Safe Grilling Kickoff – How to Properly Light a Charcoal Grill

Ready, set, charcoal! – How to light your charcoal grill quickly & safely

BBQ night is here, guests have just arrived, and the first welcome drink – a cold beer or a refreshing cocktail – has been handed out. Now it's time to fire up the grill so that in 20 to 30 minutes, the first sausages, steaks, and other delicious bites can go on the grate.

But what should you keep in mind? How do you get the charcoal in your grill lit properly, and how can you do it as quickly and safely as possible? Today, we're sharing a few tips and insights to help you out.

BBQ preparations – Safety first

To truly enjoy a smooth grilling experience, think carefully ahead of time about where to place your charcoal grill. Sheltered spots like corner walls or wind-protected areas work best. But be careful: never place the grill too close to bushes or trees. Especially in summer, when dry spells occur, flying sparks can quickly become dangerous. Therefore, it's also recommended to place the grill on stone slabs or tiles rather than on a lawn. If it does stand on the grass, keeping a bucket of sand nearby is a great idea. Should flying sparks land on dry grass or if too much fat drips into the embers and flares up, sand is always better for extinguishing fires than water.

Which charcoal should I use and how do I light it correctly?

There are many debates about which charcoal is best. Some swear by lump charcoal because it reaches ember temperature quickly. Beechwood charcoal is best suited from local or sustainable sources – it's always good to check the bag to see where the wood originates, ensuring rainforests weren't cleared and charcoal wasn't shipped halfway around the world. Charcoal briquettes, however, have the advantage over traditional lump charcoal of holding heat longer, giving the pitmaster a chance to grill another round of food. Most people choose a mix of lump charcoal and briquettes.

When it comes to lighting charcoal, there are also various methods that get the job done. The question is: how quick and effective are they?

Here are the most common methods for getting your charcoal going:

• You own a chimney starter. This is certainly the most elegant and efficient method. The chimney starter is filled with charcoal from the top, and small fire starters are placed underneath and lit. You can set the chimney inside the empty grill basin or next to it on a level surface, like patio stone slabs. Always use heat-resistant gloves when lifting the chimney starter by its handle with hot embers and carefully pour the glowing coals into the grill basin.
  
  
• Using just fire starters works too. The most eco-friendly option is wood-fiber fire starters, which are typically soaked in wax. You should avoid paraffin starters – including liquid paraffin – as they are harmful to your health. In general, liquid lighter fluid should be avoided; the risk of young children discovering it and drinking toxic substances is simply too high. If you want to use a liquid, household cooking oil works as well: drizzle a little onto crumpled balls of paper towels, distribute them like fire starters on and among the charcoal, and light them with a long match. Always ensure sufficient airflow from below. The small air vents on the side or bottom of the grill should be open so the coals can glow evenly.
  
  
• Of course, electric grill starters still exist too. That's another option. The heating element is shaped somewhat like a spatula and gets very hot when plugged in. It is placed between the stacked coals to heat them up. The disadvantage for many is the lack of an outlet near the grill. Plus, a chimney starter is significantly safer and doesn't cost much different. When in doubt, our vote goes to the chimney starter.

Finally, a few tips for safe grilling:

When you're finished with your cozy BBQ evening and the last sausages or grilling cheese have left the grate, leave your grilling area neat and safe. This means that under no circumstances should the slowly cooling grill be brought indoors. Depending on the amount of charcoal, it can take up to three days for the last hidden pockets of embers to completely go out. So simply put the lid on, leave the grill in a safe corner of the patio, and let it cool down. Alternatively, you can extinguish remaining charcoal with water or, even better, with sand, or transfer it to a fireproof container. Once the ash is completely cold, it can be disposed of in the general trash.

Even if your own father might have experimented with them a few decades ago: Grill accelerants like lighter fluid, methylated spirits, or gasoline mixtures are strictly off-limits! Very high flash flames or even dangerous deflagrations can occur. So keep your hands off methylated spirits and similar fuels.

Gel-based fire starters are not recommended either – when handled properly, the best and safest way is still using a chimney starter or classic firelighters lit with long matches or a long strip of cardboard.

It always applies that the grill is best not left unattended and an adult should always keep an eye on it. Once the grill is lit, please do not get the idea that the grill, complete with hot coals, would be much better off in another corner of the garden and carry it over there. Choose the grill location beforehand and do not change it after lighting the charcoal – that's the right way to do it.

If you always keep a watchful eye on the grill once the charcoal is lit, nothing stands in the way of a sociable BBQ evening with friends, grilled delicacies, and delicious side dishes.