If you’re planning on cooking over a campfire or charcoal barbecue this summer, knowing how to light the charcoal without lighter fluid can come in handy. It’s a simple process that only takes a minute or two, and all you need is some cooking oil. Of course, when you’re cooking on the grill, there’s nothing better than the flavor of charcoal.
But getting that coal going can be a little tricky. So in this article, we’ll show you how to light charcoal with cooking oil. It’s a quick and easy way to get your grill started and ready for cooking! Most people think of using a fireplace or chimney to light charcoal, but this is not the only way. You can use cooking oil to get your charcoal burning in no time. Read on to know more!
Ten Easy Methods on How to Light Charcoal With Cooking Oil
1. Charcoal Chimney Starter
When you’re ready to get cooking, fill the bottom of the grill with charcoal and light it up. You’ll know the coals are ready when they turn white on top. Then, pour them into the grill and add the rest of the unlit coals.
2. Electric Charcoal Starter
Insert the heating element into the center of the charcoal and plug it in. When white-hot, unplug and let it cool for about twenty minutes before adding it to the grill. Use caution when removing it from the grill as it will be extremely hot.
3. Charcoal Briquette Lighter Fluid
First, put the charcoal on a non-flammable surface. Then, spray it with lighter fluid using a sweeping motion from one end of the pile to the other. Be careful not to over-saturate it. Next, light it and wait for ten or fifteen minutes before adding it to the grill.
4. Grill Lighter
Grill lighters are typically long, wand-shaped objects made of metal. To use this method, flick the lighter several times to ignite the liquid fuel inside. Next, place the barbecue over the lit grill lighter until it catches fire. Finally, place your grill grate on top of your barbecue, and you are ready to cook!
5. Drip Pan Lighter
Place a drip pan filled with cooking oil on your barbecue grate and light it up. Be sure to have your ventilated hood open, as this will produce smoke! After several minutes, place your charcoal on top of the grill grate and close the lid until the coals are white-hot.
6. Immersion Starter
Pour the charcoal into your barbecue and light it up. Once it is completely lit, use metal tongs to push aside hot coals until you can place your grill grate down. You can then put the remaining unlit charcoal on the grill grate and close the lid.
7. Fire-Starting Blocks & Cubes
If you want to start a fire, you need to get a fire-starting cube. These can be found at many outdoor stores and look like small logs or rocks. Place your unused charcoal into your barbecue and then light up a cube or two of firestarter on top of it.
When they catch on fire, push them to the side and place your grill grate on top after a few minutes. Then, place the remaining unlit coals on top of the grate.
8. Oiled Paper Towels
Light the paper towel with a lighter. Roll the oil-soaked paper towels into skinny logs and place them under your cooking area. Then, place your charcoal on the lit paper towels and close the lid for several minutes. After they are white-hot, open up the lid and place them on your grill grate.
9. Fire Lighter Cubes
Home improvement stores typically carry small, wax-covered cubes next to the charcoal. To get your barbecue started, place one or two cubes under your cooking area and light them with a flame lighter. Leave them for several minutes until they are melted, and then add your coals.
10. Propane Torch or Weed Burner
First, place the barbecue over a flame source. Then, use a propane torch or weed burner to heat your barbecue from underneath. Once it is white-hot, add the rest of your charcoal, and you are ready to cook!
You can also check out how to Light a Patio Heater.
How Long Should Charcoal Burn Before Cooking?
A hotbed of coals is not necessarily enough for cooking. If you want to sear your steak or grill your vegetables, you need to wait until the surface of the briquettes is covered with gray ash. The length of time this takes depends on how much charcoal you placed in the barbecue pit and what fuel was used to start the fire.
Natural charcoal briquettes are made from wood byproducts formed into tight, compact bundles. They are designed to burn slowly for an extended period. But the ane-powered lighter fluid is easily available at your local supermarket or hardware store, and it can produce a more intense heat source that burns faster than natural charcoal.
What Are the Benefits of Using Cooking Oil to Light Charcoal?
There are many benefits to using cooking oil to light your charcoal. For one, it is less likely to burn off than alcohol or petroleum-based liquids. This means that it will help the charcoal burn longer and brighter. Additionally, you don’t have to dispose of empty fuel cans after use (most of us never bother with this anyway), which is better for the environment.
Third, the food particles in the cooking oil add flavor to your barbeque. Fourth, less soot is produced than when using petroleum-based liquid starters. Cooking oil is also much safer than using gasoline or kerosene, and it’s cheaper too!
How Do You Light a Charcoal Grill With Oil?
Pour some cooking oil on your charcoal grill’s briquettes and light it up; that’s how you get a fire going. You can also use vegetables, olive, or even lighter fluid for the same effect. Oil works well because it is flammable. Make sure to read the directions on each of these products to know how to use them properly.
It is best to oil your barbeque grill before cooking and to avoid using a smoker. Once the briquettes are covered in oil, use a lighter fluid to spray them. Wait until the briquettes turn white and gray before lighting them on fire. Be careful not to put the lighter fluid on the briquettes; if you do, they will catch on fire too quickly and won’t ignite your charcoal properly.
Conclusion
Charcoal grills are a great way to cook outdoors. They’re also relatively inexpensive, and they don’t use any electricity or gas as an electric grill does. But how do you light charcoal?
In this article, we have shown the best ways on how to light charcoal with cooking oil in no time at all! You can start your fire with cooking oil instead, which will save money and help reduce carbon emissions from traditional methods.
A few tablespoons of cooking oil should be enough to start up about thirty briquettes worth of heat. All you need to do is soak your briquettes in cooking oil and then set a small pile of charcoal on top. Light the bottom layer or two to get it going, and you can use a grill lighter or a piece of flint to get things started. We hope this article has been helpful. If you have any questions or want to know more, then feel free to comment below!
