The art of knowing how to light a charcoal barbecue in the shortest possible time and with minimum effort is not something that always comes naturally. In fact, on many occasions, gusts of wind, haste, or the lack of skill of the person undertaking this seemingly simple task influence the final good result much more than imagined. For this reason, and now that the good spring weather encourages planning this type of weekend activity, at EL PAÍS Escaparate we have found the ideal accessory: it is the best-selling barbecue lighter on Amazon today.
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It has more than 700 ratings on the e-commerce giant’s platform and an exceptional score: 4.7 out of 5 stars. This is due to the positive aspects of both its design and its functionality, making it an essential product for this type of outdoor activity: “Essential for those of us who don’t know how: it heats the coals, works fast, and is of good quality,” notes one buyer.
What are the advantages of using a barbecue lighter?
Although the classic method for lighting a barbecue involves using a pyramid of charcoal or wood and igniting it from its base with paper or firelighters, using a barbecue lighter allows the same procedure to be done, but in a safer and more uniform way. Its potential benefits include the following:
- It lights faster: the complete process takes no more than 20 minutes.
- No need for flammable liquids: this enhances the safety of the person handling the barbecue and those around them.
- Cleaner and more homogeneous embers are achieved: something fundamental that allows cooking with more exhaustive temperature control.
Efficient barbecue lighter with heat-resistant handle
Unlike other barbecue and fireplace lighters, this model has a robust construction and all its details contribute to achieving faster and high-combustion embers. This is due to the design of its side ventilation holes, both in its middle and lower parts, of different sizes: they are designed to allow constant and fluid air circulation inside the metal cylinder.
“It fulfills its purpose and has enough space to put the necessary charcoal for a barbecue with a capacity for up to six people,” comments one user. It is an accessory capable of lighting briquettes or charcoal in just a few minutes and always safely. It has a main handle screwed to one of its sides that offers good thermal insulation and a second foldable handle for gripping with two hands.
Barbecue lighter: prepare the embers in just three steps
Another advantage of using such a device compared to any type of grill or barbecue (whether built-in, foldable, or any other type) is that it accomplishes its mission in just minutes, without the need for prior experience in this context. Only three simple steps are required, which we share below:
- Place paper or firelighters at the bottom. Additionally, some dry leaves, pine cones, or small dry branches can be added.
- Next, light everything with a lighter or another type of igniter. After this, just wait for the coals to become incandescent.
- Finally, after the so-called chimney effect has occurred, whereby the charcoal ignites from bottom to top, all that remains is to carefully pour it into the barbecue.
Frequently asked questions about barbecue lighters
What size is this barbecue lighter?
This barbecue starter, also known as a chimney starter, has a large capacity (30 centimeters in height with a diameter of 17 centimeters) and a weight that does not exceed 1.6 kilograms.
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What material is this barbecue starter made of?
Stainless steel has been used as the main element in its construction.
Is it ideal to use hand protection when pouring the embers into the barbecue?
Managing the entire cooking process around a barbecue requires adequately protecting our hands: something that is easier if special gloves are chosen for this purpose.
Is there an ideal product for grilling vegetables?
That’s right. At EL PAÍS Escaparate, we discovered a perfect accessory some time ago: it’s a set of two rollers as an ideal complement to add a tasty and healthy touch to a magnificent barbecue plan.
[Remember that if you are an Amazon Prime user, all purchases have free shipping costs. Amazon offers a free and no-obligation trial period for 30 days.]
*All purchase prices included in this article are updated as of April 23, 2026.
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