Kingsford Charcoal Lighter vs. the Chimney Throw Down and Dinner


 
Rich Dahl

Rich Dahl

R.I.P. 7/21/2024
After the post by Brain on using lighter fluid to light your coals in your performer. HERE I thought just for giggles I would do a comparison test. Kingsford lighter fluid vs. the Weber small chimney with Weber’s starter cube to see which would get to cooking temperature first. Why the chimney and not use the gas assist on the performer, well not everyone has a performer.
So I wanted to just try and make a comparison between what I thought would be the two most common ways of lighting coals. I also know us forum folks don’t use lighter fluid very much but there still is a lot of people using it out there, but hey it’s just for giggles anyway.

Also wanted to see if the lighter fluid made a difference in the taste of the food.

So here goes.

The environment.

80 degrees
5500 feet elevation
Light breeze

The players.

Two Smokey Joes
Each with 35 KBB coals
One with a small chimney and a Weber starter cube underneath
The other used Kingsford charcoal lighting fluid per the directions.
The directions must have been written by Kingsford’s lawyers,
“Use 1.6 fluid ounces per pound of charcoal” Yeah you bet, wait while I go get a scale and a measuring cup.

Both were lit at the same time.
Lots of white smoke from the chimney, no smoke from the Kingsford Charcoal Lighter
Chimney’s coals were all ashed over at 25 minutes, the Kingsford were at about 50% at 25 minuets
Finally the Kingsford coals were mostly ashed over at 40 minutes.

Taste.
I cooked two small sirloin beef hamburger patties, one on each grill. The patties were unseasoned so that the seasoning wouldn’t interfere with the taste.

Results.

Neither Barb nor I could detect any difference in the flavor of the meat.
The chimney was by far the faster way to light the coals.
The Kingsford said it was odorless. Not! Barb could even smell it inside the house.
The cool fun factor, the Kingsford lighter fluid wins that one for sure.
Brought back a lot of memories.

Yes we did cook our dinner burgers on the SJ with the chimney start, wasn’t taking any chances.

S1034456_zpssw7lyeja.jpg

S1034457_zpsjeaguggd.jpg

S1034459_zpsn4o9zheo.jpg

S1034462_zps7vuaiwza.jpg

Lots of white smoke from the chimney none from the lighter fluid
S1034466_zpsrntawndg.jpg

After 25 minutes the chimney coals were all ashed over the lighter fluid one about 50%.
S1034472_zps0h4bog6u.jpg

S1034475_zpsay0h0kpq.jpg

Lighter fluid coals at 40 minutes.
S1034479_zpsmakveloy.jpg

Two small burgers for the test.
S1034481_zpsfj3axfgs.jpg

S1034482_zps7woczuks.jpg
 
Cool experiment. Those burgers look darn good as well. Love the pickle slices.

I need me a Smokey Joe.
 
I agree, cool experiment, thanks for taking the time and sharing it with us. I use a few matchlight briquettes, about 5-6 in my chimney, then I use regular Kingsford coals on top, help speeds up my coals. America's test kitchen does this, I can not tell that I used the matchlight, it all burns off. Burgers looks tasty. PS I'm at 4800ft in the San Bernardino mtns, I've been to your neck of the woods back in 2009 :).
 
Thanks for the hard work Rich. I guess it had to be done. Until the original thread, I hadn't thought about lighter fluid in a VERY long time.
 
So, the debate ends. Thanks to you and Barb for taking the time to do this.

It'd be interesting to test (under the same conditions) what happens when you use lighter fluid and the chimney together, strictly from a time standpoint. I'll be the combination is pretty quick.
 
Rich, how can you possibly call this test fair? One SJ has a wood handle and the other is plastic...... :-).
 
I assume this cook was done on Friday, which was National Cheeseburger Day.
Great way to celebrate, and do your homework assignment.
Super looking burgers, and thanks for sharing your experiment!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

 

Back
Top