How to Light a Charcoal BBQ

Before you can have a successful cookout, you need to know how to light a charcoal BBQ grill.  The key to grilling success is patience and careful technique.  Lighting a charcoal BBQ can be time consuming, but the resulting flavorful food is the ultimate reward.

Things You Will Need

• BBQ grill


• Charcoal briquettes


• Lighter fluid


• Long matches


• Long barbecue tongs

1. Place a completely clean BBQ grill outdoors.  Make sure that you choose a well-ventilated area away from your home for safety reasons.


2. Grease your fingernails and fingers with a light coating of petroleum jelly for easy cleanup later.


3. Open all of the vents on the grill's lid.  Place the lid and the grilling rack to the side.


4. Find out how many charcoal briquettes you need by spreading a layer of charcoal across the bottom of the grill.  Make sure that the layer of charcoal is about two inches beyond the cooking area on the grilling rack.


5. Douse all of the charcoal briquettes with lighter fluid.  You will need two fluid ounces per pound of charcoal.


6. Gather the charcoal briquettes into a pyramid-shaped pile on the bottom of the grill.


7. Light the charcoal from the bottom in one or two places with a long match. 


8. Wait approximately 30 minutes until the charcoal briquettes are covered in gray ash.


9. Use your tongs to spread out the briquettes across the bottom of the grill.  You now have an even heat source to grill your food with.