Using the Genesis Side Burner to light the Chimney..

[Rusty Breaux]

So if you remove the grate from the gas side burner of the Weber Genesis, a Weber Chimney fits perfectly over the burner.

Tried it once and have been doing it for the last 3 cooks. Fill the Chimney, place it on the burner, crank it to high, and 10 mins later.. WHITE FIREY COALS.

Saving the trees one old newspaper at a time.

rb

 

[Robert McGee]

Rusty;
I see little wrong with using the side burner. You might be leaving it on too long, tho' (I light my chimney with my Performer igniter and only use it for three minutes). The Performer igniter has never failed at three minutes - then wait a total of twenty minutes to dump.

When I use the Vortex, I fill it with a small chimney full of unlit, then light the igniter on the Performer for three minutes and the Vortex is ready to go at a total of fifteen minutes.

You might save a bunch of gas by trying it with shorter times on the gas.

Just a thought...

Keep on smokin',
Dale53

 

[JayHeyl]

I used to have a propane burner on a tripod stand intended for turkey frying or a big clam bake. I used it just like you mentioned to light the chimney. Like suggested above, you just need to get the charcoal going. My burner had a massive output so I usually only had to leave it on for a minute or two. If you're in a huge hurry, only fill the chimney about two-thirds full. Once it's lit, put it in the grill and tilt it a bit so you have access to the bottom of the chimney. Aim a hair dryer at the bottom and let it rip. You'll have ready-to-cook charcoal in no time. You might want to be sure you have a fire extinguisher standing by, just in case you blow some hot embers where they shouldn't go.

 

[Don Reed]

I use to do that with the cheap little sideburner Chargriller sold, the head collapsed so I only had a flame on one side and I only left the chimney on long enough to get the coals started.

 

[Rich Dahl]

I agree with the 3 minute time, that should be enough. I go and do whatever other things I need to prep for the cook and in about 20 or so minutes it's good to go.

 

[DaveW]

Hehe, be careful. I melted the metal burner/diffuser thing on my Summit's side burner. Pulled the grate, plopped down an absolutely full chimney of Kingsford and then I kind of lost track of it while doing other things. When I finally remembered and went to get it, flames were coming out the top and bottom. Handle was too hot to hold. Put on a hot glove, picked the chimney up and saw a melted deformed mass where the burner had once been.

 

[JayHeyl]

Hehe, be careful. I melted the metal burner/diffuser thing on my Summit's side burner. Pulled the grate, plopped down an absolutely full chimney of Kingsford and then I kind of lost track of it while doing other things.

Good safety tip -- don't forget you've got a fire going.

 

[Ray.S]

Saving the trees one old newspaper at a time.

rb

I look at it differently - The trees were already cut down without our choice for the junk newspapers that we get so I prefer to look at it by turning junk into something more useful

 

[Jim McKelvey]

Rusty, I do the same, but leave the grate on, works just fine. I fire up for 3-5 minutes, turn off the burner and let go for another 5 mins or so.

 

[Charles H.]

I don't remove the burner grate on my Genesis when I use it to light the chimney.
Works plenty good, I could see it working a little faster if the burner grate was removed though.

 

[ChrisV]

Count me in. I love the side burner on my Genesis and lighting a chimney is one of the things I love using it for. I agree with the others, I only leave the burner on for a for minutes and haven't found leaving the burner on does much to speed up the process. Just a waste of gas after 3-4 minutes IMO.

Its funny, I use to think a side burner on a gas grill was a stupid and pointless feature. Now I wouldn't want a grill without one!