How to Safely Use an Electric Barbecue Lighter
Barbecues are a great way of cooking in the summer that allow you to cook for the family without heating up your kitchen. If you are planning on purchasing a new barbecue grill, don't forget to pick up an electric barbecue lighter to help you to safely light your grill.
- Place your grill on a flat surface away from anything that could easily catch on fire, such as a concrete patio.
- Add your charcoal to the inside of your grill, and stack it up into a pyramid shape for easier lighting.
- Add lighter fluid to the charcoal briquettes. You should use about a 1/4 cup of lighter fluid for each pound of charcoal that you will be using.
- Allow the lighter fluid to sit and soak into the charcoal briquettes for approximately a half-hour. If you have a large grill with more than two pounds of charcoal, you may want to give it about forty to forty five minutes to soak in.
- Spread the charcoal briquettes on the bottom of your charcoal grill evenly using a pair of barbecue tongs or a large spatula. You want to ensure that your charcoal is spread out evenly so that the heat is evenly distributed throughout your grill.
- Stick your electric barbecue lighter down near the charcoal briquettes that you are going to light and then engage the safety mechanism on your electric barbecue lighter. Most models have a small button that needs to be depressed at the same time as hitting the firing mechanism.
- Hit the button that will spark the lighter and create the flame. Touch the flame to the charcoal briquettes until they catch on fire. The fire should spread evenly throughout the charcoal. Allow them to cook until they have turned to a light green before cooking your food.