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.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

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

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.

[tvgshrek1]

on 6/24/2009 This is good!

on 8/8/2006 I'd really recommend an electric charcoal starter. For those of you who haven't used one before, you just plug it in and pile the coals on top of it. Take it out a few minutes later and your coals will be red hot. A lot easier (and safer) than lighter fluid and they're pretty inexpensive.

on 11/22/2005 When using lighter fluid to light your charcoal, add the lighter fluid and allow at least 10 minutes for the lighter fluid to soak into the coals. This way you won't be trying to relight the coals after the lighter fluid runs out and the fire dies. I always do this and have never had to relight the charcoals. Trying to reapply lighter fluid to hot coals is dangerous.

on 11/22/2005 Charcoal can adsorb moisture over the winter, making it damp and hard to light. You might want to get a nice fresh dry bag to use for lighting, and sneak the soggy coals in once the fire is going.

on 11/22/2005 Grilling and barbecuing are two different things. Grilling is for burgers, hot dogs, and chicken breasts; high heat and fast. Barbecuing is done over low heat, often indirect, and slowly. Think brisket, rib racks and large roasts. The coals necessary for each method are completely different. If you are grilling it is better to keep the coals stacked in a sloped shape. This way you have hot, medium and cooler temperature zones that you can move your food through to keep it from burning to a crisp, or overcooking. For a barbecue, you use less coals and cook with the lid down to help create a smoky, long cook.