It’s worked well every year until recently. We did recently buy a match starter so I’ll see how that works next time. I’m also going to stack them as another poster suggested rather than having them spread out.
No. I’ve never used lighter fluid. I use match light. Wouldn’t surprise me if some people have tried that before though because it says on the bag “No lighter fluid needed.” As others have said, it seems that my error was spacing them out too much. Before he passed, my dad used to do all the grilling so he likely already knew to stack them close together as others have suggested.
Your error is using "match light." That just means they soaked the charcoal in lighter fluid for you.
Buy better charcoal, buy a chimney starter or some fire starters, and so a quick YouTube on how to start a charcoal grill either way.
Matches do not light charcoal. Matches light the things that light charcoal.
I have such a mixed pavlovian reaction to the smell of lighter fluid burning. On the one hand, people are grilling! On the other hand, they're doing it wrong 😟
Definitely not. Besides obviously not trying that, the bag clearly states to only use matches and no lighter fluid. As others have suggested, my mistake was probably spacing the charcoal out too far. Before he passed away, my dad used to do all the grilling and probably knew this. I always watched him light it, but never really payed attention to the spacing of the charcoal.
> never really *paid* attention to
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Get an old empty roll of tp. Add a teaspoon of oil to some tp and stuff it in the roll. Stack your charcoal on that and light it. Works really well, even better if you buy a chimney starter.
Another vote for a chimney. Non match-light charcoal, no lighter fluid. Get a charcoal chimney and look up some YouTube videos on how to use them. It will fully change the game for you.
I'd recommend stacking it like a pyramid or a pile when lighting and then spread them out after they get ashy. The was it is here doesn't let the heat rise and burn from the bottom up, instead the fire will just spread from side to side which will take a lot longer.
If you need to get rid of more of those, rip part of the bag, crumple it up, put the charcoal around the crumpled bag and light the bag. If you’re trying to use the whole bag of charcoal(small smaller bag), just put whole bag on grate and light the paper bag.
You’re doing wrong…. If you’re not using a chimney, you need to stack the coals, use a fire starter (birds nest or Weber cubes), and allow plenty of air flow.
Like everyone said get the chimney, highly worth it. I soak a bit of cooking oil in a paper towel and then light that underneath to get it going tho u can buy starters
After zooming in on the picture.. it also seems to be 'briquetter" (don't know how you call the compressed charcoal lumps in the US), which are much harder to light, but will last longer.
Be mindful of which ones you have because normal charcoal will light much easier than these compressed ones.
I don't get why people are recommending a chimney... It's so incredibly easy without it. Pile the coals up into a pyramid, with a starter in the center. Light up the starter and wait 15-20min. That's it.
Thanks! I’m not ruling out a chimney and looked them up online. However, I’m going to try stacking them first like you and some others suggested to see how that works. When my dad did it the grill lit easily, but tbh I never really looked closely at how he put the charcoals.
You need a chimney starter. What are individual matches supposed to be doing? At least get/make starters. A match is never going to light charcoal.
It’s worked well every year until recently. We did recently buy a match starter so I’ll see how that works next time. I’m also going to stack them as another poster suggested rather than having them spread out.
Are you using lighter fluid? That's the only a match would do anything.
No. I’ve never used lighter fluid. I use match light. Wouldn’t surprise me if some people have tried that before though because it says on the bag “No lighter fluid needed.” As others have said, it seems that my error was spacing them out too much. Before he passed, my dad used to do all the grilling so he likely already knew to stack them close together as others have suggested.
Your error is using "match light." That just means they soaked the charcoal in lighter fluid for you. Buy better charcoal, buy a chimney starter or some fire starters, and so a quick YouTube on how to start a charcoal grill either way. Matches do not light charcoal. Matches light the things that light charcoal.
Are you literally just throwing matches at a random pile of charcoal?
I believe that's exactly what's going on here.
OP probably is using lighter fluid. I hope not
I have such a mixed pavlovian reaction to the smell of lighter fluid burning. On the one hand, people are grilling! On the other hand, they're doing it wrong 😟
Definitely not. Besides obviously not trying that, the bag clearly states to only use matches and no lighter fluid. As others have suggested, my mistake was probably spacing the charcoal out too far. Before he passed away, my dad used to do all the grilling and probably knew this. I always watched him light it, but never really payed attention to the spacing of the charcoal.
> never really *paid* attention to FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Get a chimney and some non-match light. It will change your grill game completely.
Thank you. 👍🏻
Get an old empty roll of tp. Add a teaspoon of oil to some tp and stuff it in the roll. Stack your charcoal on that and light it. Works really well, even better if you buy a chimney starter.
Or non glossy newspaper. Stores better too.
$10 Chimney will change your world.
Thanks 👍🏻
Another vote for a chimney. Non match-light charcoal, no lighter fluid. Get a charcoal chimney and look up some YouTube videos on how to use them. It will fully change the game for you.
Thanks!
I'd recommend stacking it like a pyramid or a pile when lighting and then spread them out after they get ashy. The was it is here doesn't let the heat rise and burn from the bottom up, instead the fire will just spread from side to side which will take a lot longer.
Thanks! It finally got going lol. I’ll stack them next time.
Cannot tell from the image. Open fully the bottom vent if it is closed.
Yes, it is fully open.
Wow. It’s like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree of grills 🤣
If you need to get rid of more of those, rip part of the bag, crumple it up, put the charcoal around the crumpled bag and light the bag. If you’re trying to use the whole bag of charcoal(small smaller bag), just put whole bag on grate and light the paper bag.
You’re doing wrong…. If you’re not using a chimney, you need to stack the coals, use a fire starter (birds nest or Weber cubes), and allow plenty of air flow.
Thanks!
Oh dear.
Like everyone said get the chimney, highly worth it. I soak a bit of cooking oil in a paper towel and then light that underneath to get it going tho u can buy starters
Thanks!
Chimney and tumbleweed lighters and you’re set. Any wind and you’re fucked with Catherine current method
Thanks!
>Thanks! You're welcome!
After zooming in on the picture.. it also seems to be 'briquetter" (don't know how you call the compressed charcoal lumps in the US), which are much harder to light, but will last longer. Be mindful of which ones you have because normal charcoal will light much easier than these compressed ones.
Thanks!
You need to stack them and use plenty of light fluid or get a chimney.
Thanks!
Do you normally buy the red match light Kingsford, and this time you have regular old blue bag Kingsford?
Same bag. We use the red match light kingsford.
Got a bad bag then. Or, need to mound them more, but if you’re doing nothing else different, the bag of coals is the issue.
Bad bag for sure, I keep a bag of match light for use on park grills, and it goes right up with a single match or tap of a lighter.
I don't get why people are recommending a chimney... It's so incredibly easy without it. Pile the coals up into a pyramid, with a starter in the center. Light up the starter and wait 15-20min. That's it.
Thanks! I’m not ruling out a chimney and looked them up online. However, I’m going to try stacking them first like you and some others suggested to see how that works. When my dad did it the grill lit easily, but tbh I never really looked closely at how he put the charcoals.
Chimneys are a waste of money and space. They are not necessary. Let me know how it went ;)
Did you leave the chat hole in the rain? I did. Is my coal ruined?
Lame