When the grilling season starts, you can light your charcoal grill in a variety of ways. We’ll show you how it works with and without a grill lighter.
Light the charcoal grill with the grill lighter – this is how it works
Barbecue lighters are practical and safe tools to get the charcoal glowing. The trade offers grill lighters in solid and liquid or gel form.
- Coal: First, stack some coal into a pyramid. The mountain shouldn’t be too big at first.
- Fixed grill lighters: If you use fixed grill lighters, they are usually cube-shaped. The optimal distribution of the grill lighters varies depending on the manufacturer. So look at the package information and place the grill lighters as specified.
- Liquid grill lighters: Simply spread liquid grill lighters evenly over the charcoal or briquettes. With this variant, you have to wait for a little before you light the charcoal. It takes a few minutes for the grill lighter to soak the charcoal.
- Lighting: Now you can light the charcoal. This works best with a long matchstick.
- Provide oxygen: A really good ember can only be created with oxygen. If there is a socket nearby, a normal hair dryer is quite suitable for supplying oxygen. Alternatively, fan the embers with a fan.
- Patience: Wait about half an hour before pouring the second layer of charcoal over the embers.
Light the grill without a grill lighter
An important safety note first: neither spirit nor petrol nor turpentine are suitable grill lighters.
- The risk of an explosion and thus serious injuries is very high. In addition, toxic fumes are produced.
- Newsprint is also not a good choice. The ash whirls up when grilling and settles on your grilled food.
- A safe way to light charcoal without a lighter is to use egg cartons. Tear them open and place the boxes underneath the charcoal.
- Make sure that enough air gets to the boxes. If you light the egg cartons, they will only burn slowly.
- This creates an even ember of charcoal. However, you have to reckon with a lot of smoke when grilling.