| Summer and cookout season will unerringly and | | | | costs. |
| unendingly lead to debates about the best way to | | | | If you prefer an electric starter, place it in the center |
| grill: wood, charcoal, or gas? If you are one of the | | | | of the pyramid and plug it in. Once the ash starts |
| fortunate few who have already decided, and have | | | | forming, unplug and remove the starter. Be sure to |
| picked charcoal for that unforgettable smoky effect, | | | | store the starter in a safe, cool place to avoid burns. |
| you will no doubt have a successful and satisfying | | | | Those using a chimney starter will have to remove |
| cookout season, with just a few tips to see you | | | | the cooking grid and place the starter in the grill. You |
| along the way. | | | | will need to place some sheets of crumpled |
| The very first thing to watch out for is to have the | | | | newspaper at the bottom of the starter. Fill the top |
| right amount of charcoal for your grill. If you are a | | | | part of the starter with coals. Then ignite the |
| beginner, you will need to check the manufacturer's | | | | newspaper through the holes at the bottom of the |
| instructions for the recommended level of charcoal | | | | starter. The fire will draw up through the starter, |
| for your particular grill. Equally important is the choice | | | | lighting the charcoal. After the coals are ready (this |
| of charcoal itself. You can either buy formed | | | | usually takes 20-30 minutes) use an oven mitt to |
| briquettes or natural lump charcoal. Natural lump | | | | empty the coals into the grill pan. Then arrange the |
| charcoal has an advantage: it has no residual vapors | | | | coals into an even layer using tongs, and carefully |
| and burns hotter than briquettes. | | | | remove the hot starter. |
| Place the charcoal in a pyramid shape about half an | | | | While cooking, move the coals closer together or |
| hour prior to cooking time. The reason for this is that | | | | place more coals to increase the heat. Open the |
| the pyramid provides ventilation for the coals to | | | | vents or fan the coals to give them more air. To |
| catch fire. Now to light the coals. If you are using | | | | decrease the heat, move the coals apart or raise the |
| lighter fluid, use about half a cup of lighter fluid to | | | | grate. Limit the oxygen supply to lower the heat. |
| soak the coals. Wait for the liquid to soak in and then | | | | With these small but significant tips in mind, you are |
| light with a match. Remember, gasoline and kerosene | | | | bound to have an unmistakable grilling experience. |
| may cause an explosion and must be avoided at all | | | | |