Charcoal Chimneys and Firelighters
The simplest upgrade to lighting charcoal properly for every single cook
Every time somebody asks me what charcoal accessory is worth buying first, a chimney starter is usually near the top of the list. They're not flashy, and they won't make your food taste better. What they do is make lighting charcoal faster, cleaner, and far less frustrating.
Before I started using one, getting a charcoal fire going felt hit and miss. Some pieces would be burning well while others were still black. I'd end up adding extra firelighters and waiting longer than I should have.
A chimney starter changed that. You just fill the chimney with charcoal, place a couple of natural firelighters under it and let it do its thing.
I've rushed charcoal plenty of times. The charcoal looks ready because there are flames, but the middle of the pile is nowhere near lit. You tip it into the BBQ, notice it's not ready, then you spend the next half hour trying to get it going again and dealing with more smoke than you need.
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💡 Erik's Tip If you're new to chimney starters, wait until you see the top layer of charcoal glowing and ashing over before you tip it in. Rushing it is the number one reason people end up fighting the fire all over again. |
Why We Like Natural Firelighters
They don't contain chemicals or accelerants, just wood and wax. Some brands burn out too quickly. Others leave behind a strong chemical smell that isn't exactly what you want around food. We test as many as we can and stock only the ones we would use ourselves.
Natural wood wool firelighters have become a favourite because they're simple and reliable. Light a couple underneath a chimney starter and the airflow through the chimney helps pull the flame through the charcoal.
No lighter fluid.
No chemical smell.
No fuss.
Just a simple way to get charcoal burning properly.
What's in This Collection?
This collection includes products designed to make lighting charcoal easier:
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BBQ lighting accessories
Whether you're cooking on a kettle BBQ, smoker, rotisserie or charcoal grill, starting with properly lit charcoal makes temperature control easier and helps create a cleaner fire from the beginning.
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⚠️ Important Note Skip the lighter fluid. It's the fastest way to introduce a chemical taste into your food, and it's not needed once you're using a chimney starter with natural firelighters underneath. |
A Small Upgrade You'll Use Every Cook
Some BBQ accessories spend more time sitting in the shed than they do being used.
A chimney starter usually isn't one of them.
Most charcoal cooks end up using theirs every time they light the BBQ because it simply makes the process easier.
Have a look through the range and find a charcoal lighting setup that suits the way you cook.
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