Good Grilling Begins With a Good Fire Now for the lighter fluid. Again, make sure it's odorless. Coat the sides of the pyramid liberally . . . especially toward the bottom. Then give it a few minutes to soak in. Put the charcoal and lighter fluid away. Make sure there are no small children close to the grill. Check above to make sure there is nothing that can catch fire. It's been a few minutes. The lighter fluid has soaked in. It's time to light the fire. Get one wooden match (fireplace matches work very well). Strike the match, extend your arm, and light one side of the pymarid at the base. Do Not Lean Your Face Over The Fire. Light the opposite pyramid base. Now for the hard part: doing nothing. The charcoals need to be completely white before you begin cooking. (Note the white rime around some of the charcoals; these charcoals have ignited and will soon be completely white.) It takes a little time, but this is not supposed to be a rush thing. It's time to enjoy the day, talk to your spouse, play with the kids, read a book, do a crossword puzzle. The fire will be ready to cook before you know it. One thing, though, stay close to the grill. Its sides can get pretty hot and you wouldn't want a child (or adult) to get burned. Back  Next