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Never use lighter fluid again.
Before I began working at Weber there was only one way I knew of to light charcoal. Make a big pile in the center of the grill, soak it in lighter fluid, and light it up. I think that’s how most charcoal grillers start out, but not only is lighter fluid pretty dangerous stuff; it can also leave a nasty flavor on food. Here's how to use a charcoal chimney starter without changing the flavor of the food.
Rapidfire Chimney Starter
First of all, the Rapidfire Chimney Starter has a very simple design. It’s basically a hollow metal cylinder with holes on both ends, a small wire grate inside, and a set of handles to hold the starter and to pour the charcoal.
Using one couldn’t be easier. You can use either newspaper or lighter cubes to get the coals going. Newspaper works great, but nothing beats a lighter cube. They even work in the rain! I prefer to use two at a time to get the coals burning even faster.
The charcoal's ready!
We have a compact version of the Chimney Starter that works great with our smaller charcoal grills, like the Smokey Joe. It makes a perfect addition to anyone’s list of tailgating supplies.
Simply put, nothing gets coals burning faster and more evenly than a Rapidfire Chimney Starter. I’ve gotten a real kick out of watching my friend’s faces when they’ve seen me use it in front of them for the first time, and they always tell me that they are going to get one before the next time they grill. As for myself, there hasn’t been a single day when I’ve missed using lighter fluid.
Like what you read here? Check out our quick and simple guide for how to use a chimney starter.