Achieving optimal briquette combustion for your barbecue involves precision and efficiency. The performance of your grill is fundamentally linked to how effectively you ignite the coals, and selecting the best charcoal grill starter is paramount. Beyond simple methods, modern ignition solutions offer advanced features for rapid heating and consistent ember development.
This guide delves into the top contenders in the best charcoal grill starter market, examining their unique mechanisms, efficiency ratings, and user-centric designs. From electric lighters to chimney starters, each tool presents a distinct approach to fuel ignition.
Understanding the nuances of these devices will help you elevate your grilling experience, ensuring perfectly prepared coals every time. Explore our curated selection to find the best charcoal grill starter that aligns with your cooking style and needs.
Ignite Your Grill: Top Starters
1. KINGSFORD Heavy Duty Deluxe Charcoal Chimney Starter, Large Capacity Zinc
Experience faster, more even charcoal ignition for your next barbecue with the KINGSFORD Heavy Duty Deluxe Charcoal Chimney Starter. This large-capacity starter is engineered to get your briquettes ready for cooking in no time, transforming your grilling sessions from preparation to delicious meals with remarkable efficiency.
Constructed from durable, rust-resistant zinc-coated steel, this chimney starter is built for longevity and repeated outdoor use. Its innovative vented airflow design and heat shield handle ensure safety and optimal performance, making it an indispensable tool for any grill enthusiast preparing for family cookouts, tailgates, or simple backyard dinners.
Pros
- Quick & Even Lighting: The vented airflow design efficiently pulls steady air through the charcoal, ensuring briquettes catch fire faster and burn more uniformly, significantly reducing your wait time to start grilling.
- Safe & Convenient Handling: Equipped with a stay-cool handle and a protective heat shield, this starter offers a secure grip and safeguards your hands when moving hot coals, providing excellent control from the chimney to your grill or smoker.
- Generous Charcoal Capacity: The large capacity is perfect for lighting enough charcoal for extended cooking sessions, larger grills, or feeding a crowd at any outdoor gathering, from backyard parties to camping trips.
- Built to Last: Made from heavy-duty, zinc-coated steel, this robust chimney starter is designed to withstand high heat and frequent use, resisting rust and corrosion for reliable performance season after season.
- Effortless Operation: Arriving fully assembled, this charcoal lighting tool requires no setup; simply add charcoal and starter material, light, and wait for perfectly hot coals, ideal for both novice grillers and seasoned pitmasters seeking a fluid start.
Cons
- While effective for most charcoal types, extremely large lump charcoal pieces may require more careful arrangement within the chimney for optimal airflow.
The KINGSFORD Heavy Duty Deluxe Charcoal Chimney Starter is the essential companion for anyone seeking a reliable, efficient, and safe method to ignite charcoal for any grilling adventure. Enjoy quicker cook times and superior results for burgers, steaks, ribs, vegetables, and smoking without the mess or chemical taste of lighter fluid.
2. Masterbuilt® Pure-Parrafin All-Natural Odorless Wax Fire Starters for Charcoal Grilling,
Unlock effortless grilling with the Masterbuilt® Pure-Parrafin All-Natural Odorless Wax Fire Starters. Achieve perfect charcoal ignition quickly and cleanly, transforming your outdoor cooking experience. These convenient cubes are designed for optimal performance, making them a go-to choice for reliable fire starting.
Engineered for convenience, these odorless and smokeless wax fire starters are ideal for various charcoal applications, including Masterbuilt Gravity Series grills. They ignite even when wet and burn intensely at up to 1300˚F, drastically reducing the time it takes for your grill to reach optimal cooking temperature.
Experience a cleaner, faster way to get your barbecue going.
Pros
- Fast & Efficient Ignition: Quickly lights charcoal for smoking and grilling, minimizing pre-cook wait times and delivering consistent heat.
- Odorless & Smokeless Performance: Enjoy your food’s flavor without any added chemical or fuel odors, creating a pleasant grilling ambiance.
- All-Natural & Safe: Formulated with pure paraffin wax, these cubes are a natural choice for safe and effective fire initiation for your coals.
- Reliable in Any Condition: Designed to light easily even when exposed to moisture, ensuring you can start your grill regardless of the weather.
- Long Burn Time: Each cube provides a sustained burn of up to 1300˚F, thoroughly igniting your charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal.
Cons
- While effective, some users might prefer a larger quantity for very frequent or large-scale grilling sessions.
The Masterbuilt Pure-Parrafin Fire Starters offer an unparalleled ease of use for anyone seeking the best charcoal grill starter. Their natural, odorless, and robust ignition capabilities make them perfect for both novice grillers and seasoned pitmasters looking for a dependable charcoal lighting solution. Elevate your backyard barbecues with this essential grilling accessory.
Elevate your backyard barbecues with this essential grilling accessory.
3. Realcook Natural Fire Starter for Campfires: All Weather Firestarters –
Ignite your outdoor adventures and cozy evenings instantly with Realcook Natural Fire Starters. Designed for ultimate convenience, these all-weather fire starters eliminate the frustration of struggling with damp kindling or unreliable methods, offering a quick and dependable way to get your fire going for any occasion.
Crafted from natural wax, sawdust, and hardwood, these eco-friendly fire starters provide an odorless and smokeless burn. Each starter burns for an impressive 8-10 minutes, giving you ample time to ignite charcoal grills, pellet grills, smokers, campfires, or indoor fireplaces without the need for lighter fluid.
Pros
- Instant Ignition & Long Burn Time: Experience quick, hassle-free fire starting with a sustained 8-10 minute burn per starter, perfect for getting charcoal grills and fire pits ready swiftly.
- Eco-Friendly & Safe for Use: Made from natural materials, these smokeless and odorless firestarters for fireplaces offer an environmentally conscious alternative to chemical lighter fluids, suitable for both indoor and outdoor fires.
- All-Weather Reliability: These durable fire starters for campfires perform exceptionally well, even when damp or wet, ensuring you can start a fire in challenging outdoor conditions.
- Versatile Applications: Ideal for a wide range of uses including starting charcoal grills, pellet smokers, outdoor fire pits, wood stoves, and wood-burning ovens, these workhorses are incredibly adaptable.
- Portable & Convenient: Compact and lightweight, these tumbleweed fire starters are easy to pack for camping, hiking, or backpacking trips, providing a reliable ignition source wherever you go.
Cons
- While effective, some users might prefer a slightly longer burn time for very large or slow-starting fires, though the ample duration should suffice for most typical uses.
For anyone seeking a simple, effective, and environmentally friendly fire-starting solution, the Realcook Natural Fire Starters are an excellent investment. They are the ideal companion for backyard barbecues, rustic campfires, or a warm fireplace, ensuring you spend less time struggling to light your fire and more time enjoying it.
4. Kingsford Quick Light Fire Starter Rolls, All Natural Hardwood with
Achieve perfectly lit charcoal for your next cookout with ease using Kingsford Quick Light Fire Starter Rolls. Designed for the discerning griller, these all-natural hardwood starters offer a fast, reliable, and truly simple way to ignite your coals, ensuring delicious results with minimal fuss.
Crafted from hardwood shavings and paraffin, each roll provides consistent ignition for various outdoor fire needs, from backyard barbecues to cozy campfires. Their water-resistant design ensures dependable performance even in challenging conditions, making them a go-to choice for quick and efficient fire starting.
Pros
- Fast and Simple Ignition: Lights charcoal or firewood quickly without the need for lighter fluid, allowing you to get grilling sooner and enjoy steady flames for your outdoor meals.
- All-Natural Hardwood Construction: Made from hardwood shavings with paraffin for consistent, dependable ignition, offering a more natural start to your fires compared to chemical-based solutions. Ideal for a cleaner burn for your best charcoal grill starter needs.
- Water Resistant Performance: The water-resistant design ensures these starters perform reliably even in damp or humid conditions, crucial for dependable lighting when camping or facing unpredictable weather for your grilling accessories.
- Versatile Grill Compatibility: Works seamlessly with charcoal grills, pellet grills, and smokers, helping prepare coals effectively for a variety of cooking styles, from direct grilling to low-and-slow smoking. A true outdoor cooking essential.
- Clean Burn and Steady Flame: Delivers a sustained burn long enough to catch your fuel, reducing frustration from difficult-to-light fires and supporting smoother setup for tailgates, parties, and essential camping essentials.
- Convenient Storage and Portability: Compact rolls are easy to store in garages, sheds, or camping bins, and they’re simple to pack for travel, ensuring you always have reliable fire starting supplies readily available for any adventure.
Cons
- Slight Paraffin Scent: While natural, some users may detect a faint paraffin scent during ignition, though this dissipates quickly once coals are fully lit and does not typically impact food flavor.
Kingsford Quick Light Fire Starter Rolls are an excellent choice for anyone seeking a hassle-free and effective way to start their charcoal fires. Their all-natural composition and reliable performance make them a superior option for consistent grilling results and enjoyable outdoor experiences, fitting seamlessly into your outdoor cooking and BBQ essentials.
5. The Bincho Grill Stainless Steel Charcoal Chimney Starter – Perfect
Achieve perfectly lit charcoal every time with The Bincho Grill Stainless Steel Charcoal Chimney Starter. Engineered for superior airflow and rapid ignition, this essential grilling tool ensures your coals are ready for searing in minutes, making it the ultimate companion for any outdoor cook. Experience faster, more consistent grilling.
Experience faster, more consistent grilling.
Crafted from solid premium stainless steel, this durable chimney starter is built to withstand extreme heat without degradation. Its rust and corrosion-resistant design guarantees longevity, while the integrated heat-resistant handle with a metal shield prioritizes user safety during operation.
Pros
- Constructed with solid premium stainless steel, ensuring exceptional durability and resistance to rust and corrosion for a long-lasting grilling accessory.
- Features a heat-resistant handle with a metal heat shield, significantly reducing radiant heat exposure for safer and more comfortable use during charcoal lighting.
- Optimized dimensions and a well-balanced design promote superior airflow, enabling fast and efficient ignition of various charcoal types, including dense binchotan, without the need for lighter fluid.
- An integrated secondary metal handle offers enhanced stability and control when transferring ready coals, adding an extra layer of safety for any charcoal grill enthusiast.
Cons
- While a heat shield is included, using heat-resistant gloves is still recommended for maximum safety when handling the hot chimney starter and coals.
For those seeking the best charcoal grill starter and a reliable way to ignite binchotan or any other charcoal quickly, The Bincho Grill Stainless Steel Chimney Starter is an outstanding choice. Its robust construction and user-centric design make it indispensable for achieving perfect grilling temperatures with minimal effort.
6. Kamado Joe Pure Paraffin All-Natural Odorless Wax Cube Fire Starters,
Ignite your grilling sessions effortlessly with Kamado Joe Pure Paraffin Wax Cubes, the ultimate solution for a clean and powerful start. Say goodbye to lighter fluid fumes and hello to quick, reliable ignition that brings your charcoal to life in minutes, ensuring a perfect barbecue experience every time.
These all-natural, odorless wax fire starters are engineered to burn at incredibly high temperatures, reaching up to 1300°F, even when slightly damp. Designed for all Kamado Joe grills, they offer unparalleled convenience and effectiveness, making them a top choice for any charcoal grilling enthusiast seeking a superior lighting method.
Pros
- Odorless & Smokeless Ignition: Provides a clean burn with no unpleasant chemical smells or excessive smoke, preserving the natural flavor of your food.
- High-Temperature Burn: Reaches up to 1300°F, efficiently igniting charcoal for quicker cooking times and consistent heat.
- Reliable Performance, Even When Wet: Moisture-resistant design ensures you can still achieve a strong flame even in humid conditions or if cubes have been exposed to slight dampness.
- Safe Alternative to Lighter Fluid: Eliminates the risks associated with flammable liquid accelerants, offering a safer and more controlled ignition process for your charcoal.
- Universal Compatibility: Ideal for all Kamado Joe charcoal grills and equally effective for any other charcoal grill, kettle grill, fireplace, or campfire.
Cons
- Limited Reusability: As single-use fire starters, consistent grillers might find themselves repurchasing more frequently than with some reusable ignition methods.
For those seeking the best charcoal grill starter on the market, Kamado Joe’s Pure Paraffin Wax Cubes deliver exceptional performance and safety. Elevate your charcoal grilling experience with these dependable, all-natural firelighters, ensuring every cookout starts with a perfectly lit fire.
7. JJGeorge Grill Torch Charcoal Starter
Tired of waiting for charcoal to catch? The JJGeorge Grill Torch Charcoal Starter delivers perfectly lit coals in under a minute, eliminating the frustration of slow startups.
This is the ultimate solution for BBQ enthusiasts seeking speed and convenience without compromise.
This innovative grill lighter uses the power of propane or MAP gas to ignite charcoal quickly and efficiently. Its design ensures minimal sparking, providing a safer and more controlled lighting process.
Enjoy up to 100 charcoal starts from a single 14 oz fuel canister, making it an economical choice for consistent grilling. Discover unparalleled ease in preparing your grill for its next use.
Pros
- Lightning-Fast Ignition: Lights charcoal in just 45-60 seconds, significantly reducing your pre-grill wait time.
- Completely Cord-Free Design: Offers maximum portability and freedom – no outlets or extension cords needed, perfect for any outdoor setting.
- Economical Fuel Usage: Achieve up to 100 charcoal ignitions on a single 14 oz propane or MAP gas can, proving cost-effective over time.
- Controlled & Safe Lighting: Features minimal sparking compared to air-blowing starters, ensuring a safer and more predictable charcoal ignition.
- Durable Construction: Built by JJGeorge, a trusted name in grilling accessories, ensuring long-lasting performance.
Cons
- Requires separate purchase of propane or MAP gas canister.
For grill masters who value efficiency and a superior user experience, the JJGeorge Grill Torch Charcoal Starter is an indispensable tool. Elevate your backyard barbecues and enjoy perfectly grilled meals without the usual hassle.
8. 600W Electric Charcoal Starter Fire Lighter for BBQ Grill Smoker
Revolutionize your grilling experience with the WishDirect Electric Charcoal Starter! Say goodbye to messy lighter fluid and long waiting times. This powerful device ignites your charcoal briquettes in mere minutes, delivering perfectly hot coals for quicker, more enjoyable BBQ sessions.
It’s the ultimate solution for anyone seeking an effortless and efficient way to get their grill going.
Engineered with a robust 120V/600W heating element, this electric fire igniter quickly produces intense heat, transforming cold coals into ready-to-cook embers without any unpleasant fumes or chemical aftertastes. Its design prioritizes safety and reusability, providing a clean, reliable method for starting your grill, smoker, fireplace, or campfire. Enjoy pure flavor and convenience with every use.
Enjoy pure flavor and convenience with every use.
Pros
- Rapid Ignition: Heats up swiftly, getting your charcoal briquettes and piles hot within minutes, allowing you to start cooking almost immediately for a faster BBQ setup.
- Non-Toxic & Odorless Fire Starting: Ignites coals without smoke, smell, or harmful chemical additives, ensuring a safe experience and preventing any undesirable taste from affecting your food.
- Enhanced Safety Features: Boasts a long insulated handle with a generous 29-inch cord to keep hands safely away from high heat, and a metal plate for hands-free, stable operation.
- All-Weather Reliability: Unaffected by outdoor wind or temperature fluctuations, providing consistent and dependable charcoal ignition every time, simplifying your outdoor cooking schedule regardless of conditions.
- Versatile Applications: Perfectly compatible with various BBQ grills and smokers (like Weber, Royal Gourmet, Char-Griller) and equally effective for fireplaces, campfires, wood stoves, fire pits, and pizza ovens.
- Eco-Friendly & Cost-Effective: A reusable method for lighting your fuel, this starter avoids repeatedly purchasing lighter fluid, making it an environmentally conscious and economical choice for enthusiasts.
Cons
- Requires access to an electrical outlet, which may limit immediate use in very remote outdoor settings without a power source.
The WishDirect Electric Charcoal Starter is an indispensable tool for any grilling enthusiast seeking a fast, clean, and reliable method to light charcoal. Its user-friendly design and broad applicability make it the ideal choice for consistently achieving perfect grilling conditions for your favorite outdoor meals.
9. Electric Charcoal Starter for Grill – Mata Leon Premium BBQ
Elevate your grilling experience with the Mata Leon Electric Charcoal Starter, the premier solution for quickly and efficiently igniting your charcoal. Say goodbye to messy lighter fluids and smoky fires, and hello to perfectly lit coals in minutes, ensuring your food retains its authentic flavor. This premium BBQ accessory is designed for convenience and superior performance.
This premium BBQ accessory is designed for convenience and superior performance.
Crafted with a robust 304 stainless steel heat element, this 700W electric grill starter boasts a larger surface area for faster, more efficient coal ignition. Its user-friendly design requires minimal effort: simply cover the heating coils with charcoal, plug it in, and in 6-10 minutes, your coals are ready for grilling.
Pros
- Rapid & Efficient Ignition: The powerful 700W heating element and expanded coil surface area ignite surrounding charcoal quickly, meaning less waiting and more grilling time.
- Clean & Flavorful Grilling: Eliminates the need for chemical fluids, ensuring your food’s taste is never compromised by unpleasant fumes or residues. Achieve pure, natural flavor every time.
- Enhanced Durability & Reach: Featuring a durable 304 stainless steel heat element and an extra-long, curved neck with a 1.5M/5ft cable, it’s designed for deep grills and ease of use on various outdoor cooking setups.
- Versatile Applications: Beyond charcoal grills, this electric lighter is also perfect for igniting fires in fireplaces, smokers, campfires, pizza ovens, and wood stoves, making it a multi-functional outdoor and indoor fire starter.
- User-Friendly Operation: Simple plug-and-play functionality requires no additional setup or fuel, making it an ideal, hassle-free alternative to traditional chimney starters or matches.
Cons
- Requires a power outlet for operation, limiting use in remote locations without access to electricity.
The Mata Leon Electric Charcoal Starter offers a superior, cleaner method for achieving perfectly lit briquettes for your BBQ. For anyone seeking a fast, reliable, and fume-free way to start their grill, this electric charcoal igniter is an excellent investment for enhancing outdoor cooking sessions.
10. Looftlighter Classic – Electric Charcoal Starter & Fire Lighter, Superheated
Transform your grilling sessions from a chore into a delight with the Looftlighter Classic. Say goodbye to lighter fluid and welcome rapid, flameless ignition for perfectly glowing coals, making it the ultimate choice for those seeking the best charcoal grill starter. Enjoy cleaner, faster, and more efficient fire-up for all your outdoor cooking adventures.
This powerful electric charcoal starter boasts a superheated element capable of igniting briquettes in mere seconds, reaching optimal cooking temperature in approximately 5 minutes. Its chemical-free operation ensures no unwanted tastes or toxins contaminate your food, providing a safer and purer grilling experience. The Looftlighter Classic is engineered for convenience, delivering consistent heat for various applications beyond grilling.
The Looftlighter Classic is engineered for convenience, delivering consistent heat for various applications beyond grilling.
Pros
- Effortless Operation: Simple plug-in and one-button start provides an incredibly hassle-free way to ignite charcoal, eliminating the need for lighter fluid and its associated mess and fumes.
- Rapid Ignition Speed: Generates 1300°F of flameless heat, efficiently bringing coals to a glowing ember stage in just minutes, significantly reducing wait times before cooking.
- Chemical-Free Grilling: Offers a clean and safe ignition method, free from harmful substances, ensuring your food is grilled without any artificial flavor contamination.
- Versatile Fire-Starting: Its powerful heating element isn’t limited to grills; it’s an effective tool for starting fires in fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, and even pizza ovens, making it a multi-purpose fire lighter.
- Durable Construction: Built with robust materials, this electric fire starter is designed for longevity, providing reliable performance for numerous grilling seasons.
Cons
- Requires Electricity: Unlike traditional methods, this starter needs access to an electrical outlet, which might limit its use in remote outdoor settings without power.
For anyone prioritizing speed, safety, and a cleaner approach to charcoal grilling, the Looftlighter Classic stands out as a superior fire starter. Its robust performance and multi-purpose design make it an indispensable tool for any outdoor enthusiast looking for a reliable and efficient way to get their fire going quickly and cleanly.
Your Guide to the Best Charcoal Grill Starter
Starter type and mechanism
The fundamental mechanism for igniting charcoal significantly influences the entire grilling experience, especially for those new to outdoor cooking.
Choosing the right ignition method directly impacts how quickly and effortlessly you can get your coals to the perfect cooking temperature. This decision affects not only your convenience but also the quality of your first coals, ensuring a successful start to your barbecue every time.
Consider the distinct approaches available: chimney starters use a venturi effect with newspaper or starter cubes at the bottom to draw air and ignite coals from below, typically achieving readiness in 10-15 minutes. Electric starters, on the other hand, employ a heating element directly immersed in or placed against the coals; these are user-friendly, often requiring just a plug and a few minutes of contact, with ignition taking around 5-8 minutes.
For ultimate simplicity, starter cubes or blocks are a reliable option, providing sustained flame to kickstart your charcoal pile, though they might take slightly longer than electric methods and rely on their composition for burn time. The ease of initial setup and the speed at which a glowing bed of coals is achieved are key differentiators catering to different levels of experience and patience.
Capacity and volume
The amount of charcoal briquettes a chimney starter can hold dictates the overall cooking surface area you can effectively light, directly influencing meal preparation for various occasions.
Understanding this volume is essential for ensuring you have enough uniformly lit coals to evenly cover your grill grate. A smaller starter, typically holding around 3-4 pounds of briquettes, is perfectly suited for smaller grills and intimate gatherings, efficiently lighting enough for burgers or a few steaks.
Matching the chimney’s loading capacity to your grill’s dimensions and intended use prevents the frustration of under-lit coals or wasted fuel. Consider scenarios: feeding a family of four calls for a moderate load, while hosting a barbecue for twelve necessitates a starter that can prepare a significant bed of glowing embers in one go.
Material and durability
The construction materials and inherent durability directly dictate how long your device for igniting charcoal will last and how safely you can operate it.
Inferior materials can lead to premature rust, warping, or component failure, turning a simple task into a frustrating experience. Opting for units made from robust materials like galvanized steel or aluminum ensures better resistance against the elements and repeated high-heat exposure.
Look for features that speak to longevity and user safety. Enhanced rust resistance is paramount, especially if your starter will be stored outdoors.
Furthermore, heat-resistant handles and components are non-negotiable; they prevent burns during operation and make transferring hot coals a secure process. These elements collectively contribute to a reliable and long-lasting performance, ensuring consistent, effortless charcoal preparation for countless grilling sessions.
Safety features and considerations
Safety is paramount during the ignition process for your outdoor cooking sessions.
A well-designed device for starting coals minimizes risks associated with high temperatures and potential instability. Considering heat protection for your hands is vital, as many methods involve direct contact with hot materials. Likewise, a stable base is essential to prevent accidental tipping, which could scatter hot embers and create a fire hazard.
Likewise, a stable base is essential to prevent accidental tipping, which could scatter hot embers and create a fire hazard. Proper ventilation and airflow design not only contribute to efficient lighting but also help manage heat buildup, further enhancing user safety.
When evaluating your options, prioritize models that offer robust construction and features that protect you from burns. Always opt for methods that avoid chemical accelerants like lighter fluid, as these can leave a residue affecting food flavor and pose additional inhalation risks.
Look for products that facilitate a clean and controlled burn, ensuring you can enjoy your grilling experience without unnecessary worry. Features like insulated handles and wide, grounded bases contribute significantly to a secure setup, making your transition from lighting to cooking smooth and safe.
Quick Best Charcoal Grill Starter Buying Checklist
- Consider Your Grill Size: Ensure the starter’s capacity matches your grilling needs.
- Evaluate Starter Type: Choose between chimney, electric, or cube starters based on convenience.
- Check Material Quality: Look for durable, rust-resistant materials for longevity.
- Prioritize Safety: Opt for features like heat-resistant handles and stable bases.
- Assess Ignition Speed: How quickly can it get your coals ready for cooking?
- Ease of Use: Select a starter that’s straightforward for quick setup and operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Fastest Way To Start Charcoal?
A chimney starter filled with coals and lit from below is generally the fastest and most efficient method.
Are Electric Charcoal Starters Safe?
Yes, electric starters are safe when used according to manufacturer instructions, posing no open flame risk.
How Long Does A Chimney Starter Take?
It typically takes about 10-20 minutes for coals in a chimney starter to become fully lit and ready.
What’S The Difference Between Charcoal Briquettes And Lump Charcoal Starters?
Starters themselves are tools; the difference lies in the type of charcoal you’re lighting (briquettes or lump).
Can I Use Lighter Fluid With A Chimney Starter?
No, lighter fluid is not recommended for chimney starters; they are designed to work without it.
Final Words
Selecting the best charcoal grill starter is key to efficient and enjoyable grilling. With options ranging from quick chimney starters to convenient electric models, you can achieve perfectly lit coals every time.