How to Start a Charcoal Grill

Starting a charcoal grill is easy, so follow along and you'll be grilling in no time.

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Get out the grill and fire up the barbecue: The grilling recipes in this Howcast video series are just begging to be cooked.

You Will Need

  • Charcoal
  • A grill
  • Lighter fluid

Steps

  1. Step 1

    Spread the charcoal

    Dump your charcoal into the bottom of the grill and construct a pyramid. The tip of the pyramid should extend to just below where your grate will rest.

  2. Open the vents on the grill for air circulation.

  3. Step 2

    Spread the lighter fluid

    Spread your lighter fluid evenly around all the charcoal.

  4. Step 3

    Light the charcoal

    Light the charcoal with a match. Disperse the flames by lighting different spots in the charcoal pyramid.

  5. Never add lighter fluid to flaming charcoal.

  6. Step 4

    Spread out the coals

    Spread out the charcoal evenly in the bottom of the grill once the charcoal is hot. You'll be able to tell by the ashen color and glowing embers.

  7. Step 5

    Place the grate

    Place the grate down over the charcoal and begin grilling your food.

  8. Charcoal has been used in blast furnaces to smelt iron since the Iron Age.

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