Fill the chimney from the top, light a fire from the bottom

Yes, it’s simple: fill the chimney with charcoal, crumple newspaper underneath, light the paper, and wait 15–20 minutes.

The trick is to fill the chimney all the way to the top. Not halfway. A full chimney gives you a proper bed of hot coals. Crumple two or three sheets of newspaper loosely and shove them in the bottom compartment.

Place the chimney on a heatproof surface—the charcoal grate of your grill works, or a concrete paver if you’re doing it next to the grill. Never directly on a wooden deck or plastic table.

Light the newspaper through the holes at the bottom. A long-stemmed lighter or a match works. Don’t use lighter