Lighting a charcoal grill is all about getting a flame going and getting the flame to the charcoal. Here I will show you easy ways to light charcoal, starting from an old fashioned way to a more modern approach.
1. If you’re Lighting a Charcoal Grill Without Firelighters-
Get some Newspaper, Cooking Oil or Olive oil, Matches and Charcoal.
Place the charcoal around the circumference of the grill leaving an empty fire pit in the middle.
Use 15 to 20 coals.
Smear oil onto the paper and spread it evenly like spreading butter on toast. Then Fold in once with the oil inside the fold and wring it like squeezing water out of wet clothes till it looks like a twisted log. (It’s not all that important to get it perfect.)
I call this a paper log. Make 5 or 6 of them.
Then put the paper logs all together in the fire pit in the middle of the coal on the grill and get them burning thoroughly. Make sure you get a good flame going and then start placing more coals on top of the burning paper.
The oil acts as a wick and will keep the paper burning for a while so there’s no need to rush with the charcoal.
Once you get the coals burning shuffle them around spreading them, lighting the other coals. If you lose your flame, don’t worry just spread the glowing or whitening coals around the grill.
TIP – Once a few coals are glowing they will continue smoldering and will get the rest of the coals smoldering too.
2. If you’re lighting a Charcoal Grill with firelighters, prepare the coal in the same way as above and place small blocks of firelighter in the fire pit. Light them and get them all burning, then simply put more coals on top.
Once again, just shuffle the coals around, if you lose your flame, remember that glowing or whitening coals will continue burning.
3. Lighter fluid can be fun and exciting. Just fill the grill with coals. Spray lighter fluid on them.
Do not spray lighter fluid on an open flame as this can be dangerous.
Once you’ve given the coals a good once over with fluid. Light them up and watch the coals go up in flames.