tublecane

I used to be a propane grill guy (and still am if it is just for me, so much quicker). But if cooking for more than me and want it good I'll go the charcoal route. It really isn't that much harder. However the grills I use (common grills in the courtyard of our condo building) do not have a removable grate, it only goes up and down. I have always used a chimney, but can't pour it directly into the grill since the grate can't be removed. Instead I pour the coals onto my broiling pan bottom and use oven mits to slide that into the grill, works perfectly fine. However someone told me there is electric grill starters that you stack the coals on, plug in, and it heats up and lights the coals.

Match light and lighter fluid I think influence the taste so I don't use. What about you?

Nazgul

When I was a coal guy, it was an electric starter. Now, since I have a smoker, grilling is done with propane.

OldDude

What he said. The electric starter works well, and leaves no taste.
Hint: Respect the maximum "on" time the directions say. They can burn up if plugged in too long.

tublecane

I think I'll be getting one of these. Seems like it will be a lot easier than the whole newspaper/chimney/pouring charcoals option.

Bacon

I use lighter fluid

Kittydreamer

I use a propane grill, not out of laziness but because I have small children and I grill almost daily.

movielib

Jenn-Air.

RandyM

I switched from a chimney to parafin starters. I was amazed at how much flame those little things put out.

AGuyNamedMike

I'm a lazy propane griller, but when I used to use the kettle grill, I started it with old brown paper grocery bags and kindling. I, too, find the taste of lighter fluid offensive on my steak.

nevermind

Grilled children

duse

I would think that sometimes the grill is too far from an outlet to run an extension cord, like if you're camping. I use MatchLight. I've can't really tell a different taste than the chimney overall, and it does cut down on the time. I know w/ the chimney, I've tasted burned newspaper before. I must have done something wrong. I now dump my burned paper into a different receptacle.

rabbit77

Regarding lighter fluid and matchlight, if you can taste it in your food, you put the food on the grill way too early. The coals should be white embers with an orange underglow before you throw them on.

Our house has a natural gas line to our grill which I love and is so convenient, but I still prefer the taste of charcoal cooked food so we have a charcoal grill left over from the apartment life set next to our gas grill. Whenever I'm cooking for just me and my wife I use the gas, but when there's company over it's charcoal time.

Canis Firebrand

Chimney is how I start the coals for my grill.

Minor Threat

Y2K Falcon

Totally agree. A good charcoal setup is my zen garden. You have bad results when you are impatient.

Personally, I taste propane more than I do my charcoal with lighter fluid.


That being said, I wouldn't mind propane because cooking for two with charcoal is kind of a pain in the ass. But I do it. Usually I'll just do a little extra. Leftover grilled pork steaks turned into fajitas two days later is tons better than another night of "hamburger helper"...

Prakis

Chimney. Works great.

The Bus

Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

nevermind

I REALLY want to do this at our new house being built, but they don't offer it as an option .

devinjc

I use propane to light the charcoal.

Seriously. Weber.

Pointyskull

How to get it started:

Weber grill - charcoal with lighter fluid
Me - two beers while I watch the pretty flames

duse

Funny. People always complain that charcoal takes so long to get going. I just tell them that means I can drink another beer while I wait. There are worst things to do...and complain about. Chimneys do take quite a while longer, as compared to MatchLight and also lighter fluid, but you just start earlier. It's kinda simple. I do end up grilling solo most of the time, though, because the wife usually cooks up a pasta dish for herself, so I use my Smokey Joe over the bigger kettle Weber most of the time.

Trout

Chimney starter...never fails.

Lighter fluid? Only for the wannabes

mike45

Chimney and patience.