First, Why Is Lighter Fluid Bad?
Hey there, fellow barbecue rookie. You might be wondering why the barbecue community is against using lighter fluid when starting their charcoal. Simple - it's full of chemicals. Not only do these chemicals effect the taste of your charcoal, but the smell of it can be hazardous too. Safety reasons aside - using lighter fluid barely works anyways because once you light it, oftentimes the lighter fluid will quickly burn without lasting long enough to light your high quality charcoal.
With all that said, let's kickstart your grilling game without the hassle of lighter fluid. Dive into the world of lighting charcoal using a Big Bad Wolf or charcoal chimney where you'll find better tasting food – it's easier than you think.
Method One: Use Big Boy's Big Bad Wolf Charcoal Wand
Step 1: Plug your Big Bad Wolf in a standard outlet and point it at your charcoal. Flip the switch fully on so that you can hear the fan blowing and notice the heat coming out (which will take just a couple seconds).
Step 2: Wait just a minute or less while you watch your charcoal start to catch fire.
Step 3: Wait just another 30 seconds to see your charcoal really start burning.
Step 4: Once your charcoal is lit, remove the Big Bad Wolf away from your charcoal and flip the power switch just half way so the fan is on, but the heating element is not. This is to safely clear the hot air out of it.
Method Two: Charcoal Chimney
Step 1: First things first, grab your trusty charcoal chimney and some good-quality charcoal. Fill up the chimney with charcoal, making sure not to overpack it. You want enough space for airflow to get those coals nice and hot.
Step 2: Next, grab some crumpled-up newspaper or - fire lighter squares (our preferred method) – these will be your best friends for getting that charcoal lit without any funky lighter fluid taste or smells. Place them underneath the chimney and make sure they're in direct contact with the charcoal.
Step 3: Now comes the fun part – lighting it up! Using a match or barbecue lighter ignite the newspaper or fire starter cubes at the bottom of the chimney. As the flames start to climb, they'll gradually heat up the charcoal above.
Step 4: Give it some time to work its magic – you'll start to see the charcoal at the top of the chimney glowing red-hot. This is when you know it's ready to go.
Step 5: Carefully pour the hot charcoal into your grill, spreading it out evenly for an even heat distribution. Now you're all set to throw on those burgers, steaks, or whatever delicious goodies you're grilling up.
And there you have it – a simple way to light charcoal without using any chemicals lighter fluid. Now go ahead, fire up that charcoal grill, and get ready to impress your friends and family with your newfound barbecue skills. Happy grilling!
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