How to Use a Chimney Starter

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Davee_Kaplan]Davee Kaplan
If you want to barbeque, but don't want to use lighter fluid because of the chemicals, try a charcoal chimney starter. You can find them online or at your local home maintenance store starting at $20.
What is a Chimney Starter
A chimney started is a metal cylinder with an inside charcoal grate used as an alternative way to light charcoal. The chimney is filled with unlit charcoal on the top of the cylinder and with newspaper on the bottom. When the newspaper is lit, it burns and lights the charcoal above.
How to Use the Chimney starter
Step 1 - Lightly roll a double-wide sheet of newspaper on the diagonal. Bring the ends together to form a donut. Repeat with another sheet of newspaper.
Step 2 - Stock the two newspaper donuts into the bottom of the chimney leaving a hole in the center for air to flow through.
Step 3 - Fill the chimney with charcoal briquettes to the top or slightly below the top, depending on how much charcoal you'll need.
Step 4 - Through the slots at the bottom, light the newspaper at least on all four sides. Be sure the paper is burning on all sides. If necessary, tilt the chimney to get a better reach.
Step 5 - When charcoal at the top has started burning, after about 7-10 minutes, use a heat-resistant mitt to hold the chimney and empty the hot briquettes onto the grill.
Step 6 - Add more charcoal if needed so the bottom of the grill, or the cooking surface you will need is covered with hot briquettes.
Step 7 - Add the cooking rack and start barbecuing. You should have 40-60 minutes of heat time. Remember, you can always add briquettes directly on top of the hot coal, if you need to, anytime during the cooking cycle.
What to look for in a Chimney Starter
Your chimney starter should hold at least 6 pounds of charcoal briquettes. It should be rust-resistant and have sturdy handles.
What are Safe locations to light a chimney:
Over a charcoal grate
Over the grate of a grill
Over fire-safe bricks placed on your patio or deck
Over a terra cotta flower pot saucer (use one without a drain hole)
More tips
Never light a chimney starter directly on a concrete surface because it can damage the concrete and possibly cause it to explode.
Never light a chimney starter directly on a wooden deck because it can damage the deck or start of fire.
Be aware that the chimney remains hot even after the heated coals have been poured out.
Keep your chimney starter away from flammable materials or items that could be ruined such as dry grass, scrubs, decorations.
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Davee Kaplan is an expert author for EzineArticles, writes her own blog, microblogs on Twitter and Facebook, has written product critiques for Amazon, buyer/seller critiques for eBay, service critiques for ServiceMaster, and restaurant critiques for Yelp and Zagat. Davee loves to cook, write, make smoothies and juices, critique restaurants, indoor garden and dance. Her food blog at http://www.EatAndDance.com was started to write about healthy eating from a dancer's perspective. Davee is a world champion Salsa dancer and has been dancing for over 20 years. Follow her through EatAndDance on Facebook and Twitter.
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