My charcoal grill leaves the taste of lighter fluid...what do I do?

Instead of lighter fluid, use potato chips to light your grill. Same effect, no bad taste.

Clean the grill really well and the next time you light the charcoal , make sure that you take the grill plates off before spray lighter fluid and light the fire. Let it burn some of the fluid off before you put them back in . The coals should be white before you put the meat on the grill anyway .

I would think the coals didn't burn long enough. Need to let coals get hotter. Maybe use less fluid and coals while leaving greater space between food and hot coals.

How are starting the charcoal? Do you have a chimney starter? I recommend using the chimney and wait till the coals are gray and burning hot. Chances are you are placing food on the grill before the coals are ready and have not burned off the fluid. If you use the chimney method, no lighter fluid needed and no funky taste.

Use the chimney starter not lighter fluid

Buy a charcoal starter. You put the charcoal on top and newspapers on the bottom and light it . The draft lights the charcoal after 5 or so minutes. Then you pour the charcoal in your grill. They work really well.

let the charcoal burn longer... it will burn off. The coals should be almost white before cooking on the grill.

Let the lighter fluid burn off for a longer period of time before you cook..

Share your thoughts!

Thanks guys!!

I start my charcoal by wadding up a sheet of paper towel, dip it in about 2 to 3 tbsp of vegetable oil, and light that under my charcoal chimney. Perfect every time.