STARTING THE COALS

[gbriones]

I was looking at a grilling channel - I saw one thing that was interesting - Weber Grill Restaurant in Chicago starts their coals using a chimney like most of us but they use a burner instead of paper- I looked at my propane grille's side burner which I almost never use and it fit perfect - I put the 10 briquettes in the chimney on the burner to start them up - No burnt up paper mess. Thought I'd pass that on.
Gabe

[Folkert]

What I do is collect some twigs in the vineyards, put a non-toxic firestarter underneath, briquettes on top and away we go!
By the way, recently I found briquettes made from coconuts and they really do the trick and leave a lot less ashes in comparison to the original Weber briquettes (which cost a bomb here (France))

[jonathan]

Many years ago, we had a 40 foot maple tree cut down. I intended to use it for firewood, so the tree company set the large pieces aside, and ground the stump, leaving a large pile of maple chips.

This was about the same time I began using a chimney starter - at that time, a coffee can with holes punched around the bottom. I had forgotten to save newspaper one weekend, so I built a small pyramid of the maple chips in the bottom of the chimney. It not only worked - I discovered that lighting the coals that way was sufficient to add some flavor to whatever I was cooking - even though the maple chips were burned off by the time the food went on the grill.

[twigster]

I have the weber with a propane fire starter. Nice unit because the top shelf is made of stainless steel not like the plastic they use today. Anyway, I've used the lighter a couple of times but prefer the chimney with newspaper. Also I have an off brand chimney starter because the weber is just too big

[twoshots]

I have the Weber with the propane starter and it works great for starting coals with the weber chimney (for the smokenator) or for for a full load for grilling steaks.

[dweir]

I bought a weber charcoal chimney two years ago, best $25 investment I've made. Load the bottom with two sheets of newspaper, add your coals to the top, light it, come back 20 minutes later and your coals are ashen, and hot. I wont use starter fluid ever again

[paulito]

Hello All,

I just purchased the Weber Performer, and I've got a Smokenator on the way, but had a quick question.

Do you guys think I still need the Weber Chimney Starter, if I have the propane igniter on the Perfomer? I was thinking I could just sit the coals I need to light up on top of the propane igniter, and once they're ready, use tongs to transplant them over to the Smokenator.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[jsperk]

If I had a performer that is how I would do it.

[paulw]

I don't have a Weber Performer (I'd take one, although I'd love to settle for a Platinum), but it's my understanding it comes with the indirect heat baskets for each side. I've heard that if you put your briquettes in one of the baskets and put them over the flame, then they'll light, and then you can slide the basket to the side where the Smokenator will go, and put the Smokenator over it. Does that work for you?

[paulw]

P.S. I can't bear to use a chimney starter with newspaper. It makes big flakes of ash that fly around. Starter cubes are much better. Weber makes nice little parraffin cubes that hardly make any mess, and burn a lot longer. Weed burners are a fun alternative to a chimney starter.

[flbuckeye]

I fill the chimney halfway full and set it over my large burner on my stove top and set it to high. I have to be careful not to leave it on too long or the smoke alarms go on. No ash

[flbuckeye]

Mar 28, 2013 17:11:42 GMT -5 flbuckeye said:

I fill the chimney halfway full and set it over my large burner on my stove top and set it to high. I have to be careful not to leave it on too long or the smoke alarms go on. No ash

I have a new way to start the chimney. I fill the chimney with charcoal and set it over a lit can of sterno. I wait 5 min. and take the chimney off, put the lid back on the sterno and away I go. I can get 24 starts out of one can

[low]

A few coals in an upside down chimney ans about 1 minute with a weed burner. Great fun. Just be careful lighting the cigar with the burner.