Let’s be honest - if you're still firing up your BBQ with propane, you might as well be microwaving your steaks. Real flavor, real grilling, and real bragging rights come from cooking over charcoal. And with spring finally upon us, it’s time to dust off that beautiful charcoal grill that’s been hibernating in your garage and get back to doing BBQ the way nature intended.
Good news: using a charcoal chimney starter — especially when you pair it with Gofire All Purpose — makes it just as easy as pushing a button on a propane grill (but with a thousand times the flavor). Here’s exactly how to do it.
What You’ll Need:
- A charcoal chimney starter
- Charcoal (lump or briquettes — whatever you prefer)
- Gofire All Purpose fire starter
- Matches or a lighter
- Your trusty charcoal BBQ
- Meat. Lots of meat.
Step-by-Step: How to Use a Charcoal Chimney Starter
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Load It Up
Start by filling the top of the chimney with your charcoal. How much? Depends on what you’re cooking. For hot and fast (steaks, burgers), fill it to the top. For a slower, longer cook (ribs, pork shoulder), half full is often enough.
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Fire It Up
Place a piece of Gofire All Purpose under the chimney on your BBQ’s lower grate. Light it up. That’s it — no newspaper gymnastics, no funky-smelling lighter fluid. Gofire All Purpose burns hot, clean, and long enough to get every piece of charcoal properly ignited. It’s so easy that even your propane-using neighbor could manage it (if they weren’t too busy fiddling with their gas lines).
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Wait for the Magic
Let the chimney do its thing. In about 10–15 minutes, you’ll see the coals at the top start to turn white and ashy — that’s your signal they’re ready. You’ll also feel a fierce blast of heat if you hover your hand nearby — but be careful, it gets hot.
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Pour and Grill
Once the charcoal’s good and hot, carefully pour the coals into your BBQ. Arrange them based on your cooking needs (direct heat, indirect heat, two-zone setups — whatever you’re after). Pop the grill grate on, let it preheat for a few minutes, and boom — you’re ready to grill like a boss.
Check out our video on using a chimney starter with Gofire All Purpose.