5 Reasons your Charcoal won’t Light and How to Fix it.
Charcoal grills and smokers are popular. And charcoal is loved for the distinct smoky flavor it gives to food. But lighting charcoal can be frustrating if you don’t know how to use it.
There are 5 main reasons why your charcoal won’t light:
1) You mixed different types of charcoal
2) The charcoal is wet
3) You placed the charcoal flat on the bottom of the grill or of the smoker
4) The air vents are closed
5) The grill or smoker are not clean
By understanding the facts about charcoal, you can light up like a pro griller!
1) Choosing the right charcoal. The two most common types of charcoal are lumps and briquettes. While charcoal briquettes will burn longer, with a consistent heat, they are more difficult to light. Lump charcoal will burn out faster, but you can add to the burning pile, without worrying about killing the lit charcoal. Lump charcoal also burns cleaner, with little ash.
2) Storing the charcoal properly. It is important to store the charcoal in clean, dry places and not out on the patio or in a basement, where it can be damp. Charcoal is porous and will absorb any moisture. If you live in a humid climate, you need to take extra care when storing your charcoal. Keep the charcoal in containers that are well-sealed. Because like with damp wood, lighting charcoal that contains any moisture is almost impossible.
3) Stacking the charcoal vertically. If you lay the charcoal flat on the bottom of your grill or smoker, it will be difficult to start or may light but burn out quickly. The best way to place the charcoal is to stack it in a mound or pyramid form, vertically. You can use newspapers to form a funnel around which the charcoal is stacked. You can also add dry pieces of kindling to the pile of newspaper to help with fire catching. Or you can invest in a chimney designed with a hollow, metal pipe funnel in which you stack the charcoal. You can light the charcoal from the bottom and as the heat rises, the charcoal will burn through to the top. You can then transfer the charcoal from the chimney carefully to the bottom of your grill or smoker.
Note: Do not be tempted to light your charcoal with petroleum. Not only is this dangerous but you’ll also have food tasting like lighter fluid!
4) Open all air vents. Most grills and smokers have air vents that are suited to control the internal heat of the cooking chamber. It is definitely a battle to try to light your charcoal with the air vents closed. Always open all the air vents before you start lighting your charcoal. Even if one vent is closed, it will make it almost impossible to light your charcoal. Charcoal responds well to oxygen so if there is good airflow, your charcoal will light easily and properly. Insufficient airflow means your charcoal will not light or if it does, it’ll burn out very quickly.
Once your charcoal is burning and develops a white to gray appearance, you can then adjust the air vents, eventually closing them if you need to control the temperature – but not until the charcoal is burning.
5) Keep it clean. If your grill or smoker is dirty and wet, your charcoal won’t light. Grease can clog the air vents and prevent good airflow. A moist chamber will result in wet charcoal that can’t be lit. Thus, it is vital that you thoroughly clean and dry the grill or smoker before adding any charcoal.
Leaving ash at the bottom of the barbeque can also disrupt charcoal lighting. Ash gets moist over time, forming a paste-like layer. When fresh charcoal is added, it immediately absorbs the moisture from the paste. The layer of paste also hinders airflow. Therefore, always remove ash every time you use your grill or smoker.
When used correctly, charcoal is an excellent fuel source for any barbecue grill or smoker. By following a few simple steps, you can learn how to light charcoal easily and how to use charcoal to your best advantage.
