I love grilling food. I have done a brisket on the grill, vegetables, meats, etc, but using a charcoal has a distinct con that a lot of the gas and pellet grillers harp on as the worst, the fact that you have to wait so long for the charcoal to get going. I enjoy playing with fire and I just plan ahead 30 minutes to make sure that it is up and smoldering long before I am hungry.
Then I noticed something in my camping gear that I thought, that might come in pretty handy in making a fire.
How many of us have an air mattress and most of those come with an electric air pump. Now mine has a battery operated pump that has done wonders when we were tent camping and helped us get up off of the ground [although the night was still COLD, but that is a story for another time].
Anyway the last few times of using charcoal I made sure that the the pump was near the back door so I could try it out. Once I get the coals somewhat lit whether by piling them up or using one of those chimney charcoal lighting buckets, then just add the air. I use the chimney bucket to get it going with some lighter fluid, that at least gets most of the briquettes lit, then dump them into the grill, re pile them so that the unlit ones are on top, then turn the pump on and aim it into the center of the pile. In a few seconds you have a roaring flame that gets hot enough you better pull that plastic pump back or it may melt. It takes less than a minute for it to really get roaring. I then close the lid and let it burn for a minute. I also can add air from the side so I will put the pump at the air intake and aim it into the center of the pile and let it go for about a minute.
After about three times, the coals are going well enough you can spread them out and get to cooking.
Yes, I know all I have created is a foundry, but it is so much more efficient and easier than blowing on them to get them going. In fact, you can use these battery powered air pumps to start a fire pretty easy too.
I hope you found this helpful.
