A charcoal starter is a tool that helps you light charcoal quickly and easily when starting a barbecue.

When you try to light charcoal in the grill with newspaper, your eyes sting, the weather is hot, and the fire just won't catch, making it a struggle.

With a charcoal starter, you don't have to worry about the hassle of lighting charcoal. Once the fire catches, it grows strong, allowing you to pour in more charcoal and barbecue later. There are various models available in stores ranging from about $10 to $30, and even the $10 models are suitable for home or camping use.

For those who are still unfamiliar with how to use a charcoal starter, I will explain it step by step in a very simple way!


How to Use a Charcoal Starter (Step by Step)

  1. Necessary Items

    • Charcoal starter

    • Charcoal

    • Newspaper or fire starter cubes

    • Lighter or torch

  2. Setting Up Newspaper or Fire Starter

    • Stuff some newspaper loosely into the bottom space of the charcoal starter or place one fire starter cube inside.

    • Make sure the newspaper is not too tightly packed, allowing air to circulate.

  3. Adding Charcoal

    • Fill the upper cylinder of the charcoal starter with charcoal.

    • Do not pack it too tightly, as the flames need to rise through the bottom hole.

  4. Lighting the Fire

    • Light the newspaper or fire starter cube.

    • Once the fire catches, smoke will rise from the bottom of the charcoal starter, gradually igniting the charcoal.

    • Be careful at this time! The heat will be quite intense.

  5. Waiting (about 15-20 minutes)

    • When the top of the charcoal turns red and white ash forms, the ignition is complete!

    • At this time, check if the fire has spread evenly across the charcoal.

  6. Moving the Charcoal

    • Once the charcoal is well heated, wear gloves and carefully tip the starter to pour the charcoal into the barbecue grill.

    • It's best to wait another 5-10 minutes for the charcoal to stabilize before grilling the meat.

A Few Tips!

  • Using fire starter cubes is much cleaner and produces less odor than newspaper.

  • Never burn paper or plastic when lighting the fire, as it releases harmful gases.

  • The starter gets very hot, so be sure to prepare heat-resistant gloves!

  • On windy days, be cautious of sparks! Ensure a safe distance to prevent fire hazards.

Once you do it right just once, lighting the fire becomes really easy, making barbecuing much more enjoyable.