How to Light Charcoal Without Lighter Fluid

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light charcoal without lighter fluid

How to Light Charcoal Without Lighter Fluid

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Step 1 of 4
Make a small fire in the middle of the charcoal.

Make a small fire in the middle of the charcoal.

Step 2 of 4
Once you get a nice little fire going, start adding charcoal.  You want to  add a couple at a time- you don't want to smother the fire!!

Once you get a nice little fire going, start adding charcoal. You want to add a couple at a time- you don't want to smother the fire!!

Step 3 of 4
Soon the charcoal itself will ignite and you can then add the rest of the charcoal.

Soon the charcoal itself will ignite and you can then add the rest of the charcoal.

Step 4 of 4
Give it 10-15 min and your ready to grill. This process took me maybe 5 minutes longer than using lighter fluid.

Give it 10-15 min and your ready to grill. This process took me maybe 5 minutes longer than using lighter fluid.

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15 Comments
Supplies

Charcoal

Small to medium size sticks

Paper

Meg M

Can men do this really? All the men I know require ample amounts of lighter fluid! I'll be passing this on to a few!

Meg M 4 months ago

Michael Cannon

For the "starter" fire. Lay a couple pieces of newspaper out and drizzle a little vegetable or canola oil on the paper. Crumple the newspaper into loose balls and light. These will burn much longer like an old oil wick so you won't have the smothering problem.

Michael Cannon 11 months ago

Michael Thomas

Never, ever, use charcoal starter fluid. Gross! I can taste that stuff even if I let the fire burn for an hour before cooking. Instead of newspaper, I use the propane burner from my turkey fryer to light my charcoal in the chimney.

Michael Thomas last year

Travis Croft

It's important that we don't forget these skills. Nice one.

Travis Croft last year

Jane From KY

Good job and comments. Thank you

Jane From KY last year

Eldad Hanan

I knew that. But I'm sure it'll help many people that use fuel to ignite their charcoal. Great job man :)

Eldad Hanan last year

Renee Morgan

I use a cardboard egg carton. Stuff each slot with dryer lint and pour melted parifin (wax) over the top. I just break off a couple & toss in.

Renee Morgan last year

John Harman

I use a chimney. It works great. Just stuff newspaper in the bottom and charcoal in the top and light it. I use lump charcoal, so it doesn't even have any lighter fluid. Once the coals are lit, dump them into your grill.

John Harman last year

Erik Grahek

To answer the question of how I started the first fire: we have all been there- throwing in a couple pieces of paper and adding some sticks. It isn't always that simple!! I have found, over many failed fire attempts, that if you spend the extra couple minutes gathering the right tinder- you will save yourself time and frustration. Use the teepee or lean- to method with really small to medium size sticks ( really small= diameter of a wet spaghetti noodle. Medium = the diameter of your finger) the combination of that, an a little paper underneath- you got yourself a fire. Slowly add more sticks increasing in diameter until its hot enough to add charcoal- or logs if you were starting a camp fire.

(author) last year

LeighAnn Raney

Thanks !!

LeighAnn Raney last year

Douglass Harter

This idea works great thanks a lot Doug

Douglass Harter last year

Jeanne Rice

That worked perfect! Thanks, think I suffocated the fire before!

Jeanne Rice last year

Ahhdam Marei

How did you light the first fire?

Ahhdam Marei last year

Wade Reynolds

So long starter flavored burgers!!!

Wade Reynolds last year

Jonathan Houghten

The key seems to be getting a fire going in the first place. Not always as simple as it looks.

Jonathan Houghten last year

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