QA note: product availability may vary by location, YMMV
Community Notes
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This is the only way to start charcoal. If you're still using fuel, get one of these and some of the Weber starter cubes (or just use paper) and start your coals with this. You will taste the meats, etc without the fuel aftertaste that you've gotten used to without even realizing it. If you grill at all, try this, you will never go back to using any type of fuel again.
This is the only way to start charcoal. If you're still using fuel, get one of these and some of the Weber starter cubes (or just use paper) and start your coals with this. You will taste the meats, etc without the fuel aftertaste that you've gotten used to without even realizing it. If you grill at all, try this, you will never go back to using any type of fuel again.
Also worth mentioning that you should use natural/lump charcoal. Not charcoal briquettes. For flavor and cleanliness.
This is the only way to start charcoal. If you're still using fuel, get one of these and some of the Weber starter cubes (or just use paper) and start your coals with this. You will taste the meats, etc without the fuel aftertaste that you've gotten used to without even realizing it. If you grill at all, try this, you will never go back to using any type of fuel again.
What this guy said. For $13 bucks, it's not even a question.
Also worth mentioning that you should use natural/lump charcoal. Not charcoal briquettes. For flavor and cleanliness.
They both have pros and cons.
Briquettes heat very evenly and consistently from bag to bag, but they create so much ash that needs to be cleaned out afterwards and some have fillers that you don't want (Don't Get Matchlight or Flavored Briquettes!). That layer of ash as it burns helps it burn steadily and evenly, which you want for longer cooks like smoking or roasting.
Lump burns cleanly and hotter, but every bag of coal is going to be different. You're going to have one bag with huge pieces which will take longer to get lit and will burn longer, and you'll have another bag with tiny pieces of coal that burn super fast. Then you'll have a bag that has a mix of both so the heat fluctuates as it burns or by the time the big pieces get lit the smaller ones already burned out. This is great and not a problem for quick high heat cooks like searing steaks and burgers.
Last edited by ScarletThread781 March 25, 2026 at 11:24 AM.
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Briquettes heat very evenly and consistently from bag to bag, but they create so much ash that needs to be cleaned out afterwards and some have fillers that you don't want (Don't Get Matchlight or Flavored Briquettes!). That layer of ash as it burns helps it burn steadily and evenly, which you want for longer cooks like smoking or roasting.
Lump burns cleanly and hotter, but every bag of coal is going to be different. You're going to have one bag with huge pieces which will take longer to get lit and will burn longer, and you'll have another bag with tiny pieces of coal that burn super fast. Then you'll have a bag that has a mix of both so the heat fluctuates as it burns or by the time the big pieces get lit the smaller ones already burned out. This is great and not a problem for quick high heat cooks like searing steaks and burgers.
Join The Conversation
Share information with the community. Please follow our Community Guidelines and be kind!