Before you can actually grill, you need to know how to light a grill safely this is a procedure that may be daunting although it looks simple.

Charcoal grills

My favorite (also better for the environment) way to light a charcoal grill is to use a chimney starter, an open metal cylinder with a wooden handle and a grate in the middle to hold the coals. You can buy a chimney starter at a grill shop or well stocked hardware store- purchase the largest one you can find. Chimney starters have considerably advantages over traditional ignition methods. The coals light evenly all at once and you don’t need any lighter fluid, which can give your food a petroleum taste

Place one or two crumpled sheets of newspaper in the bottom section of the chimney starter and your charcoal in the top. (or instead of newspaper use one or two paraffin starters) place the chimney on the bottom grate of the grill, light the paper, and stand back. First, you’ll see a thick coil of black smoke, than flames; the coals will glow red in 15 to 20 minutes. Holding the starter by the handle, dump the coals into the grill and rake them into the desired configuration, following the instructions below.

You should use natural charwood, also known as lump charcoal, craggy black pieces of pure kilned wood that lack the chemical binders and coal dust found in commercial briquets.

Another good fuel to use is hardwood. Hardwood is good for grilling, including hickory, oak, pecan, apple, and mesquite. Place the hardwood chunks in the chimney starter and light as you wood charcoal. The embers will glow red in 10 to 12 minutes. Get ready for some of the best grilling you have ever tasted.

Gas grills

To light a gas grill, follow the manufactures instructions. Most gas grills have electric ignition devices these days. You simply turn on the gas and push a button. Always leave the lid open when you when you light a gas grill. If you don’t, you run the risk of a gas buildup under the lid, which could literally explode like a bomb. Make sure all of the desired burners are lit by holding your hand over them before you close the lid.