If you are looking for a quick way to grill, then you should invest in a charcoal chimney. These devices are also called “chimneys” because they have the same shape as an actual chimney. They are metal cylinders that hold briquettes of burning coals which can be used to cook food on the grill or oven.
A charcoal chimney is an essential tool for any griller. It allows you to light up your coals without having to use lighter fluid or matches. This article will teach you how to use a charcoal chimney so that you can enjoy the benefits of using this great outdoor cooking accessory!
What is a Charcoal Chimney and how does it work?
A Charcoal Chimney is an outdoor grill accessory that makes using charcoal briquettes easy. It consists of a cylindrical container for the coals, with vents in the bottom and top to allow air flow – when you light newspaper or paraffin-soaked blocks underneath, they will quickly get hot enough for grilling (approx. 15 min). The chimneys are cheaper than gas versions too; one costs under $20.
To use a Charcoal Chimney, simply place the chimney on a heat-resistant surface and arrange briquettes in an even layer inside. Stuff crumpled up newspaper or paraffin cubes into the bottom of your charcoal chimney to create more fuel for it – don’t overstuff though as you don’t want flames shooting out from under your grill grate! Light all that paper or wax lining with a long match or lighter; once it’s burning well (this will take several minutes), wait until there is no smoke coming from underneath anymore before putting down your cooking grate. Then put food on and start grilling like normal.
Grill meats such as steak and burgers and too with this easy outdoor grill accessory. It’s great for camping trips too, since it requires no electricity to work – just get out there and start grilling!
How to use a Charcoal Chimney?
To use a charcoal chimney, place the cylinder on an oven safe surface. Arrange briquettes in an even layer inside the cylindrical container before stuffing crumpled up newspaper or paraffin cubes into the bottom of your charcoal chimney to create more fuel for it – don’t overstuff though as you don’t want flames shooting out from under your grill grate! Light all that paper lining with long match or lighter before waiting until there is no smoke coming from underneath anymore. Then put food on and start grilling like normal!
Grill meats such as steak and burgers with this easy outdoor grill accessory. It’s great for camping trips too, since it requires no electricity to work – just get out there and start grilling!
Why should I use a Charcoal Chimney instead of a traditional Grill or Fire Pit?
There are many reasons to use a Charcoal Chimney. The first reason is that it’s way faster than other methods for lighting coals, by up to 20 minutes or more depending on the size of your chimney.
The second reason is that there are no chemicals involved in using this method, so it’s healthier. The third reason is because you’re able to produce a better flame with the chimney than any other lighting methods I’ve tried.
A Charcoal Chimney consists of two parts: the metal charcoal basket and an outer cylinder made out of sheet metal or cast iron which can hold up to 20 pounds of coals at one time. It also includes a grate for holding your briquettes up off the bottom where air can get underneath them while they burn slowly through natural convection currents created by hot-air rising from burning fuel below into cooler combustion gases above, allowing them to ignite evenly all over their surface without having to be flipped like in traditional barbeque grills. If you live in a cold climate, it’s not recommended to use the chimney due to the wind blowing out your fire or coals being too wet from snow or rain that they won’t catch on fire properly.
Tips for using your new Charcoal Chimney
- Light the chimney with a match and let it burn for about 15 minutes. You can use newspaper or cardboard underneath to get your charcoal started quickly. It is important not to leave any flame under the chimney during this step since you will want an ember, not flames, when we add our charcoal in next steps.
- This is also where we will be adding flavor wood chips if we are using them (see below).
- Once your coals have begun turning gray, dump them into the grill and arrange as desired by spreading out or stacking on top of one another depending on what type of cooking you need to do!
*Note: I like my coals stacked when grilling because I am able to cook more than one thing at a time. If you are cooking something that takes longer than 15 minutes, feel free to add more coals as needed.*
- It is best practice not to place your food directly on top of the charcoal since it will give off too much heat and char your delicacies instead of just grilling them! It can also cause flare ups if there is grease dripping down from above.
- When using this method for smoking foods (such as meats or cheeses) it’s important that we keep our temperature between 225°F – 250°F! To do so I like to put my drip pan filled with water underneath my grill grate closest to the chimney source of heat so I get indirect heating form the coals. I like to keep my vents in my grill open in this case and watch my temperature closely with a thermometer (a good one is an instant read type of meat/cheese thermometer that you place into your food while cooking).
- If using wood chips, be sure they are soaked for at least 30 mins before placing them on top of your hot coals! We want to avoid any flare ups from burning dry wood chunks so always remember: wet = safe!
Environmental Protection
The most common type of charcoal is made from wood, which can sometimes be hard to find depending on where you live. For example, if you are living in California and planning a camping trip to Oregon it might not be easy to find good quality combustible materials for your campfire. This poses an environmental problem because we generally rely on local resources that may or may not exist nearby. The solution? Charcoal! Not only does using this material provide an ample amount of fuel but the charcoals’ byproducts include ash; with no oily residue left behind (if done correctly).
Safety Tips
- Do not use a charcoal chimney near an open flame.
- Use the grill in a well ventilated area. No smoking! Let’s keep our grills, and everything else around it safe from any possible fire hazards that may occur when using your new charcoal chimney!
- Make sure that the chimney is placed on a flat, level surface. If it’s not, then you may have trouble lighting your charcoal in a timely manner and be at risk of being burned by hot coals.
- Don’t use glass to light your chimney! Glass can explode from the heat when using this technique to start up your grill or smoker.
- Make sure any other flammable material is away from the area where you plan on starting up your heater. Don’t leave lit coals unattended either! Making sure all precautions are taken will keep yourself safe while enjoying a nice warm fire for cooking with in no time.
FAQs
What is a charcoal chimney?
A Charcoal Chimney is an excellent tool for starting up your grill or smoker. It’s especially useful if you use natural lump briquettes (charcoal made from wood and other hard ingredients) as it helps them light faster than just using lighter fluid. A charcoal chimney can be used to start charcoal without any of the chemicals found in petroleum-based fuels that come into contact with food once they are burned off. Using a chimeney can also help reduce waste by getting rid of old ashes on their way out, not allowing these chemical deposits to mix back into new coals as they burn down later. Not only does this save time but it lets you spend more time with your family since you don’t have to clean up after each use.
What is the history of charcoal?
Charcoal has been used for centuries in many different cultures around the world, including ancient Greece where it was discovered by man. It wasn’t until about 300 years ago that experiments were done on its chemical properties and how they are related to combustion leading to today's modern usage of natural lump briquettes (charcoal made from wood and other hard ingredients). We now know that what makes these unique compared with common charcoals is their production process which creates more porous surfaces within them allowing for faster lighting times, better airflow control during burning, less ash build-up over time, etc. Making quality natural lump briquettes (charcoal made from wood and other hard ingredients) requires special techniques that are still employed today by some of the top brands on the market. This includes using heat-resistant materials like ceramic, brick or steel to hold charcoal inside instead of common metal drums which can leach chemicals into coals over time as they burn down.
What is a chimney starter?
A chimney starter is an excellent tool for starting up your grill or smoker. It’s especially useful if you use natural lump briquettes (charcoal made from wood and other hard ingredients), it helps them light faster than just using lighter fluid. A Chimney Starter uses newspaper sheets under smaller pieces of kindling allowing these small pieces to light a fire at the bottom. This in turn creates hot air which rises up through charcoal, lighting it from below. These techniques can make for much more efficient use of lighter fluid since newer pieces aren’t being soaked by older ones sitting right next to them when getting lit. It also helps reduce waste by getting rid of old ashes on their way out, not allowing these chemical deposits to mix back into new coals as they burn down later or build-up over time inside your chimney starter container (the red part with water). Not only does this save time but it lets you spend more time with your family since you don't have to clean up after each use!
What is kindling?
Kindling is small pieces of wood used to start a fire.
What is heat sink?
A heat sink is an object that cools down after being heated up, in order to prevent overheating or damage from excess heat by absorbing some of the energy through conduction and convection. This allows for more efficient use of materials since only their surface layers are being constantly reheated during operations while deeper parts stay at lower temperatures allowing them to last longer without breaking down prematurely due increased exposure over time when not properly cooled. Heat sinks can be made out many different types of material including metal, plastic/resin bonded fiberglass, etc., with each having its own benefits depending on what they are attached too (or built into).
What is a chimney starter?
A chimney starter is an excellent tool for starting up your grill or smoker. It’s especially useful if you use natural lump briquettes (charcoal made from wood and other hard ingredients), it helps them light faster than just using lighter fluid. A Chimney Starter uses newspaper sheets under smaller pieces of kindling allowing these small pieces to light a fire at the bottom. This in turn creates hot air which rises up through charcoal, lighting it from below. These techniques can make for much more efficient use of lighter fluid since newer pieces aren’t being soaked by older ones sitting right next to them when getting lit. It also helps reduce waste by getting rid of old ashes on their way out, not allowing these chemical deposits to mix back into new coals as they burn down later or build-up over time inside your chimney starter container (the red part with water). Not only does this save time but it lets you spend more time with your family since you don't have to clean up after each use!
Conclusion
Now you know that a chimney is the best tool to use when lighting your charcoal. If you don’t have one, they are inexpensive and can be purchased at any specialty store or online. The bottom line is, if it has air holes on the sides of the pot for airflow then it will work! We hope this guide was helpful in answering questions about using charcoals with our gas grills. Let us know what else we could do better by leaving comments below because we want to serve our customers as well as possible!