A chimney charcoal starter has two compartments with a small cylindrical tube. The small compartment located at the bottom is used to hold newspapers or any used papers. It has a bigger compartment to hold the smaller compartment and the fires from paper lights the charcoal above. The flames are controlled and directed to the smaller and contained area holding the paper. This is a simple device that could make your work easier. Here are steps on on how to use a chimney charcoal starter.
use a charcoal chimney starter
Step 1: Find a safe place where you can start the fire in your chimney charcoal starter.
Never start it near flammable materials like harmful chemicals, wooden deck or dry grass. Prepare all the materials needed like a pair of tong, matches or lighter, heat resistant grill gloves, charcoal and old newspaper. Roll or ball the papers individually (around three sheets) and place them at the bottom of the chimney. If newspapers are not available, you can always use discarded papers like old flyers or paper grocery bags that are available in your house. An empty charcoal bag can also be used as an igniting material to start the fire. As much as possible, leave a little space between these papers, preferably in the middle of the circle you have formed so that air could get in.
Step 2: Turn the chimney starter side up and put charcoal into the can on top of the papers.
Usually, a commercially made chimney starter has holes at the bottom to provide ventilation. Provide something to lift the can up from the flat surface. This will give some space at the bottom of the can for ventilation. You can use brisquettes and place them on your charcoal table or grill and put the can on top of it.
Step 3: Light the paper.
Some chimney starters have holes on the side near the bottom where you can insert matches or fire that will ignite the paper. In a few minutes, the charcoal will light from the bottom all the way up to the top. This is called the “chimney effect”. The charcoal will be ready in 20 minutes. If charcoal will not light for the first time, add more paper and just repeat the process.
Step 4: If you see that almost all charcoals have ashes over them, then it is now ready.
Lift the hot can using a tong and your heat resistant grill gloves and place it on the side. Spread the hot charcoal evenly at the bottom of the grill. The chimney will remain hot even after pouring out the hot charcoals, so always remember to use safety gadgets whenever handling a hot chimney starter or any other chimney barbecue starters for that matter.
You don’t need to sweat yourself and spend too much of your time igniting a charcoal. Using the right device like the chimney charcoal starter will make the work fast and easy. You don’t need to use a lighter fluid either, thus helping to save the environment by reducing the emission and use of harmful chemicals and fumes.
