Lighting the Charcoal Grill

The basic premise of a charcoal grill is always the same. You build a charcoal fire in the bottom of the grill, put a grate on top of it, and then get to work. Make sure to leave a portion of your grill free of coals so there’s a resting zone for the food that’s cooking too fast.

The best way to build a fire in your grill is to use what’s called a chimney starter: a steel cylinder with a grate built into its bottom, and a stout handle on its side. Put two sheets of wadded up newspaper under the grate, and then fill the top of the cylinder with charcoal. Place the starter in your grill and light the newspaper. When flames are licking out of the top and all the charcoal is alight, carefully pour the coals into the base of the grill.

Don’t have a chimney starter? Use lighter fluid. Build a mound of charcoal about the size of a shoe box in the bottom of your grill, apply lighter fluid to the pile, and carefully set it on fire. When all the charcoal is alight, use your grill brush or a spatula to rake the pile into position.