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Hot take: lighter fluid on charcoal is fine for quick cooks
I know the purists say you gotta use a chimney starter every time. But I fired up my smoker last Saturday in about 8 minutes flat using lighter fluid on a bag of Kingsford briquettes. The ribs came out great, good smoke ring, no chemical taste. Did I miss something or is this just another snob rule that doesn't matter for a 4 hour cook?
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paulnguyen4mo ago
Nah, you're fine, flavor's in the meat not the starter.
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charlie1984mo ago
Wait, what's the deal with people acting like lighter fluid is gonna RUIN a cook? @paulnguyen hit it right, the flavor comes from the meat and the rub, not the match light trick. I've done dozens of lazy Saturday briskets using a quick drizzle of fluid on the coals, let it burn off for a few minutes, then cook as normal. No weird aftertaste, no fuss, just hot coals ready to go in under 10 minutes. Chimney starters are great for control but for a fast weekday meal? Light the fluid, shut up, and eat. If you're using lump charcoal maybe skip it since that stuff burns pure, but for Kingsford briquettes? Perfectly fine.
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