Lighting the grill without chemicals - fast and clean
A chimney starter instead of lighter fluid. How to get charcoal glowing reliably and how to read the right heat.
Liquid lighter fluid is fast, but it taints the taste and is dangerous. There is a better, cleaner and almost as quick way - a chimney starter and a little patience.
The chimney starter
A chimney starter is a metal cylinder with a handle. You fill charcoal in the top, place one or two firelighter cubes or some newspaper at the bottom and light it. The chimney effect pulls the heat upward, and the charcoal glows through evenly from bottom to top - without letting any chemicals near your food.
How to tell it is ready
The top layer of charcoal is covered in grey ash and glows visibly orange when you look inside. Then you carefully tip the coals into the grill - onto one side or spread evenly, depending on the zone you want.
Sorting roughly by heat
- Very hot, direct: freshly glowing coals, grill open
- Medium: spread the coals a little, use the lid partly
- Mild, indirect: coals on one side, lid closed
Safety first
Never add spirits or petrol to relight - flare-ups are no joke. Place the chimney on a fireproof surface and keep children and pets away. You will find the same safety notes in Glutkern’s onboarding before you start grilling.