Quick Tip For Charcoal Chimney Starting...

[HumbleHomeCook]

Quite some time ago, I discovered that folding a paper towel into a tight A-frame (hope that makes sense) and then doused with a little cooking oil inside the folds and a couple drops on the outer surface was an excellent and economical way of starting the chimney. I rarely ever need more than one.

A few weeks ago after wiping my cutting board down with a paper towel and mineral oil, just as I was about to toss it out I paused and thought...

Yep, works great for the chimney! I actually wrapped a fresh paper towel around the soaked one and put them into a bag. The fresh towel soaked up enough oil to work just as well.

I also used a paper towel to wipe the bulk wax off a few handles and it worked alright too.

Hope I described that well enough. Just a way to make use out of something and not have to buy those starter cubes. I find the paper towels work better than newspaper and I don't have to keep it on hand and dry.

 

[btbyrd]

Great trick; that's what I do and how I start fires when we go camping.

Another pro tip to help get the charcoal ripping once it's started is to use a leaf blower.



I've since switched to an electric blower. Works great, less mess, "greener," and super portable... but it doesn't make me sound like Leatherface when I'm getting the konro going. I suppose there are tradeoffs everywhere in life...

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Great trick; that's what I do and how I start fires when we go camping.

Another pro tip to help get the charcoal ripping once it's started is to use a leaf blower.



I've since switched to an electric blower. Works great, less mess, "greener," and super portable... but it doesn't make me sound like Leatherface when I'm getting the konro going. I suppose there are tradeoffs everywhere in life...

My original "discovery" of the oiled paper towels was me thinking about the gajillion campfires I'd started with a bacon-grease soaked paper towel.

 

[btbyrd]

I see you are a man of culture! Doritos also work in a pinch.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

It's all about using food safe material ya know...

 

[M1k3]

Paper towel, put about 2-3 tablespoons of sugar in the middle, fold over, douse some oil on it. It's what I used to light the wood grill at a place I used to work at. Allowed me to not babysit it.

Crumpled up paper bags work great also. A little slower burn than paper towels.

 

[chefwp]

I concur, I actually save paper towels (used) that I soaked all the bacon grease out of the sheet pan after I've baked off a slab, to start fires. I call it "nuclear fire-starter."

 

[boomchakabowwow]

the paper the butcher wraps my meat in is the best fire starter ever. i wad it up after taking out the steaks, for example. stuff it under my chimney starter and light it. the heat from that paper is insane. i assume it is coated with wax. it is almost too much.

i use very little paper towels. i use cloth towels and wash them in the laundry. i reserve paper towels for the really gross stuff, like cat vomit. i do dry steaks with it tho. i should stuff them in the chimney, but the butcher paper is usually overkill all on its own. it's like jet fuel paper.

 

[deltaplex]

I use the charcoal bag torn up and crumpled with a paper towel in the middle that was used to wipe the cooktop after a frying session. Same concept of the "no need to watch it camp". I'm also starting to mess around with just starting a fire in the Weber and using the coals in place (or in addition to) the hardwood lump. That's only when I've got enough time for it though.

 

[esoo]

I'm just lazy and use the Weber starter cubes. One starts the chimney easy peasy.

 

[McMan]

Well, considering newspapers no longer exist, this is a helpful trick.

 

[daddy yo yo]

It's all about using food safe material ya know...

Then Doritos are a fail. I am pretty sure they aren’t meant to be eaten. Have any of you ever had a look at the ingredients?

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Then Doritos are a fail. I am pretty sure they aren’t meant to be eaten. Have any of you ever had a look at the ingredients?

Nah dude. Doritos definitely fall into the "ignorance is bliss" food category.