Just saw a post on Facebook that was so profound that I had to write a blog about it....
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Why is it that 1 careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a grill?" - Meathead from AmazingRibs.com.
It's so true. Seems like we can burn down an entire national forest with the flick of a cigarette, yet we can't get charcoal which is designed to burn to save our lives. There are many ways to light charcoal. All the different ways involve the following two situations:
1. How patient are you?
2. how much do you want to spend?
We all know that true barbecuing involves patience. You can't pop bbq in the microwave and eat it in five minutes. Cooking over lit charcoal can require some patience; however, there are products out on the market now that can vastly reduce your time involved and still get that great charcoal taste this summer.
First of all, what is charcoal? Simply put, charcoal is wood that has been subjected to low amounts of oxygen and heat. This combination causes the wood to turn into basically pure carbon or char. The process rids the wood of moisture and other compounds.
Let's talk about lighting it. When charcoal is subjected to heat it basically ignites and starts to burn. At first it will burn just like regular wood but eventually it turns to a white hot ash and that is what provides the heat you want.
As I said, one of the factors to consider is how patient are you. The less patient you are, the more you will pay to get your charcoal lit. Same with how much you would like to pay. The cheaper the process, the longer it takes.
NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER USE STARTER FLUID OR OTHER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ON YOUR CHARCOAL. I know your Dad did this for years. It's unhealthy and causes a horrible taste to your food as well as can ruin your grill. This stuff should be outlawed if you ask me. Also, do not use the cheap charcoal you find at the big box stores. This isn't a hit on the big box stores. That charcoal is generally made from lumber and can have chunks of concrete and nails in it. Always only use all natural hardwood lump charcoal.
The cheapest and longest process to start charcoal is to simply throw something that is on fire into the charcoal and let it start burning. This process can take as long as 30 to 45 minutes to get it lit.
Next, which also happens to be the most common way to light charcoal, is what is called the chimney starter. This is an upright "tube" that you put the charcoal in. There is space in the bottom to apply heat. Some use newspaper, some place it over the side burner on your gas grill; I prefer to use Primo Quicklights that I place right on my grate under the starter.
As you can see from the picture, the heat rises as the air is drown from the bottom of the starter and up. This causes the charcoal to light quicker than if you tried to light it on your own in a pile in your grill.
This process takes anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes. Once the charcoal is ready to cook with, just pour them into your grill and start cooking.
The next item on the list is an electric starter. This are basically heating elements that you stick into your pile of charcoal on your grill, plus them in, and the element heats up and starts the charcoal. They take about 10 minutes to get it going.
Lastly, there is the Looftlighter.
This bad boy will light your charcoal in 30 TO 60 SECONDS! Here is a video showing how it works:
Looftlighter
No matter how you decide to light your charcoal just remember these simple basic rules:
1. Never use lighter fluid to light your charcoal.
2. Use a good quality all natural hardwood lump charcoal.
3. No matter how you decide, remember that lit charcoal is very hot. Anything it comes in contact with will be hot. So please be careful.
Charcoal as a heat source can be used for grilling and barbequing.
Colorado BBQ Outfitters carries all of the products I discussed above. Come on down and see us and we can answer any questions you have about using charcoal!
Dan
Colorado BBQ Outfitters
