How to Use a Chimney Starter

Michael Park for AOL

This grill season forget about lighter fluid and fire flare-ups. A chimney starter will let you get your grill going quickly and without a fuss.

Click on the gallery tab to learn how to use one.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=848943&pid=848942&uts=1268246942

http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swf

How to Use a Chimney Starter

The chimney starter is an essential grill tool that saves you time and allows you to skip the lighter fluid when starting your outdoor barbecue. It allows more oxygen to reach the coals, igniting them and allowing them to burn more evenly. Here, we used the Weber 7416 Rapidfire Chimney Starter.

How to Use a Chimney Starter

Step 1: Open the grill and clean the grate.

How to Use a Chimney Starter

Step 2: Set your chimney starter on a flat surface away from anything flammable.

How to Use a Chimney Starter

Step 3: Find some paper to stuff into the chimney starter's base.

How to Use a Chimney Starter

Step 4: Use a long matches when lighting chimney starters.

How to Use a Chimney Starter

Step 5: Open your charcoal. We've used hardwood charcoal, but briquettes work just fine provided they are not treated with lighter fluid.

How to Use a Chimney Starter

Step 6: Fill the chimney starter to the brim. It has a conical wire grate near the bottom that will catch the fuel.