CHIMNEY STARTER

If you have a charcoal grill or smoker, then a chimney starter is a must-have. The chimney starter is the easiest and fastest method for lighting any kind of charcoal.

A charcoal chimney starter is a simple little thing: a metal tube with a grate near the bottom to hold charcoal off the ground and a number of holes in it to allow air to flow through freely. About 15 minutes later (or about the amount of time it currently takes my oven to preheat to 425°F), the chimney will be filled with graying coals that are ready to use. Just don’t wait too long before you dump your coals.