starting your charcoal in vortex

[zombini]

How does everyone start the charcoal in their vortex? I have started in my charcoal starter using newspaper to get going, then dumped into vortex. Last night I put paper inside of kettle under charcoal grate, then set vortex over the top and lit the paper.

[Richtee]

I use a chimney- and my turkey fryer... but that method sounds pretty slick. Any trouble with paper ash tho?

[zombini]

No didnt notice any. I did it that way because in ddaves photo I thought it looked like paper under is vortex.

[HawgHeaven]

I use a chimney- and my turkey fryer... but that method sounds pretty slick. Any trouble with paper ash tho?

X2... coals are lit in minutes!

[Doug S.]

I use a chimney- and my turkey fryer... but that method sounds pretty slick. Any trouble with paper ash tho?

X3

[ThunderDome]

I use starter cubes in the center of the coals.

OR i put some veg oil on a paper towel under the grate

OR i use the looftlighter in the Vortex which is same idea as weed burner (don't see need for 2nd chimney)

[L20A]

I use the performer gas starter & it works great.

[Conumdrum]

I use the performer gas starter & it works great.

Yep, it works like a charm eh?

[Ozric]

I use the performer gas starter & it works great.

Same here with my Performer.

One extra thing I do is if I'm using the Vortex for searing or other use (doing some peg legs later today!) with the small end up (can anyone say "jet blast"? ), is I immediately shut down the kettle after I'm finished to retain as much fuel as possible. I leave the Vortex in place. Next time, before lighting, I give the coals remaining a good stir to knock any ash out, top off with fresh charcoal and follow the standard lighting procedure for a chimney in the Performer (5 minutes gas/25-30 minutes fire up).

Want to get going faster? Hit the fresh top coals with a Looftlighter or weed burner and then fire up the gas starter. I don't do that; I wind up with less remaining coals. Besides, I use the start up time for other things. And often, I'm sous-viding the meat, so I just time the start-up to be ready when I'm pulling the meat out of the SVS.

[tenacious bee]

Chimney and dump here. I may do the paper towel sprayed with Pam thing next time out.

[Abelman]

Not that it makes any difference at this point but I have tried a lot of these. I think chimneys are great but between young kids and dogs, well. However, an oil sprinkled paper towel under that is the next best thing to my favorite.

What I like best, the Looftlighter. Just perfect for a thin air environment and the BGE. The fan action after lighting is great. It's the fastest way I have found to light a fire and to the degree I want it lit meaning for a 225° smoke to a 700° steak sear.

I'm still amazed at how well it works and even comes with a bottle opener attached

[ThunderDome]

Not that it makes any difference at this point but I have tried a lot of these. I think chimneys are great but between young kids and dogs, well. However, an oil sprinkled paper towel under that is the next best thing to my favorite.

What I like best, the Looftlighter. Just perfect for a thin air environment and the BGE. The fan action after lighting is great. It's the fastest way I have found to light a fire and to the degree I want it lit meaning for a 225° smoke to a 700° steak sear.

I'm still amazed at how well it works and even comes with a bottle opener attached

Well said. I 2nd that.

Hard to justify using a 'chimney' to pour the coals into a 'chimney' (Vortex)

[Richtee]

Hard to justify using a 'chimney' to pour the coals into a 'chimney' (Vortex)

Unless you have a chimney already I don't want burnt paper ash in my grill, and don't like the smell of Pam burning. Gas me!

[notbobvilla]

I'm lazy... just torch and cook...about 3 minutes for lump to start and stay lit.

[DDave]

I did it that way because in ddaves photo I thought it looked like paper under is vortex.

Yup. There was. That's the way I light it. Newspaper under the charcoal grate, Vortex with charcoal within on top of that.

Light the newspaper and drink a beer while the charcoal gets going.

I actually light my UDS that way when I do high heat chicken or tri tip cooks. Newspaper under the charcoal basket loaded with a chimney and a half or so of charcoal. Works like a gigantic charcoal chimney.

Dave