5+ Hacks How to Keep a Charcoal Grill Lit When Smoking or Grilling

Health experts never recommend charcoal grills as they are neither good for health nor friendly for the environment. But despite explaining it several times on many platforms, people don’t seem to leave charcoal grills. Maybe because of its smoky flavor and beautiful marks on the meat. Well, today I will be solving your problem of how to keep a charcoal grill lit. By using my tips and tricks you will never be worried again that your charcoal grill won’t stay lit.

Much like a campfire, keeping a charcoal grill going can be a challenge. It’s not as simple as throwing some logs on the flames and waiting for them to ignite. With a little bit of preparation and know-how, though, you can keep your grill going all night long without any problems.

Here are some suggestions for maintaining a charcoal grill’s flame.

How to Keep a Charcoal Grill Lit:

1- How to Lit Charcoal For BBQ with Fire Starters

A fire starter is a finest and simplest way to lit charcoal for Barbecue. Follow these simple steps:

• Use enough amount of briquettes, so that fire doesn’t dry off before BBQ. Read the instruction on the briquettes packet regarding how much will be required for your BBQ.
•  Do not spread briquettes on the grill. Always make a pile of it on one spot like a pyramid. Now bring your starter cubes and tuck them in the pile and also on different corners of the pile.
• Always use chemical-free natural starter cubes.
• Now fire up the grill with a fire starter.
• Use dampers and vents to control the airflow. This will help you to adjust the heat and keep the grill burning evenly.
• The grill will be hot and ready to cook for you in 40 to 45 minutes.

Now you have 45 minutes, prepare your things for the party or other tasks. You may start a timer so you don’t need to keep an eye on it.

2- How to Start a Charcoal Grill with Lighter Fluid

It is the most convenient method used to lit charcoal grills. You should be careful otherwise it can be risky. To start a charcoal grill, adhere to these easy procedures.

• One of the most important points you should not forget when trying to keep a charcoal grill lit is to use enough briquettes. If there aren’t enough coals, the fire will die down and be difficult to reignite. Charcoal should be piled high at first, and then more should be added as necessary.
• Here we will be making a pile of briquettes in a way from larger to smaller pieces of briquettes, as we did for the fire starter method.
• Carefully read the instructions on lighter fluid and how much you need to pour on coal.
• Now pour it evenly on a complete pile of coal.
• Don’t pour a lot of liquid in one place, as we don’t need this much.
• Let the coal absorb liquid for a few seconds.
• Now with the help of a lighter or matchstick, light up the coal from different places.
• Coal will catch fire within a few minutes, now you can start grilling and enjoy your day out.

3- How to Start a Charcoal Fire with Paper Towel

Well for this method, you need to have little patience.

• Bring your briquettes for BBQ.
• Crumple up some paper towels. Douse some vegetable oil on it.
• Place it below the pyramid of coal.
• Now start lightning on the paper towel, it will catch fire and will make the charcoal light up with it.
• A nicely ready grill will be yours after 15 to 20 minutes.

4- Light your Grill with Looft Lighter

It is an electric lighter specially designed for lighting charcoal. It is really efficient and can light up the grill in just 60 to 80 seconds. Once coal gets fire, you can add more charcoal to hot coals.

 

5- Make Use of a Chimney Starter

Rather than using lighter fluid to start the fire, try using a chimney starter. This is a simple device that uses air to light the charcoal, and it doesn’t produce any harmful fumes. First, you have to fill it with charcoal, light one end, and wait for the coals to heat up. Once they’re hot, dump them into the grill and start cooking.

Getting Started with Charcoal Grills

1- Choosing Good Quality Charcoal

Use Briquettes rather than lump charcoal. Briquettes are made with a specific formula that helps them to burn more evenly and last longer.

2- Use Enough Briquettes

One of the most important things to remember when trying to keep a charcoal grill lit is to use enough briquettes. If there aren’t enough coals, the fire will die down and be difficult to reignite. Add extra charcoal as necessary after filling the chimney to capacity. Add fresh charcoal as needed. Once the coals start to die down, add a few more. Also, keep adding wooden chunks, it will help the charcoal to stay lit.

3- Do not Spread the Charcoal

Another common mistake is trying to spread the charcoal out over the entire grill. This will actually make it harder to keep the fire going, as it will be more difficult to control the heat. Instead, try to create a mound of coals in the center of the grill and let them spread out naturally.

4- Open the Vent

One of the most practical ways to control the heat on a charcoal grill is to open and close the vents. This will permit pretty much air to move through the barbecue, which will in turn control the temperature.

5- Use High-Quality Wood

Another important part of keeping a charcoal grill lit is using good quality wood. If you use cheap, low-quality wood, it will be difficult to get the fire going and it will probably emit a lot of smoke. Try to use hardwoods like oak or hickory, which will produce the best results.

6- Use Dampers

Dampers can also be used to control the flow of heat. Dampers at the bottom are basically the intake vents of the grill, and the top vents are exhaust dampers. Adjust the intake damper and leave the exhaust damper open.

7- Invest in a Temperature Probe

If you’re passionate about grilling, then it’s a good idea to have an excellent-quality temperature probe. This is a device that attaches to the grill and measures the temperature of the food. This will enable you to properly prepare your meal without burning it.

8- Make sure your Charcoal is Dry

One of the main reasons why charcoal grills can be difficult to light is because the coals are damp. If the coals are wet, they will not ignite and it will be difficult to get the fire going. Make sure to let the coals dry out for at least 30 minutes before trying to light them.

DON’T

1- Use Too Much Lighter Fluid

One of the easiest ways to ruin a charcoal grill is by using too much lighter fluid. Not only will the flavor of the food be affected, but it will also be difficult to get the grill going. Instead, try using a charcoal starter or a chimney starter.

2- Leave The Grill Uncovered

If you leave the grill uncovered, the heat will escape and the coals will die out. Keep it covered so that it can hold more heat.

3- Add Too Much Charcoal At Once

If you add too much charcoal at once, the grill will become too hot and it will be difficult to control the temperature. Try to add coal gradually, adding more as needed.

4- Use Poor Quality Wood

If you use cheap, low-quality wood, the fire will not last long and it will be difficult to get the grill going. Try to use hardwoods like oak or hickory, which will produce better results.

5- Use Wet Coal

If the coals are wet, they will not ignite and it will be difficult to get the fire going. Make sure to let the coals dry out for at least 30 minutes before trying to light them.

6- Ignore The Vents And Dampers

If you don’t use the vents and dampers correctly, it will be difficult to control the heat on the grill. Make sure to open and close the vents as needed, and use the dampers to adjust the airflow.

7- Grill During Windy Conditions

You must consider whether while deciding to start grilling. If you grill during windy conditions, the heat will escape from the grill and it will be difficult to keep the fire going. If all feasible, try to Barbecue in a covered location.

8- Leave The Grill Unattended

Never leave the grill unattended, especially when there are hot coals. You can wind up with a potentially dangerous fire if something goes wrong.

By following these tips, you will never say again that my charcoal grill won’t stay lit and you will cook like a pro! You can also read my post How to use searing burner on gas grill.

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