How to Light Charcoal Without Lighter Fluid

There’s no debate that charcoal grilling is a crucial part of summertime, or if you are like us – ALL YEAR AROUND! The mental image of well-seared meats, veggies, and fish makes my mouth water just thinking about them. We’ve compiled all of our favorite ways to light a charcoal grill without lighter fluid. 

These are my favorite techniques to start a charcoal grill without having to use the nasty lighter fluid. I swear no matter how long I let it burn, I can still taste those chemicals. BLECH!

I prefer Kamado style ones, like the Big Green Egg, but these techniques work for any type of charcoal grill.

Homemade Fire Starter 

This is one of my top picks for starting a charcoal grill because it’s easy, environmentally-friendly, and it’s CHEAP!  The best part is that it basically costs nothing to make these because you’ll essentially be using things that you’d normally toss into the trash can. These are made from dryer lint, cardboard egg cartons, and wax. I actually wrote a full length article about it here with step by step instructions so that you can make these at home. 

Fire Starter Squares 

We try to steer clear of lighter fluid because it has a long list of drawbacks and health dangers. But these fire starter squares work just as well without any of the chemical tastes. I highly recommend buying a box of these to keep handy for your grilling. We prefer the Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares. The box contains nearly 150 fire starting bricks and you only need one per session, which means the box will last a while.

Buying the smaller packages might seem reasonable, but check the prices per unit if you do. It is much more economical to buy the larger packages.

Electric Fire Starter 

This handy little device makes lighting your charcoal grill a breeze, all you’ll need is a power outlet. Simply place the metal part of the device onto the charcoals, plug the device in, let it sit and do its thing. Just minutes later your charcoals are lit and started. This electric fire starter is ultra-popular amongst Big Green Egg users, but it can be used in any charcoal grill.

What We Love About It

• Starts charcoal quickly every time.
• Reasonably priced considering how long it will last. 
• Reliable and safe.
• Great quality product.

Main Drawbacks

• The power cord is short so an extension cord needs to be used in most cases. 
• The issue of where to place the device after it has lit the charcoals. It stays hot for a little while and you need a surface that will not burn to let it rest on while it cools. 

Grill Torch Charcoal Starter

Every griller needs a torch! These are grilling necessities. This cord-free, propane-powered grill torch makes charcoal grilling simple and easy. The device lights charcoal in just 45-60 seconds.

Plus, I gotta admit, it’s pretty fun to use. The single 14-ounce can of propane gives up to 100 charcoal starts. Unlike other torch lighters which blow air to spread flames, this grill torch does not cause any sparking. It can be used with either Propane or MAP gas. 

Electro-Torch

This electro torch makes it easy to light charcoal grills, wood fireplaces, campfires, bonfires, wood stoves and more without using matches or lighter fluids. It’s super simple to use. Simply plug it in and place the metal part of the device into the charcoals. Switch the device onto the first setting. Let it sit for 15-30 seconds until sparks appear. Then turn it to the second setting to fan the flames. 

The biggest drawback is planning ahead to keep a spot clear to let this cool off. I have a ceramic stone next to the grill, so it is easy to set it down there and let it cool off, but I also use that for my food prep. You can’t put this away hot, so just think ahead on where you will set it.

Chimney Starter

If you want to keep things simple, go with a chimney starter. If you haven’t used one before, chimney starters are a classic device designed to light charcoal naturally. They aren’t quick, but they do work to get that red-hot burn we’re after. They’re basically metal cylinders with large holes on both ends, a small wire grate inside, and handles to hold the starter and pour the charcoal. They’re pretty easy to use. They do require kindling or lighter cubes to get the fire going. 

We recommend the Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter. Its compact design makes it convenient to use. Coals can be roaring hot in 15 minutes or less. Simply place the charcoal on top of lighter squares, newspaper, or kindling and then light. You can also soak cotton balls in rubbing alcohol to help get a quicker light. 

This acts just like a chimney in your home, by sucking in air from the bottom, giving fuel to the fire, and venting it on top. This keeps a fresh supply of air feeding the fire and allowing the charcoal to get REALLY hot.

🍔 No Lighter Fluid 

You might notice that I’ve not included the use of lighter fluid anywhere in this article. That was intentional and I highly advise against the use of lighter fluid at all costs!

I am strongly against using lighter fluid for these main reasons:

• Adding lighter fluid leaves an unpleasant, chemical taste on your grilled foods.
• You wouldn’t dump motor fluid on the charcoals you plan to cook your foods on, so why would you dump lighter fluid on them? Lighter fluid is a variant of gasoline/kerosine and should be kept far away from anything you plan to ingest. I know they say it is safe after burning, but why risk it?
• Lighter fluid is a chemical. We have enough chemicals in our lives as it is, so let’s do our health a little favor and use one less. It doesn’t take any more time to use one of the techniques I listed above, so just plan ahead.

There are so many other healthier, cheaper, and safer ways to light our charcoal grills, so why wouldn’t we opt for those instead?

More Grilling Resources

• Lump Charcoal vs. Briquettes
• How To Put Out A Charcoal Grill
• The Best Lump Charcoal For Grilling And Smoking
• The Best Grilling Cookbooks

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