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–+ servings
DIY charcoal chimney made of an empty tea box with charcoal inside
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How to Make a DIY Charcoal Chimney Starter

Learn how to make an inexpensive and disposable DIY charcoal chimney starter using only an orange juice or milk carton.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 1 DIY Charcoal Chimney
Author Mads Martigan
Cost $4

Equipment

  • Can Opener or Scissors
  • Utility Knife or Scissors
  • Lighter
  • BBQ Tongs

Ingredients

  • 1 Empty Orange Juice or Milk Carton cleaned out
  • Crumpled Newspaper
  • Charcoal

Instructions

  • Cut the top off your OJ or Milk carton
    cutting the top of an orange juice carton
  • Clean and wipe out the inside with a paper towel
    the top cut off an orange juice carton
  • Punch or cut small holes around the perimeter of the base of the carton, about 3-4 on each side.
    poking holes in DIY charcoal chimney
  • Place some crumpled newspaper at the bottom of the carton
    newspaper in a DIY charcoal chimney
  • Fill on top of the newspaper with dry, fresh charcoal
    filling a cardboard carton DIY charcoal chimney with charcoal
  • Place the filled carton on your grill and light the newspaper through one of the holes with the lighter.
    lighting a DIY charcoal chimney
  • Let the entire carton and newspaper burn away as the chimney lights, about 15 minutes.
    an orange juice carton charcoal chimney igniting
  • Spread the lit charcoal around using BBQ tongs.