The Weber 7447 Compact Rapidfire Chimney Starter is lightweight, yet the handle stays cool while you start the grill. Pick purchase the FireFlame Quick Instant Fire Starter if you want something that will ignite everywhere, even standing water.
You’re on your way to some wonderful outdoor barbecuing once you have a charcoal barbecue. Before you can eat burgers, hot dogs, and other grilled foods, you must first ignite your grill.
There are many techniques for lighting a charcoal barbecue, so knowing which one would best fit your requirements is critical. Which approach is best for your grilling setup will be determined by your cooking expertise, money, and materials. Regardless, it’s critical to always utilize safe illumination and, where required, heat-protecting gloves and mittens.
While lighter fluid may be used to ignite a grill, it is not the best way; it can be hazardous, and the fumes can be rather unpleasant.
1 There are many of alternatives to dousing your coals with lighter fluid if you want to start a fire.
1. Best Chimney: Weber 7447 Compact Rapidfire Chimney Starter
What We Enjoy
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight and small
- During the procedure, the handle remains chilly.
What We Dislike
- Kindling or lighter cubes are required.
The chimney technique is the most frequent approach to start a fire using charcoal. This chimney starter can fire coals in less than 15 minutes and is small enough to carry on outdoor trips. It’s designed to be used with lighter cubes, but you may use any form of starter or kindling to get the flame started. It’s a low-cost approach to uniformly heat coals before grilling.
This size is suitable for lighting around 40 briquettes, which is plenty for a casual meal for four people. You may always upgrade to a bigger chimney if you’re utilizing a full-size barbecue. Reviewers like that the handle remains cold to the touch while in use.
What Our Experts Have to Say
“The simplest way to light a charcoal grill is to mound a thick layer of briquettes and make a well in the middle for a fire starter.” The heat from the fire starter will travel to the adjacent briquettes, igniting the fire.” – Mike Lang, Another Pint Please founder.
Enjoy other Weber products at Best Weber Grills in 2023
2. Best Sustainable: Light-A-Fire All Natural Fire Starters
What We Enjoy
- Simple to light
- Tasteless, odorless, and smokeless
- There’s no need for kindling.
What We Dislike
- Each pod only lasts 20 minutes.
These all-natural pods are a fantastic alternative for a fire starter that is kind on the environment. These waterproof fire starters are made of food-grade wax and pinewood shavings and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor usage. They do not create any unpleasant odors or smoke. They have no flavor or odor, and each pod may burn for around 20 minutes.
These simple pods are a perfect solution if you want to eliminate lighter fluid and electric gadgets. There’s no need to use up your newspapers or other paper goods since they need no kindling. They also leave a little amount of ash behind.
Check out Best Grill Lights for Grilling at Night
3. Best Lighter Cubes: Bangerz Sunz Fire Starter Squares
What We Enjoy
- There’s no need for kindling.
- Eco-friendly
- Can be used indoors
What We Dislike
- Expensive
These eco-friendly cubes are an easy way to start your fire. You won’t require lighter fluid because of the recovered wood chips and wax. They are weatherproof and may burn for eight to ten minutes. There’s also no need to be concerned about flare-ups. There is no need for kindling or paper to start or maintain them, which is not only handy but also makes cleaning much simpler.
Unlike other fire starters, they may be used inside, so use them for a comfortable fireplace arrangement. Reviewers are pleased by how readily it can spark a flame in wet situations. Although it is more costly than other starters, it is effective, dependable, and will heat your coals before the flame goes out.
4. Best Electric: MIGI WOLF Electric Charcoal Fire Starter
What We Enjoy
- Quick to light a fire
- Lightweight
- The casing cools fast.
What We Dislike
- I need access to an electrical outlet.
- Cord might be bothersome.
There’s no need to gather kindling to start a fire when you have this electric fire starter—get your coals hot with the push of a button. The safety measures guarantee that the case immediately cools to the touch, and that the flame must be started by pressing a trigger button. It features a strong, nonslip handle that you can easily grip when igniting the flames. It’s very lightweight and provides 18 inches of length to spark the flame. There are no matches, no blowing on the flame to keep it burning, and no lighter fluid.
5. Best for Beginners: Weber Standard Chimney Starter with Lighter Cubes
What We Enjoy
- This set includes a chimney and lighter cubes.
- Cubes that are non-toxic
- Ergonomic grip
What We Dislike
- More trash is generated with combustible cube packing.
This fire starting kit contains our top chimney suggestion, the Rapidfire Chimney Starter, in a bigger version, as well as a box of 24 lighter cubes, both of which are ideal for novices. It’s all incredibly low-maintenance and produces the intended result: swiftly heating coals. The 13-inch chimney warms 50-60 briquettes at a time, which is plenty for most barbecues.
The Rapidfire Chimney is constructed of aluminized steel, which warms up swiftly and evenly. The big ergonomic handle provides better control while scattering hot coals in the grill and is strong enough to withstand extreme heat. The cone-shaped chimney effectively warms coals, allowing you to get to supper sooner. When wet, the innocuous but extremely combustible paraffin-wax lighter cubes glow and may be kept for a long time. It just takes one or two cubes to heat the embers in the chimney. The lighter cubes are separated in a tray coated in foil, which adds a little amount of trash, as opposed to other kinds of fire starters that do not need separate packaging or have packaging that is combustible and meant to be added to the flames.
6. Best Waterproof: FireFlame Quick Instant Fire Starter
What We Enjoy
- Waterproof
- Coating with compressed vegetable oil
- Waste-free
What We Dislike
- Pricey
The FireFlame Quick Instant Fire Starter is both windproof and waterproof. Wind, rain, snow, and even severe winds are ineffective against these extremely combustible fire starters. These fire starters will ignite regardless of the circumstances, producing a powerful flame and temperatures up to 750 degrees. In fact, even in standing water, these fire starters will remain ablaze.
Individual fire starters are manufactured of paraffin wax and then covered in a compressed vegetable oil covering that resembles plastic but is harmless and odorless. The bag works as a wick and may be lit with a little flame. In less than 3 seconds, the whole package will be enveloped in flames, and a fire will break out. Each box is waste-free, mess-free, and contains no unwanted tastes. There will be no sawdust in the bottom of the box or broken-up fire starters to deal with. These fire starters require less energy to heat coals with an 8-minute burn period. The fire starters come in packs of 20 or 60 and are more expensive per starting than other varieties.
7. Best Cord-Free: JJGeorge Grill Torch Charcoal Starter
What We Enjoy
- There is no need for an electrical outlet.
- Long nose to light from a distance
- Produces very little sparking
What We Dislike
- Needs propane refills
If you’re lighting your grill in an area without any electrical outlets or just don’t want to deal with the nuisance of a cable, this grill torch is an excellent choice. It can fire your charcoals in less than a minute and its large nose keeps you away from the flames. Another nice characteristic of this starter is the little amount of sparking. Other torches may force the coals to flare in order to spread the flames, but this torch just illuminates one area and the flames spread gently. Reviewers like how rapidly they can ignite their flame while remaining approximately 20 inches away from the coals.
Check out Best Charcoal Grills in 2023
Final Decision
We suggest the Weber Compact Rapidfire Chimney Starter for the most frequent method of starting a charcoal grill—with a chimney starter. Looking for an excellent environmentally friendly option? Choose Light-A-Fire. Natural fire starters that are odorless, tasteless, smokeless, and do not need kindling.
What to Look for When Purchasing a Charcoal Grill Starter
Utilization Ease
They all have the potential to ignite a fire at some time, but each demands a different amount of work. Electric versions may be as simple as pressing a button to start a flame, although other techniques, such as chimney starters and lighter cubes, might need deliberate positioning of coals and waiting for the fire to ignite. If you’re not comfortable starting and sustaining a strong flame, it may be advisable to start with electric versions and progress to other alternatives once you’re comfortable. You should also consider where you want to utilize your starts. If you often barbecue in inclement weather, having a waterproof alternative will make your life much simpler.
Price
Not all fire starters are the same price, and additional expenditures, such as refilling propane or batteries, must be considered if the fuel supply has to be replenished. You should also think about whether you’ll need to utilize your fire starter with other items, such as newspapers. To ensure you’re getting your money’s worth, check to see how long your tumbleweeds, cubes, and kindling can burn. Electric solutions are often more expensive, but they provide more comfort and convenience.
Cleanup
The most significant disadvantage of many kindling-based fire starter solutions is the filthy ash that they may produce. Fire starters, such as lighter cubes or tumbleweeds, do not need the crumpling of newspaper or other paper materials. This significantly reduces trash and makes cleaning much simpler. Electric and chimney starters, on the other hand, often need a few paper items to get the flame starting, which might make a bit of a mess once you’re done grilling.
FAQs
How do you get a charcoal barbecue going?
The most typical method for lighting a charcoal grill is to fill a chimney with charcoal and place something combustible at the bottom, such as dryer lint or newspaper, before igniting it. When the flames from the newspaper catch on the coals, they begin to heat up and become white. It takes around 5 to 10 minutes for the coals to heat up sufficiently to be used for grilling. When the coals are white and the flames are visible through the openings at the top, grasp the chimney with an oven mitt and throw the coals onto the grill. Once they’re in the grill, cover them with the grate and begin cooking.
Aside burning the chimney approach, lighter fluid may be used. This approach is not as good as the chimney method since lighter fluid is more risky and the fumes are more powerful. It’s critical to ignite the coals using a long-nosed lighter to avoid dropping a match on lighter fluid. Of course, pouring lighter fluid straight over a hot flame is quite dangerous.
Finally, electric starters may be placed in the bottom of your coals to ignite a blaze. Simply pile the coals into a tiny mound and gently insert the fire starter into the mound. You’ll see flames poking through at this stage, and you may remove the starter. When the coals are white, you’ll know they’re ready to cover with grates and start grilling.
How should a charcoal chimney starter be used?
To utilize a charcoal chimney starter, place anything combustible at the bottom of the chimney, such as crumpled up newspaper or paper cups, and then fill the chimney with charcoal.
