Frugal grilling tips?

[Brusselaar]

Hello all,

We're about to start renovating our house, making the kitchen a massive pain to use. As such, I'm already seeing the Q getting a lot more use (Weber 22, kettle). But I could use some of your tips on this particular topic.

WHen talking about grilling, not barbecue that takes hours - as in I come home from work, launch a fire, and prepare dinner. Does anyone have any suggestions how I can:

- Light the fire fast (faster than with the chimney?)
- Use minimum amount of charcoal (I can't lower the grill)
- Anyone ever been through something similar, if yes, any tips?

I've seen some amazing creativity over the years on this forum. So I'm looking forward to this

 

[ebijack]

- Light the fire fast (faster than with the chimney?) using 2 rutland starter blocks, I can have a white hot coals in 15 mins or less using a chimney. You could use a weed burner torch, but I find the 2 blocks get a total more coals lit faster.
- Use minimum amount of charcoal (I can't lower the grill) Snuff out your coals when done. If your actually grilling, a full chimney should be all you need. If you want really hot, throw in a couple chunks of wood. You will have fire :mrgreen:

 

[pjess50]

You could get a smaller kettle grill like a Weber jumbo joe (18.5 inches). Would use less charcoal and you'd be closer to the coals.

 

[Cliff H.]

Sometimes a gas grill is the way I go

 

[Fwismoker]

It can't take that long, I'm up and cooking in 5 minutes and that's with a real wood fire. Also you could get a griddle and like a camp chef or blackstone and mix things up with some griddle dinners.

 

[jwtseng]

Use a weedburner to light and a vortex to corral the charcoal under the grate.

http://vortexbbq.com/

 

[babrisket]

Set up the grill before you leave for work and have your wife light the fire cube 15 minutes before you get home.

 

[LostArrow]

HD has 37.2 lbs of charcoal for $10

 

[16Adams]

Let the grocery store wet age your choice of meat. Midweek small and large stores mark down meat nearing its sell by date. Grab some 40-60% off beef, pork or chicken- lots of savings on yellow tag. Use that savings to upgrade those overpriced cabinet knobs.

 

[Bludawg]

Fire first, prep second, by the time you have everything prepped the coals will be good to go dump'em have a short beer while the grate heats up commence cookin and enjoy the rest of the beer have takeout menus on standby in case of rain

 

[MisterChrister]

We had to do the same thing for about 4 months while our kitchen was completely torn apart and I remodeled it after work in the evenings. The biggest time and charcoal savings for us was realized by fully loading the grill and having plenty leftovers to quickly reheat in the microwave or use in recipes.

 

[smokin30-06]

Fire first, prep second, by the time you have everything prepped the coals will be good to go dump'em have a short beer while the grate heats up commence cookin and enjoy the rest of the beer have takeout menus on standby in case of rain

Switch to 16oz or even 24oz beers to maximize beer related efficiencies!