes those two pieces to start a whole charcoal chimney.
george, you're making this way too complicated. just get the newspaper page, tear in half, and roll it up like a big joint. then twist it and tie it into a knot. make about 3 of those, stuff them up under there and light it. walk away for about 20 minutes ;) all done.
Another good hint. I find that lumpwood (as opposed to briquettes), catches much more easily than the briquettes do, and they WILL catch with just 1 or 2 sheets of newspaper added.
So my compromise is I fill the chimney with an inch or so of lumpwood in the bottom, and then fill up with briquettes on top of that. 15-20 minutes, ready to go.
I have used a chimney starter for years and have never had a problem getting the coal fully ashed over and ready to cook in 15 min. using only 1 sheet of newspaper. If you use a quality charcoal 1 sheet of paper will do the job.
I bet you use lumpwood in the chimney tho right? It catches a lot easier than briquettes do. If I use one or two sheets of paper under briquettes, it might often catch first time, but i'm then waiting till that lump or two in the bottom that caught have burnt up till the fire and heat start to spread, and that way you're looking at 45mins - 1 hour wait, not 15 minutes. This method is a good compromise when using briquettes.
This is a waste of money -- boy scouts use old gallon size tin cans with the tops and bottoms removed. Twigs make better kindling than paper because paper ashes obstruct air flow.
All I cooked was a beer can chicken and a couple of slabs of pork ribs this time. I didn't show them because I got distracted and kind of burned some stuff. I'm a better fire starter than I am a barbecue chef.
If you have that much trouble getting the charcoal to light then you might want to just skip the charcoal and grill over flaming newspaper.
BrainEatingApe 9 months ago
My neighbor just showed me his trick for easy lighting this weekend. He takes two pieces of newspaper and sprays them with cooking oil that he keeps in a household sprayer and lights them....It only takes those two pieces to start a whole charcoal chimney.
podboy333 10 months ago
I just put a few coals in and use very little paper, then when those few coals get goin good I ad more coals!
chainlinkdreams 1 year ago
Totally unnecessary! I've used 2-3 crumbled up sheets with both briquettes and lump charcoal and have never had to add more paper
TheSpiderPest 1 year ago
"Paper all burned up, no fricken fire." I liked that
buckstarchaser 1 year ago
george, you're making this way too complicated. just get the newspaper page, tear in half, and roll it up like a big joint. then twist it and tie it into a knot. make about 3 of those, stuff them up under there and light it. walk away for about 20 minutes ;) all done.
turbotrauma 1 year ago
if you lean the carb at angle inside the grill, then you can keep adding paper from the bottom and not go through the small holes.
Cuah123 2 years ago
If your out of breath by just talkin you should not be standing in smoke.
bashafacin 2 years ago 2
Another good hint. I find that lumpwood (as opposed to briquettes), catches much more easily than the briquettes do, and they WILL catch with just 1 or 2 sheets of newspaper added.
So my compromise is I fill the chimney with an inch or so of lumpwood in the bottom, and then fill up with briquettes on top of that. 15-20 minutes, ready to go.
pgl0897 2 years ago 2
It's a very good video. Thanks for showing us how to do it.
OS253 2 years ago
Comment removed
lml46 2 years ago
That's just too much trouble! Listen to him huffing and puffing while he's feeding the strips of paper into it!
lml46 2 years ago
If you drizzle just a tad of cooking oil on the first sheet, not soaked but just about a tablesoon overall it burns a lot longer. Try it!!
racrdave 2 years ago
I have used a chimney starter for years and have never had a problem getting the coal fully ashed over and ready to cook in 15 min. using only 1 sheet of newspaper. If you use a quality charcoal 1 sheet of paper will do the job.
1LSUredneck 3 years ago
I bet you use lumpwood in the chimney tho right? It catches a lot easier than briquettes do. If I use one or two sheets of paper under briquettes, it might often catch first time, but i'm then waiting till that lump or two in the bottom that caught have burnt up till the fire and heat start to spread, and that way you're looking at 45mins - 1 hour wait, not 15 minutes. This method is a good compromise when using briquettes.
pgl0897 2 years ago
LOL @ BBQ cat comment. :)
ikcizokm 3 years ago
might try this; thanks george
michaelkulov 3 years ago
This is a waste of money -- boy scouts use old gallon size tin cans with the tops and bottoms removed. Twigs make better kindling than paper because paper ashes obstruct air flow.
jonathanwilliamray 4 years ago
Why couldn't you just use lighter fluid. Not the same taste?
Akrowdya64 4 years ago
Very informative! Now I need to go out and buy a smoker... You should have showed us what you were smoking.
mieses2pieces 4 years ago
All I cooked was a beer can chicken and a couple of slabs of pork ribs this time. I didn't show them because I got distracted and kind of burned some stuff. I'm a better fire starter than I am a barbecue chef.
Wisegeorge 4 years ago