How do you guys do it? Just got one from a BBQ festival and the guy teaching the egg 101 class said to use the little fire starter cubes and put them down at the bottom of the lump.

Does anyone use a chimney starter? I was considering using my chimney starter to get some lump going. Then put the hot lump down and fill the rest of the way with unlit lump.

What's the OB's favorite method?

Also, my first cook will just be direct grilling some chicken. (I don't have the indirect stone yet)

I use the cubes. Ordered a huge pack of them (about 300 cubes for 30 bucks- Rutland Brand) off Amazon and they work great.

I dig a little hole in the middle of the lump, drop in the cube and light, then cover it back up.

Folks will tell you to get a Mapp Torch, looft Lighter Etc.. but the cubes work fine.

My Grill Dome manual specifically states to not use chimney starters as they shock the ceramic with a ton of heat all at once. I use these little compressed cardboard and wax squares I get off of Amazon. It doesn't take much to get a roaring fire in little time.

Oh dang, thanks for the response. Glad I asked.

I'm inpatient. Cubes take to long & I like to play with fire. This is what I use:

http://m.harborfreight.com/propane-torch-61589.html

Just make sure you have glasses on or some other form of eye protection. Takes seconds to get a good fire going. This torch + the BGE made my gas grill obsolete.

Either a rolled paper towel with cooking oil on it, placed under the coals on the floor of the egg through the vent.
Or
Propane weed burner tool, and light it from the top.

What Deathstar said about the paper towel and oil, but I also soak down the charcoal with 91% rubbing alcohol. It burns off clean and helps the fire get started uniformly throughout the egg.

I use a chimney. Easy peasy.

MAAP Torch. Ready to grill in 15 min.

lotsofhp said:

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Also, my first cook will just be direct grilling some chicken. (I don't have the indirect stone yet)

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If you don't have a plate setter, you should look at these. I wish I had gotten the spider with an adjustable rig from the beginning.

https://ceramicgrillstore.com/collections/shop-large-adjustable-rig-for-large-big-green-egg/products/large-adjustable-rig-customer-combo-bge

Looftlighter

I just use one of those plug in metal things.

Harbor Freight heat gun, it was a ton cheaper then the BGE heat gun.

Weed burner

I use these. A little less messy than the cubes for me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00138MO16/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1493586723&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=fire+starter&dpPl=1&dpID=51eKNM2hD%2BL&ref=plSrch

i made something specific to start mine, and it's still going strong

Two rolled paper towels soaked in canola oil in the bottom vent gets mine started and up to temp in under 10 minutes. I've also got the replacement stainless bottom grate which flows way more air and probably makes lighting this way easier.

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Vision-Grills-Electric-Charcoal-Starter-CS600/205367430?gclid=CjwKEAjwlpbIBRCx4eT8l9W26igSJAAuQ_HGz7N1cvVX2eUZFlIOlp2PI-KE_kQkpmc0YtbdaSBPmxoCpJ7w_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Takes about 3-5 minutes and cost $13

I use one of these:



easypeasyforschneazy.

+1 for the chimney ...

I use a chimney. Did today in fact. Easy peasy.

I started with the chimney. Moved on to fatwood sticks and a little bit of newspaper. Then graduated to the propane torch and half sticks of fatwood, to now just the propane torch. Might try some cubes and the torch.

I use the chimney
Cubes are a waste of money

ag0207 said:

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I'm inpatient. Cubes take to long & I like to play with fire. This is what I use:

http://m.harborfreight.com/propane-torch-61589.html

Just make sure you have glasses on or some other form of eye protection. Takes seconds to get a good fire going. This torch + the BGE made my gas grill obsolete.

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+1

Looflighter

Propane torch

I've used a chimney starter or sometimes I'll soak cotton balls in alcohol or vasoline and cheap starter cubes.

Electric starter

Well I ended up using a chunk of fire starter at the bottom of the middle of my lump. Had it to temp in no time.

First time using the egg. Once I got it dialed in at 375 it didn't move a degree. Like I said, I don't have the place setter yet so I just put the chicken around the perimeter. Even put 2 potatoes in there. All came out perfect. Already in love.

You guys not using electric are doing it the hard way.

I take 3-4 sheets of newspaper crumpled up with a rolled end extended through the fire grate. Cover with charcoal and light from below.

Oruc Reis said:

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You guys not using electric are doing it the hard way.

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I've used electric. Got tired of having to run an extension cord every time I wanted to light it and then worry about where to put it to cool down with dogs and kids out often. Now I use a torch and light it WAAAYY faster and easier than the electric. It's not even close really.

Ag83 said:

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Oruc Reis said:

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You guys not using electric are doing it the hard way.

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I've used electric. Got tired of having to run an extension cord every time I wanted to light it and then worry about where to put it to cool down with dogs and kids out often. Now I use a torch and light it WAAAYY faster and easier than the electric. It's not even close really.

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What's easier than a MAPP torch? This extension cord nonsense is silly, who wants to do that. Plus, those looftlighters melt all the time.

MAPP torch. I cooked in a BGE event on Saturday and two of the other guys said they were going to Lowe's after the cookoff to get a MAPP torch after seeing mine in action. And one of them had a Looftlighter.

I have an electric starter, but agree that finding a place to put it down to cool off with kids and dogs makes me a nervous wreck each time. I have a blowtorch though but haven't used it to start my grill. Might try it next time.