Lighting coal is an essential first step to having a successful BBQ. Learning the proper techniques for lighting coal can help you start cooking faster and allow you to better control the temperature. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide tips and step-by-step instructions for lighting both charcoal and lump coal using various methods.
Selecting the Right Coal
When it comes to BBQ, not all coal is created equal. The two main options are charcoal briquettes and lump charcoal. Here is a brief overview of each to help you select the right type for your needs:
Charcoal Briquettes
- Made from compressed sawdust and coal dust
- Burn consistently and evenly
- Ready to cook in about 30 minutes
- Affordable and readily available
- Allows precise temperature control
- Leaves some ash residue
Lump Charcoal
- Made from pure wood charcoal
- Burns hotter and faster than briquettes
- Ready to cook in about 15 minutes
- Provides an authentic wood-fired flavor
- Creates less ash than briquettes
- Harder to control temperature precisely
- More expensive than briquettes
For beginners, charcoal briquettes are usually the easiest to work with. Lump charcoal can provide great flavor, but takes more skill to manage the heat levels. Many BBQ aficionados use a combination of both types to balance flavor and control.
Lighting Methods
There are several effective methods for lighting coal, each with their own benefits. Here we will go through the most popular options:
Chimney Starter
A chimney starter is one of the best and fastest ways to light coal. Here is the step-by-step process:
- Stuff newspaper or other tinder in the bottom section of the chimney.
- Fill the top section with coal, either briquettes or lump.
- Light the newspaper or tinder through the holes at the bottom.
- As the coals ignite and burn, they will fall to the bottom section.
- Once the coals are mostly covered in white ash, usually in 15-30 minutes, they are ready to be poured onto the grill.
Benefits: Gets coals ready fast, no lighter fluid needed. Excellent for lighting lump coal.
Electric Starter
Electric starters provide a convenient push-button method to ignite coals:
- Place coal in your grill as desired.
- Insert electric starter prongs amongst the coals.
- Plug in and turn on the electric starter, heating the prongs red hot.
- In about 10-15 minutes, the prongs should have ignited the coals.
- Unplug the electric starter once the coals are mostly white with ash.
Benefits: Simple and fast, requires minimal effort. Good for lighting briquettes.
Lighter Fluid and Matches
While convenience products have made lighting fluid less necessary, it can still be effective:
- Pile briquettes or lump coal in your grill.
- Lightly coat the coals in lighter fluid as desired. Be careful not to use too much.
- Allow the fluid to soak in for about a minute.
- Using long matches or a long lighter, ignite the coals in several spots.
- Let the fire spread until coals are mostly white with ash.
Benefits: Inexpensive and requires minimal equipment. Can help ignite stubborn coals.
Propane Torch
A propane torch provides intense heat that can quickly light coals:
- Add coal to your grill as desired.
- Put on heat protection gloves for safety.
- Using a sweeping motion, pass the torch flame over the coals for 1-2 minutes, igniting them.
- Keep sweeping the torch until coals are mostly covered in white ash.
Benefits: Rapid ignition, allows precise control over heat levels. No chemicals needed.
Wax Fire Starters
Wax starters offer a natural and chemical-free method for lighting coals:
- Place wax starters amidst the coals in your grill.
- Using a long match or long lighter, ignite the starters.
- Once the starters have melted and ignited the coals around them, add more coals as needed.
- Continue lighting in batches until the desired amount of coal is lit.
Benefits: Burns cleanly without lighter fluids or chemicals. Convenient for gradually lighting coals.
Smokeless Fire Disks
Specialized disks light coals without lighter fluid:
- Place disks under or amidst the coals in your grill.
- Using a long match or lighter, ignite the disks which will burn for 10-15 minutes.
- The disks produce radiant heat which ignites the surrounding coals.
- Let the disks fully burn out before cooking over the lit coals.
Benefits: Clean lighting with no chemicals, easy to use. Good for lighting briquettes.
Skewer and Tinder Method
If you don’t have any starter accessories, this basic method works:
- Stuff paper, dry leaves, wood chips or other tinder in the bottom of your grill.
- Lay a skewer atop the tinder horizontally.
- Pile charcoal around and on top of the skewer.
- Light the tinder using a long match or lighter.
- Keep fanning the tinder as the coals around the skewer ignite.
- Carefully remove the skewer once the coals have mostly whitened from the heat.
Benefits: Requires minimal equipment, good for survival situations.
Arranging Coals
Once your coals are lit, how you arrange them in the grill will impact the cooking temperature:
- Direct heat – Coals piled under the food for quick cooking and searing.
- Indirect heat – Coals off to one side, food on the other side, for slower roasting.
- 2-zone fire – Coals banked to one side and a small pile on the other, combines direct and indirect heat.
Charcoal baskets are handy for corralling the coals into specific zones for direct or indirect grilling. Aluminum drip pans with water can be placed between zones to regulate temperatures.
Rotating and moving food during cooking, such as flipping steaks or turning ribs, will allow you to adjust and balance the heat as needed. It may take some trial and error to find the ideal coal placement for different foods on your particular grill.
Safety Tips
When using fire to cook your food, there are some important safety considerations:
- Place grill on a level, non-flammable surface away from overhangs or shrubbery.
- Avoid wearing loose clothing around the grill.
- Keep children and pets safely away from the hot grill.
- Use proper grilling tools with long, heat-resistant handles.
- Never squirt lighter fluid directly onto hot coals, this can cause flare-ups.
- Dispose of cooled ash carefully in metal containers, not plastic bags.
- Keep a fire extinguisher or water hose nearby just in case.
- Don’t leave a hot grill unattended, be alert while cooking.
- Allow coals to fully extinguish and cool before disposing.
Exercising caution around the hot grill will allow you to light coal and cook your food safely and successfully.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Lighting coals can occasionally provide some frustrations. Here are solutions to some of the most common problems:
Issue: Coal won’t light with lighter fluid.
Solution: Try using a chimney starter or electric starter instead. Make sure coals are dry before adding fluid.
Issue: Flare-ups from adding too much lighter fluid.
Solution: Wait for flames to die down and let unlit fluid burn off before cooking.
Issue: Electric starter won’t ignite coals.
Solution: Make sure starter is securely plugged into GFCI outlet. Hold prongs down firmly until coals light.
Issue: Chimney starter coals go out before ready.
Solution: Use more newspaper or starter cubes at the bottom. Make sure to stuff it tightly.
Issue: Some coals light but others won’t.
Solution: Try lighter fluid or starter cubes on stubborn spots. Ensure coals haven’t gotten wet.
Issue: Unpleasant lighter fluid flavor in food.
Solution: Use less fluid and let it fully burn off before cooking. Switch to a chimney or electric starter instead.
Issue: Propane torch scorching food or creating soot.
Solution: Keep torch moving continuously over coals. Don’t use on highest setting.
With a little troubleshooting, you can overcome any difficulties and get those coals burning bright for a perfect BBQ.
FAQs
How long should you wait before BBQing once coals are lit?
It’s best to wait until the coals are covered in a layer of fine white ash, usually 15-30 minutes after lighting with lighter fluid or a chimney. This indicates they have reached proper cooking temperature.
Is lighter fluid or propane torch better for lighting coals?
Propane torches get coals lit faster, but lighter fluid can help stubborn coals ignite. Avoid too much fluid as it impacts food flavor. Many recommend avoiding lighter fluids when possible.
What is the ideal temperature for BBQing?
Different foods require different heat levels, but the ideal BBQ temperature for most grilling is between 350-450°F measured by a grill thermometer. Hotter for steaks, lower for roasts.
Should you soak wood chips before BBQing?
Soaking wood chips in water for 30-60 minutes before placing them on lit coals will help them smolder and produce more smoke flavor gradually. Don’t soak for too long or they won’t light.
Is it bad to cook before all the coals are fully lit?
Yes, ideally all coals should be fully lit and covered in ash before grilling to ensure even heat. Unlit coals can lead to temperature flare-ups and uneven cooking.
How can you prevent grill flare-ups?
Flare-ups from dripping fat can scorch food. Use indirect heat, trim excess fat, avoid too much lighter fluid, and move food temporarily to a cooler area until flames die down.
What’s the benefit of chimney vs. electric starters?
Chimneys light coals faster without chemicals, but electric starters are very convenient. Chimneys work better for lighting lump coal, while electric starters excel at briquettes.
Should you soak lump charcoal before using?
It’s not necessary and may hinder lighting. Lump charcoal is ready to light as-is right from the bag once any dust is shaken off. Avoid getting lump coal wet.
Is it okay to use alcohol like wine to light BBQ coals?
No, alcohol fumes can create dangerous flare-ups. Chemical starters like lighter fluid are recommended over improvising with household liquids.
Conclusion
Learning the ins and outs of lighting BBQ coals takes some practice, but is extremely rewarding. With various lighting methods, proper charcoal arrangement, and safety precautions, you can master the art of lighting coal to achieve the perfect cookout. Give some of these techniques a try at your next backyard grill party!
The ability to control and maintain proper heat levels through careful coal management separates a novice backyard griller from an experienced BBQ pitmaster. So grab your favorite pair of tongs and get ready to play with fire! Your tastebuds will thank you.