How to Prepare Coals for a Barbecue

Fire up the barbecue and grab the burgers! It's prime time for sizzling once the coals are covered with white ash.

Things You'll Need

• Lighter Fluid
• Barbecue Grills
• Charcoal
• Charcoal Lighters
• Barbecue Tongs

Instructions

1. Read the instructions that came with your barbecue grill.

2. Purchase a large bag of charcoal briquettes and a large can of charcoal lighter fluid.

3. Stack charcoal briquettes in a pyramid shape near the center of your grill and douse the charcoal evenly with about 1/2 cup lighter fluid for each 2 lbs. charcoal, or as instructions direct.

4. Let the lighter fluid soak in for about 1 minute, then, using a long fireplace match or a butane barbecue lighter, put a flame to the soaked pile of briquettes.

5. Let briquettes burn for about 30 minutes until they are covered with white ash.

6. Using long-handled tongs, spread briquettes evenly over the bottom of the barbecue and begin cooking.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a gas or electric grill, you don't need to use charcoal.

• One hundred percent charcoal works best.

• You can avoid using charcoal-lighter fluid by using a metal chimney starter - a cylinder in which you pile the coals on top of a grid, add newspaper under it and light the paper. Or you can use an electric starter. Both are available where grilling supplies are sold.

• Putting charcoal-lighter fluid on coals that are already hot may cause a dangerous flare-up.

• Use only charcoal-lighter fluid - not gasoline or other flammable liquid - to start a cooking fire.