How to Use a Chimney Starter (Light Your BBQ in 20 Minutes)

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Charcoal briquettes glowing orange inside a chimney starter sitting on a kettle BBQ grate — Coals glowing and ready to pour, about 20 minutes after lighting.

For years I watched friends light their BBQs with a chimney starter and thought it looked like a great idea. But I didn't realise just how easy it was until I tried it myself. Mine came with my Weber kettle, and it's so simple and fast.

Why use a chimney starter?

Fast: coals are ready in about 20 minutes.
Simple: just two firelighters, with no fiddly stacking and no fanning.
No lighter fluid: so no chemical taste on your food.
Even heat: all the coals light together, so they're ready at the same time.

How to use a chimney starter: step by step

Place 2 firelighters on the lower charcoal grate of your BBQ (the grate the coals normally sit on).
Fill the chimney with charcoal. Briquettes or lumpwood both work.
Light the firelighters, then set the chimney straight down on top of them.
Leave it for about 20 minutes. The chimney draws air up through the coals so they light quickly and evenly. They're ready when the top coals are glowing and starting to turn grey and ashy.
Carefully pour the coals into the BBQ, either evenly across the grate or to one side for two-zone cooking. Wear heat-resistant gloves and use the chimney's handle.
Put the cooking grate back on, give it a few minutes to heat up, and you're ready to cook.

Top tip: if you're using charcoal baskets in a kettle BBQ, pour the coals straight into the baskets for an instant hot zone and cool zone.

Weber chimney starter smoking as it lights inside a kettle BBQ — Just lit: smoke means the firelighters are doing their job.

Briquettes catching inside a chimney starter, glowing orange at the bottom — A few minutes in: the coals catch from the bottom up.

Safety tips

Wear heat-resistant gloves when you pick up and pour the chimney. It gets extremely hot.
Only pour onto the BBQ's charcoal grate, never onto decking, grass or anything flammable.
Put the empty chimney down somewhere safe that's non-flammable and out of reach of children and pets, while it cools.
Never use it indoors or in an enclosed space.
Don't add lighter fluid. You don't need it, and it's dangerous with hot coals.

What to look for when buying one

Size: a full-size chimney holds enough charcoal for a 57cm kettle BBQ. Smaller ones suit portable BBQs.
Two handles: a second "helper" handle makes pouring much safer and more controlled.
Heat shield on the handle: keeps your hand further from the heat.
Sturdy steel: thin metal can warp over time.

Where my chimney starter came from

My chimney starter set came with my Weber Master-Touch kettle BBQ.

See the Weber on Amazon

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FAQs

How long does a chimney starter take?

For me it's about 20 minutes from lighting the firelighters to pouring the coals. It can vary with the charcoal you use and the weather.

Can I use newspaper instead of firelighters?

Lots of people scrunch newspaper under the chimney instead. I just use two firelighters, which is simple and reliable.

Does a chimney starter work with lumpwood and briquettes?

Yes, it works with both.

What next?

Once your coals are ready, try my easy marinated BBQ chicken. It's quick, kid-friendly and always goes down well.

Dan, founder of Blaze & Graze

Home cook, keen DIYer and long-time website builder, writing practical outdoor cooking guides for UK gardens. More about me.