My Favorite Grilling Tool Is This Rusted, Busted $15 Empty Bucket
I love grilling because grilling is simple. Food goes over a fire. Fire turns food delicious.
Yet there are companies who try very, very hard to make you believe that grilling is not simple.
These companies argue that you need highly specialized tools to ease the supposedly stressful nature of grilling, which all-too-often leads you to destroying dinner, setting your entire backyard aflame, and accidentally incinerating your neighbor’s stupid dog.
I’ve been testing grills and grill products for Men’s Health for more than 10 years and I can tell you that no 16-piece grilling tool set, jalapeno grilling rack, meatball basket, wireless meat thermometer, beer-can chicken holder, burger-patty mold, giant spatula, shrimp grill pan, steak brander, or pulled pork bear claws has ever made any of my grilling experiences any better. In fact, more often than not, the purported efficiency-aiding gadget has overcomplicated the process.
But there is one tool-one marvelous tool that I turn to grilled meal after grilled meal. That tool is a $15 charcoal chimney starter. Mine’s a Weber, I think, but the brand is honestly not important because a chimney starter is basically just a metal bucket with a handle.
The thing is so easy to use your neighbor’s stupid dog could do it.
Step 1: You see that chamber at the base of the chimney? The area beneath the basket-looking part? Stuff a few pieces of balled-up newspaper in there or use junk mail because who the hell subscribes to a newspaper anymore print is dead.
Step 2: Fill the top of the chimney with charcoal. I use lump hardwood, but I’m not going to turn up my nose at you if you use briquettes because at least you’re not one of those people who is still cooking with a gas grill because it’s “faster” and “less messy” and they “just love going through that convoluted process at Home Depot with the secret receipt code to unlock a propane tank from the gated community of propane tanks.”
Step 3: Light the balled-up paper with a match or Bic lighter or your flamethrower from The Boring Company.
Step 4: Wait until the coals start to turn white and ashy, with a few flames flickering from the top of the chimney. This usually takes about 15 minutes. If you don’t think you have 15 minutes, just remember those poor propane grillers who have likely now locked themselves within a Home Depot propane tank prison cell for at least 15 minutes and will likely be there for several days.
Step 5: Dump the hot coals into your charcoal grill. Careful of those errant sparks, especially if you’re wearing flip-flops while you’re grilling, which is actually not a good idea.
My charcoal chimney starter is several years old. I keep it outside over the winter even though I probably shouldn't. It’s starting to rust. It’s dented for some reason. I guess I could spend $15 on another one, but the one I own works just fine.
I’d like to say that I get excited about using my charcoal chimney starter, but the tool has become a part of the grilling process. I use it every time I grill.
And that, fellow griller, is exactly what you should consider when pondering the new time- and stress-saving gadgets that are sure to emerge this grilling season.
Is this tool something you’ll use each and every time you grill? Or will it join that box in your garage that holds your quesadilla grilling basket?
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