Easily Fire Up The Grill With A Genius Egg Carton Hack

Grilling is fun and easy, but there are still some parts of it that are a pain to deal with, especially if you're still learning the ropes. One of the things I've heard people complain about most is actually firing the grill up to begin with. Anyone who has ever fired up a charcoal grill knows the struggle of getting the coals to light evenly. You stand there with matches or a lighter, maybe some crumpled newspaper, and still end up with half-lit coals that you're trying to arrange properly for even grilling, but they refuse to cooperate. The go-to move for most people is to reach for lighter fluid purely out of frustration, but it can leave a chemical taste on your food and create unpleasant smoke. Thankfully, there's a simple, natural trick to get your grill to light: using a cardboard egg carton.

What I love most about this method is that it's simple and clean. You'd start by emptying out a cardboard egg carton and placing charcoal pieces into each of the cups where eggs would normally sit. These small compartments cradle the coals perfectly, allowing them to heat up at the same time. Cut the short sides off the carton to allow for better airflow and light the edges. The cardboard acts as a natural fire starter, catching quickly and helping your coals ignite without the need for chemical fluids. Within minutes, the fire will spread to all the charcoal pieces, creating an even, reliable base of heat. By the time the flames burn down and the coals develop that thin white layer of ash, you'll be ready to grill. This method is simple, mess-free, and gives you that perfect grilling heat without altering the taste of your food.

This hack is quite simple, but it's important to do it correctly to keep things safe and effective. Make sure you have enough briquettes to begin with; that's rule number one, as it would be awful to run out when grilling. Beyond that, you have to use a cardboard carton — never styrofoam or plastic — because they release toxic fumes when burned, and those fumes can seep into your food or even pose a safety hazard. It's also safer than lighter fluid, which can produce a sharp chemical odor, leave a faint taste on your food, and create unnecessary smoke. Handling lighter fluid can also be messy and potentially dangerous if not used carefully. In contrast, cardboard burns cleanly and reliably, making it perfect for this method.

As the carton burns away, the coals will slowly begin to glow and catch fire. You'll notice that this method helps them light evenly without a lot of hassle. If you're planning on a longer cook, you can sprinkle additional charcoal over the ignited coals once the first batch is burning well.