If you are still using lighter fluid to start your charcoal grill, a chimney starter is the upgrade that will change your grilling routine. It is faster, cleaner, and avoids the petroleum taste that lighter fluid can leave on food. Here is everything you need to know to use one effectively.
What Is a Chimney Starter?
A chimney starter is a cylindrical metal tube with a grate inside and ventilation holes around the bottom. You fill the top with charcoal, place newspaper or a fire starter cube underneath, and light it. The chimney shape creates a draft that pulls air up through the coals, igniting them quickly and evenly without any chemical accelerants.
Step-by-Step Instructions (Practical Advice)
- Fill the chimney to the top with your chosen charcoal (lump or briquettes) (practical advice)
- Stuff two sheets of crumpled newspaper or one fire starter cube into the bottom chamber (practical advice)
- Place the chimney on the lower grill grate or a fireproof surface and light the newspaper from below (practical advice)
- Wait until the top coals are covered in gray ash and glowing orange. This often takes around 15 to 20 minutes (practical advice). (practical advice)
- Pour coals carefully into the grill using the handle, positioning them as needed for your cooking setup (practical advice)
How Much Charcoal to Use
A full chimney is a practical starting amount for a full-grill cook, such as burgers, hot dogs, or a whole chicken. For a smaller cook or a two-zone setup, use a partial chimney on the hot side (practical advice). Over time you will develop an instinct for how much charcoal your grill and cook type require.
Safety Considerations
The outside of a chimney starter gets extremely hot. Practical advice: always use heat-resistant gloves when handling it, never set it down on a surface that can scorch or melt, keep the lit chimney away from children, pets, and combustible materials, and never use it indoors or in enclosed spaces. CDC says charcoal grills produce carbon monoxide, and says never to burn charcoal indoors.
No More Lighter Fluid
Lighter fluid can add a petroleum taste to food if coals are not fully ashed over before cooking, and it produces acrid smoke during ignition (practical advice). A chimney starter avoids both problems. The cost is modest.
Once you switch to a chimney starter, going back to lighter fluid feels like a step backward. It is one of the most practical tools any charcoal griller can own.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide “About” page, https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html (last updated January 12, 2026). Checked 2026-10-08.