I can’t tell which is better. It seems like the egg gets hot quicker if I shut the lid vs leaving it open when starting the coals. Is there a preferred method when getting the egg ready for typical cooking like burgers?
by wannareadrandomstuff
46 Comments
StrikinglyOblivious
Do mine open
fknbroke
Open
diverareyouokay
Open… The whole goal of lighting charcoal is to get as much airflow as possible so the fire starts. Closing the lid would be like trying to run a marathon with a plastic shopping bag over your head.
Excellent-Excuse-660
Definitely open
MrBing1ey
The egg is it’s own chimney. I put as much charcoal as i want in the bottom, use any firestarter (i make my own with vegetable oil and twisted up paper towel), close lid and vents wide open. Lights 100% of the time. I thought everyone did it that way.
The_Moonboy
Since when do we need a chimney to light a kamado?
uforeal
Here’s the only thing. I’ve done this and completely burnt my handle so don’t put it directly under the handle. I won’t use a chimney anymore because of that. I let the egg be own chimney.
Filthi_61Syx
So what we do with my buddies egg is put the charcoal where it goes with a starter and then we open the top vent and point a blower at the lower vent
wannareadrandomstuff
Thanks everyone. Open it is.
I never thought about using the egg as its own chimney. I may have to try this next time.
Great thread!
4George4
We light 20 different kamados every single day at the shop I manage. We have never needed or used a starter. The egg is it’s own starter. Decent charcoal, open vents and keep the dome open until the charcoal is lit. We use tubleweed starters, 2 usually, and it takes 6 minutes until the eggs are on. Close the lid and open the top vent. Adjust when the thermometers show the desired temp. 100% fool proof.
EggHungry4262
why is this on the cooking grate?
migatemyshake
On the ground
jacksraging_bileduct
No need for a chimney, dump the lump in the egg and light it with a torch:) takes about 30 seconds of flame and it’s lit.
MarriedWCatsDogs
I used a chimney starter for years and I left it open. Just make sure you set it toward the back.
But now my new system is simply to load up the egg with charcoal and get the middle coals super hot with a propane weed torch. It’s fast as heck.
Chemical_Ad7978
So… why did you buy a kamado again?
JKTexas
Used a chimney for years on the bottom. I usually c,ose it. Can get toasty if you leave too long but guaranteed no hassle light and go jn 10.15 min
vgullotta
I do mine open and I get the wife’s USB rechargeable fan and point it in the intake of the egg until it’s raging then dump in. I can usually have all the coals raging with flames shooting out the top in just a couple minutes
jmc1278999999999
You don’t
1TakeFrank
do not use that chimney, the egg is not a weber
mrbradleyacooper
Please, clean your grate
CptnRon302
Get some starter sticks and a lighter. Ditch the chimney
Ashamed_Data430
I see a structure fire in your future.
binaryatlas1978
This thing is a chimney why would you need this
99nine99
I learned the hard way if you close the lid that it gets hot enough to melt the rubber off the handle
zambonista
I make 3 newspaper donuts and slide them over a corona bottle. Put them at the bottom of the egg. Cover with the charcoal. Pull out the bottle. Drop a match into the paper volcano. Close lid. Open vents. 5 minutes till raging inferno. 🙂
LogicalCommitment
Rage bait?
locnar1701
I got my egg 20 years ago, and the manual directly states NOT to use one of those as it can thermally shock the egg and crack it.
PCanon127
I never do this. Kick Ash basket, 1 fire starter & a propane torch
dirtymingusmcgee
Yep not necessary to use the chimney but if you do, get it away from the egg, table, house etc. Safer and easier to follow the advice of the sub and use any number of different fire starters or an electric charcoal starter
Uncle_Burney
I use the little biomass cubes, and my only issue is they take a while to catch.
Fearless_Meal6480
I use a cheap heat gun from harbor freight. It has lasted 10 years and only cost me $7. The fan on the gun get the egg up to 500 in about 2 minutes
McFras3r
Open
tbach24
Use a propane torch. Faster than any other method.
niff007
Had the electric starter. Upgraded (downgraded?) to a propane torch. Works like a charm.
Mediocre_Panic_9952
I do exactly like your picture shows. Chimney on the rack, lid open. Make sure the bottom vent is open and cap on the lid is off. For years I didn’t use a chimney, but I’ve come to appreciate how much faster I can get it going using a chimney.
Kavack
why are you starting it on top of the grate is my first question.
djbend01
I leave mine open. Usually have the both vents wide open and chimney resting where the charcoal lays.
FYI the charcoal chimney can get you the egg to 400 degrees in about 10 minutes. Also helps by making a large amount of charcoal actually lit. If I’m cooking direct I use the chimney every time.
Melodic-Net-3596
If I am doing something like burgers,I place the chimney on a charcoal bed with the grill out. I close the lid and set a timer for ten minutes. When I come back, I dump the coals and stir them into the others using the ash rake, put the grate and any wood in and wait for it to come up to temp. It seems quicker when I “grill” something. As opposed to smoking, which I let the egg do the work because I want it to burn slow.
CalvertSt
You don’t need a chimney and I hope you don’t burn your house down in this configuration
TravelingMatt34
Get a Benzomatic MAP torch and nix the chimney
Opening-Cress5028
You don’t need a chimney for use with a green egg. If you’ll notice how the green egg is made, it *is* a chimney. It just needs to be kept free (enough) of ashes so air can enter the bottom and exit the top.
Amazing-Reply-2495
I keep the lid open. The chimney just accelerates the speed at which charcoal burns/gets hot. You don’t need to use one but just be prepared to wait 45min-1hr for the charcoal to heat up, if you don’t. With a chimney, you’ll cut that time in half, so I’m pro chimney. Be careful not to let it burn too long as the flames will shoot up and can burn your handle.
siouxzieb
I use a chimney starter and usually would just set it on the concrete patio or the grill expander sitting on the concrete…but then recently switched to in-the-egg like your pic. Then I burned off my handle. So, well, be careful :-/
BigDaveRocks
Blazaball and some natural fire starters my guy.
Unhappy-Raspberry-11
I use a chimney when I’m straight grilling. I can get that chimney lit too to bottom in 20 min, cook burgers or chicken in 10-15 min, and then shut all the vents and save 1/2 the charcoal.
I have tried open and shut. Typically leave it open unless it’s windy AF
Bachness_monster
Open.
However if you upgrade to a kick ash basket you can start your lump directly. Either 1-2 fire starters and light with long matches/lighter, or a torch with a nozzle, from the open bottom vent
46 Comments
Do mine open
Open
Open… The whole goal of lighting charcoal is to get as much airflow as possible so the fire starts. Closing the lid would be like trying to run a marathon with a plastic shopping bag over your head.
Definitely open
The egg is it’s own chimney. I put as much charcoal as i want in the bottom, use any firestarter (i make my own with vegetable oil and twisted up paper towel), close lid and vents wide open. Lights 100% of the time. I thought everyone did it that way.
Since when do we need a chimney to light a kamado?
Here’s the only thing. I’ve done this and completely burnt my handle so don’t put it directly under the handle. I won’t use a chimney anymore because of that. I let the egg be own chimney.
So what we do with my buddies egg is put the charcoal where it goes with a starter and then we open the top vent and point a blower at the lower vent
Thanks everyone. Open it is.
I never thought about using the egg as its own chimney. I may have to try this next time.
Great thread!
We light 20 different kamados every single day at the shop I manage. We have never needed or used a starter. The egg is it’s own starter. Decent charcoal, open vents and keep the dome open until the charcoal is lit. We use tubleweed starters, 2 usually, and it takes 6 minutes until the eggs are on. Close the lid and open the top vent. Adjust when the thermometers show the desired temp. 100% fool proof.
why is this on the cooking grate?
On the ground
No need for a chimney, dump the lump in the egg and light it with a torch:) takes about 30 seconds of flame and it’s lit.
I used a chimney starter for years and I left it open. Just make sure you set it toward the back.
But now my new system is simply to load up the egg with charcoal and get the middle coals super hot with a propane weed torch. It’s fast as heck.
So… why did you buy a kamado again?
Used a chimney for years on the bottom. I usually c,ose it. Can get toasty if you leave too long but guaranteed no hassle light and go jn 10.15 min
I do mine open and I get the wife’s USB rechargeable fan and point it in the intake of the egg until it’s raging then dump in. I can usually have all the coals raging with flames shooting out the top in just a couple minutes
You don’t
do not use that chimney, the egg is not a weber
Please, clean your grate
Get some starter sticks and a lighter. Ditch the chimney
I see a structure fire in your future.
This thing is a chimney why would you need this
I learned the hard way if you close the lid that it gets hot enough to melt the rubber off the handle
I make 3 newspaper donuts and slide them over a corona bottle. Put them at the bottom of the egg. Cover with the charcoal. Pull out the bottle. Drop a match into the paper volcano. Close lid. Open vents. 5 minutes till raging inferno. 🙂
Rage bait?
I got my egg 20 years ago, and the manual directly states NOT to use one of those as it can thermally shock the egg and crack it.
I never do this. Kick Ash basket, 1 fire starter & a propane torch
Yep not necessary to use the chimney but if you do, get it away from the egg, table, house etc. Safer and easier to follow the advice of the sub and use any number of different fire starters or an electric charcoal starter
I use the little biomass cubes, and my only issue is they take a while to catch.
I use a cheap heat gun from harbor freight. It has lasted 10 years and only cost me $7. The fan on the gun get the egg up to 500 in about 2 minutes
Open
Use a propane torch. Faster than any other method.
Had the electric starter. Upgraded (downgraded?) to a propane torch. Works like a charm.
I do exactly like your picture shows. Chimney on the rack, lid open. Make sure the bottom vent is open and cap on the lid is off. For years I didn’t use a chimney, but I’ve come to appreciate how much faster I can get it going using a chimney.
why are you starting it on top of the grate is my first question.
I leave mine open. Usually have the both vents wide open and chimney resting where the charcoal lays.
FYI the charcoal chimney can get you the egg to 400 degrees in about 10 minutes. Also helps by making a large amount of charcoal actually lit. If I’m cooking direct I use the chimney every time.
If I am doing something like burgers,I place the chimney on a charcoal bed with the grill out. I close the lid and set a timer for ten minutes. When I come back, I dump the coals and stir them into the others using the ash rake, put the grate and any wood in and wait for it to come up to temp. It seems quicker when I “grill” something. As opposed to smoking, which I let the egg do the work because I want it to burn slow.
You don’t need a chimney and I hope you don’t burn your house down in this configuration
Get a Benzomatic MAP torch and nix the chimney
You don’t need a chimney for use with a green egg. If you’ll notice how the green egg is made, it *is* a chimney. It just needs to be kept free (enough) of ashes so air can enter the bottom and exit the top.
I keep the lid open. The chimney just accelerates the speed at which charcoal burns/gets hot. You don’t need to use one but just be prepared to wait 45min-1hr for the charcoal to heat up, if you don’t. With a chimney, you’ll cut that time in half, so I’m pro chimney. Be careful not to let it burn too long as the flames will shoot up and can burn your handle.
I use a chimney starter and usually would just set it on the concrete patio or the grill expander sitting on the concrete…but then recently switched to in-the-egg like your pic. Then I burned off my handle. So, well, be careful :-/
Blazaball and some natural fire starters my guy.
I use a chimney when I’m straight grilling. I can get that chimney lit too to bottom in 20 min, cook burgers or chicken in 10-15 min, and then shut all the vents and save 1/2 the charcoal.
I have tried open and shut. Typically leave it open unless it’s windy AF
Open.
However if you upgrade to a kick ash basket you can start your lump directly. Either 1-2 fire starters and light with long matches/lighter, or a torch with a nozzle, from the open bottom vent