***I received a free product to facilitate an honest review. All opinions are 100% mine.***
So I finally did it. I bought my first charcoal grill. It’s perfect. I found it at Aldi for just $30. Back in Los Angeles I used a gas grill throughout the year. A gas grill is simple: Hook up the fuel, turn it on, and cook and clean up quickly. You get more consistent heat, and temperature control is easy.
Then we moved to Nashville and a grill was the last thing on my mind. But since grilling is crucial to summer cooking (and Aldi had an amazing deal), I had to get one. Aldi had a nice 21.5″ kettle charcoal grill which offers a more authentic grilled flavor than a gas grill. The cooking surface is big enough for at least 12 burgers yet compact enough to fit on my patio. The grill has an ash catcher and wheels for portability. It took about two hours to assemble the grill. The instructions were a little unclear but I got it done.
To be honest, I was a little reluctant to get a charcoal grill. There’s no button you can push to start it, no knob to turn up or down the heat. And then there’s the lighter fluid situation. I’m not a fan of lighter fluid and certainly didn’t want a gasoline scented burger.
Turns out I didn’t have to use lighter fluid or a starter chimney at all. The nice folks at HomeRight let me try their ElectroLight Fire Starter. With this tool, grilling is super easy. It literally takes 2-3 minutes to light the charcoal. How? The ElectroLight uses super high 1300°F temperature air to ignite, then fans the flames with built-in blower.
The best part, the ElectroLight is so easy to use. Let me show you.
Step #1: Place enough charcoal on the grill, then stack the charcoal into a rough pyramid shape.
Step #2: Pull the red trigger and touch the ElectroLight tip of the barrel to the charcoal. In less than 30 seconds you’ll see sparks.
Step #3: Pull the tip of the ElectroLight slightly away. The blower will continue to fan the flame.
Step #4: In 3 to 5 minutes the coal will be ready to cook on. Once most the coals are covered with white ash, go ahead and spread the coals to cover the surface of your grate evenly.
Step #5: Place the grate in position; you are ready to start grilling.
My first time cooking on a charcoal grill was this easy.
Charcoal grilling is well worth the extra effort. If you apply a little patience, a charcoal grill can probably cook some of the most flavorful, mouth-watering meals. I can’t wait to grill steak.
We loved the burgers. My 12-year-old ate three. Yup. He is a growing 5’8 boy who is always hungry. Our Billy got a taste of charcoal grilling too and he approves.
In the past, I have tried other HomeRight products. I have to say I truly love and still use all of them. If you’re interested, you can see my HomeRight product reviews here and here.
Here’s your chance to win the awesome ElectroLight. Good luck and happy grilling!
Do you use a charcoal or gas grill?
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