How to light dense charcoal logs (and why they take longer)

Why dense charcoal is slower to catch

Lump charcoal is light and full of air pockets, so flame gets into it fast. A CHARBLOX log is pressed far denser than any piece of wood, then carbonized. There is more carbon in every cubic inch and less air, so it needs more heat, for longer, before it takes. Once it does, it holds that heat for hours.

“Takes an extraordinary amount of time to catch fire. Once they're “glowing” they last a long time. The trick is to be patient.”

Computercats, verified purchaser, Costco

What you need

• A charcoal chimney starter
• One natural firestarter cube, or a sheet of newspaper
• Heat-proof gloves and tongs
• Time: start well before you want to cook. In a kitchen, start before prep.

Step by step

1. Load the chimney loosely. Stand the logs up or lay them crosswise with space between them. Do not pack the chimney full: airflow is what gets dense logs going.
2. Light one firestarter underneath. Set the chimney over it on the charcoal grate.
3. Leave it alone. Do not lift or shake the chimney. Let the draft do the work.
4. Wait for the top logs to grey at the edges. This takes longer than lump. When the top layer shows ash at the edges, the whole load is going.
5. Dump and build the bed. Pour the logs out and nest the flat faces together into a tight, even bed. Add more logs around them if you need a bigger fire; they will catch from the lit ones.
6. Set temperature with the vents, not the fuel. Open for more heat, close for less, then leave the fuel alone.

The pro trick: start with yesterday's logs

Partly burned logs light faster than new ones. Put them at the bottom of the chimney and new logs on top.

“Once you are done cooking you can put the coals in an airtight container to extinguish and use again. I've been able to use the same charcoal 7×.”

Aiden, verified purchaser, Costco

More on that in how to reuse charcoal.

In a restaurant kitchen

Many kitchens light dense charcoal in a charcoal starter pan or chimney set over a gas burner under the hood. Whatever you use, start the charcoal before prep so the station is at temperature when the first tickets come in, and follow your fire code and hood requirements.

Troubleshooting

• Only the bottom logs caught: the chimney was too full. Use fewer logs and leave gaps.
• It went out after dumping: it was not ready. Wait for the grey edges on the top layer next time.
• It is smoking: dense charcoal can smoke a little while it gets going. Once it is fully lit it burns with near no smoke.
• Damp logs: charcoal absorbs moisture. Store it dry, and dry damp logs out before lighting.