lighter fluid substitute?

[stubster]

we all know lighter fluid is the devil for charcoal. has anyone ever warmed up bacon grease and used it instead? how about adding it to charcoal when adding unlit charcoal to your fire? seems to me it would work

 

[dirtsailor2003]

You can use any oil (animal fat) . Best to soak some paper in it and put it in. Soak the paper roll it up and let it sit and you have an emergency fire starter. I wouldn't keep them long unless you freeze them as the fat will go rancid.

I use a chimney and two pieces of newspaper. Charcoals ready to go in 5-10 minutes. Some times if I have any I will pour some rendered fat or oil on it.

 

[Will Squared]

I start my 560 with a wax starter stick.

 

[Fueling Around]

I start most of my charcoal in a chimney with 1 sheet of grease (animal) soaked newspaper.

Never tried pouring grease directly on the coal and I don't think it will work very well.
Better to soak a portion of a paper egg carton with grease and put it under the coal.

 

[smokerjim]

never tried or heard so I don't know I always just use a chimney starter with some newspaper.

 

[Kevinbthgrouse]

Dryer lint and wax combo

 

[RichGTS]

Couple sheets of newspaper and with some vegetable oil squirted on the paper works well for me

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

Cotton ball coated with Vaseline. Works great with a chimney, and it's a great campfire starter as well.

Dave

 

[gmc2003]

Weber starter cubes here. Although I have used paper towels with vegetable oil before. It was just to darn smokey when I lit it. Thick heavy black smoke.

Chris

 

[Bearcarver]

never tried or heard so I don't know I always just use a chimney starter with some newspaper.

Same-Same-Me, GI

Bear

 

[pops6927]

isopropyl alcohol works, no fumes

 

[mike243]

propane on the performer, electric rod on every thing else, I do have a can of lighter fluid somewhere but would be hard pressed to say where, the pitboss just lights its self lol

 

[stubster]

we all know lighter fluid is the devil for charcoal. has anyone ever warmed up bacon grease and used it instead? how about adding it to charcoal when adding unlit charcoal to your fire? seems to me it would work

Let me rephase. I use chimney starter no problems. I was thinking since we like drippings falling onto the coals for added flavor why not add it directly to the unlit charcoal.

 

[SlickRockStones]

I get fire starters from Rural King. They’re flat compressed cardboard square thingies and they are cheap.

 

[Fueling Around]

I guessed you were asking about lighting charcoal, not as an adder to the unlit briquettes.

Let me finish my comment based on your added comments.
The flame up we get from meat fat dripping on hot coals is because the grease vaporizes almost instantly on contact and flashes away and does not soak in the briquettes
Not a clue if adding grease to unlit charcoal will stay in the briquette while it slowly lights or drip away.
Now you sparked my curiosity to try the experiment the next time I do a snake in the kettle with random placed "enhanced" briquettes.

 

[Will Squared]

Now you sparked my curiosity to try the experiment the next time I do a snake in the kettle with random placed "enhanced" briquettes.

You BBQ Snake?

 

[tallbm]

I saw a video just today of a guy start a chimney of charcoal with a propane torch. I would think u coul do the same with any mound of charcoal.
Made me think "why have I never thought of that" since news paper is in shorter and shorter supply these days hahaha.

 

[stubster]

I guessed you were asking about lighting charcoal, not as an adder to the unlit briquettes.

Let me finish my comment based on your added comments.
The flame up we get from meat fat dripping on hot coals is because the grease vaporizes almost instantly on contact and flashes away and does not soak in the briquettes
Not a clue if adding grease to unlit charcoal will stay in the briquette while it slowly lights or drip away.
Now you sparked my curiosity to try the experiment the next time I do a snake in the kettle with random placed "enhanced" briquettes.

Thanks boss.That clarifies some. Maybe I'll run my own experiment also. Hat to waste my depleting stock of bacon fat but heck, Alexander Graham Bell had start with trial and error too.

 

[noboundaries]

I keep cardboard egg cartons. When we use a paper towel to dry something (usually my coffee mug), I'll let the towel dry then put it in a Ziplock with other dried paper towels. When we find we have an oil that has gone rancid, that becomes charcoal chimney starter fuel.

The trick to avoiding the thick black smoke is to use a sprayer to lightly spray a paper towel. I cut a 4-egg section of the carton, add the sprayed paper towel, light it, and it burns hot with no black smoke.

 

[Fueling Around]

I did use paper egg cartons to start my charcoal.
They now go to my wife's co-worker that returns them with farm fresh chicken and duck eggs.
I returned the favor on Monday with a 2# pork loin cured and smoked into Canadian Bacon.

You BBQ Snake?

LOL no and great question.
Snake is for longer cooks.
If "enhanced" briquettes are in a chimney, the flavor from the grease would be long burned off before poured out on the fire grate.
Not sure when I do my next snake cook.
Bought a pellet pooper a month ago and getting spoiled. Load the tube and let it go