Lighting Charcoal

If you are using lighter fluid to start your charcoal or wood fire please stop immediately! We feel that lighter fluid is dangerous to use, leaves chemicals on your charcoal/wood, and changes the flavor of food cooking on your grill or smoker.

We recommend using a charcoal chimney to start charcoal or wood fires in your grill or smoker. These chimneys are safe, easy to use, and do not alter the flavor of your food. Here are the steps to use a chimney:

1. Place one or two fire-starters underneath the chimney (there is a small space in the bottom of the chimney designed for this). You can also use balled up newspaper instead of fire-starters.
2. Place the chimney on the grate where the charcoal will sit when you are cooking.
3. Load the chimney with charcoal so that charcoal is crowning out of the top of the chimney.
4. Light the fire-starters through the holes in the side/bottom of the chimney using a lighter or long match.
5. Once the top crown of charcoal is glowing and you cannot see anymore black pieces of charcoal, pour the charcoal onto the charcoal grate using a fireproof mitt.
6. Put the chimney in a safe place where children or pets cannot touch the chimney until it has cooled.