We've already waxed poetic about how crucial a charcoal grill is to summer cooking. We love the flavor it gives meats, veggies, and seafood, we obsess over what kind of charcoal to use, and we can't help but snap photos of our perfectly charred food. But we realize it's not the most user-friendly thing to use. There's no button you can push to start it, no knob to turn up (or down) the heat. And there are a lot of things to screw up along the way. We asked grilling enthusiast (and associate food editor)
Chris Morocco to fill us in on the most common mistakes people make when lighting their charcoal grills and how to avoid them. Here's the best way to fire it up this summer.
Hardwood Charcoal? I'm Using Briquettes!
Briquettes may light easier and burn longer than hardwood, but there are so many fillers, binders, and chemicals in those perfect black lumps. But real hardwood--charcoal that is made of completely wood and burned until it's pretty much pure carbon--burns hotter, and imparts a purely smoky flavor. No chemicals involved.
Just a Squirt or Three of Lighter Fluid...
More often than not, lighter fluid will impart a gross, chemical flavor on anything you throw on the grate. It will totally ruin the point of using hardwood. You can light your charcoal using nothing but newspaper, a match, and one very necessary tool.
Chimney, Schmimney
Repeat after us: The chimney starter is my friend. There's no better way to light your charcoal. Just put in 2 pieces of bunched-up newspaper (you could even use a piece of the charcoal bag if it's made from paper), fill the chimney with charcoal, and light the newspaper. Take the top grate of your grill off, set the chimney down in the grill, and let it rip. Just make sure to watch the charcoal burn for a little while--you should see smoke and clear ripples of heat--to make sure it's burning. You wouldn't want to wander off and do your prep while it lights, only to learn (too late!) that the fire went out.
Wing It
Before lighting your grill, take an inventory: How much will you be grilling? How hot does your grill need to be? How long does it have to burn? You might well need two chimney's worth of charcoal--which means you might need two chimney starters. Also, clean out the grill! The leftover ash and remnants of last week's grilling projects could block the airflow, which charcoal needs to thrive.
Dump the Coals Wherever
Before you pour your charcoal into your grill, grab an oven mitt or a dry kitchen towel--that handle can get mighty hot. Then, if you're making a two-zone fire, pile the coals to one side when you pour. It's hard to reposition them when they're glowing hot.