starting charcoal

[omykee]

OK guys ,,, once the briquets have started to catch fire in a weber kettle , are you supposed to put the top on with vents top and bottom fully open to get convention for the coals or leave top off until the coals are white .. please dont laugh

[rb]

OK guys ,,, once the briquets have started to catch fire in a weber kettle , are you supposed to put the top on with vents top and bottom fully open to get convention for the coals or leave top off until the coals are white .. please dont laugh

First of all get a charcoal chimney starter and some cubes. You can find these at Lowes hardware. Fill the chimney with charcoal and place the cubes under it. Light the cubes and in twenty minutes you'll have a good fire. Have the bottom vents on the grill fully open. Dump the burning coals in the grill and spread them out but leave an area without coals to leave you a cool zone to move your food. Place top grill on on cover with the top with the vent open.

[boneil]

I always left the top off until the coals turn white. Sometimes a little sooner depending on time.

[plbass]

On my WSM i'll fill charcoal ring and then push it to the sides like a birds nest. When the chimney stater heats I pour the coals in the center. Let it run wide open for a few then start closing the vents. Once I get to temp i'll add meat and adjust vents as I go. I don't use the temp gauge on the lid but use a separate temp probe.

[XingEyeballs]

Light, white and glowing, scrape the grate, then cover.