If you own or are going to buy a charcoal grill or barbeque setup fueled by charcoal, you need to add another item in your essential equipment that is the chimney starter. Many beginners might think that the charcoal grill can just be started by adding charcoal and a bit of petroleum or some other catalyst to start burning, but it is not that simple.
Charcoal does not start burning easily and takes a long time, especially in winter and rainy season. It is possible to speed up the process by adding a little bit of chemical fuel in the mixture, but it can turn out to be very harmful in the long run. Hence, you need a chimney starter to heat up your coal beforehand. Here’s what you need to look for in a chimney starter:
- Material: The build quality of a chimney starter is highly dependent on the material used for its outer body. As for our picks, you can find metal chimney starters that are the best in comparison with other material builds. Still, make sure you take a look at build quality thoroughly before buying a chimney starter.
- Size: The amount of coal you can put at once in the chimney starter depends upon its size. If you have a large charcoal grill, you will surely need a large amount of charcoal to start up the barbeque. Hence, buying a bigger chimney starter is always advantageous.
- Time to heat charcoal: The time required to heat the charcoal might differ for different options as it depends upon the charcoal capacity, design aspect, air ventilation, etc. Make sure you check out the manufacturer’s word about how long it will take to heat charcoal in the chimney starter for a vague idea.
There are tons of different chimney starters available in the market where each starter is feasible for a certain type of customer. Whether it is the size of the starter or the time required to heat the coal, you need to get the perfect match according to your charcoal grill for the best results. To help you with that, we are bringing you the best chimney starters available in India right now.
Here, you can read about all of the best chimney starters in detail and decide which one is best for you. We will also include a Buying Guide and a FAQ section later in the article. So make sure you read the article completely so that you do not miss out on any important detail.
Table of Contents
5 Best Chimney Starters In India
| Chimney Starters | Time to heat charcoal | Weight | Coal capacity | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabrilla BBQ Chimney Starter | 5 mins | 748 g | 250 grams | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Weber Metal Chimney Starter Large Rapidfire | 15 mins | 1.5 Kg | ~500 grams | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Krevia Steel Barbecue Fire Starter Grill | 5 to 6 minutes | 1 Kg | 250 grams | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Flareon BBQ/Barbecue Fire Starter Kit | 10 minutes | 1.6 Kg | 550 grams | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Sapretailer BBQ Charcoal Chimney Starter | Under 10 minutes | - | ~275 grams | CHECK ON AMAZON |
5 Best Chimney Starters In India Reviews
1. Fabrilla BBQ Chimney Starter
Specifications
- Colour: Black
- Coal capacity: 250 grams
- Time to heat up coal: 5 minutes
- Weight: 748 g
Fabrilla is a very affordable brand when it comes to camping equipment and other essential items. You can get a variety of barbeque based items from Fabrilla at a cheaper price like this chimney starter.
In the 1st position, we have placed the most affordable option from our picks of the best chimney starters in India, which is the Fabrilla BBQ Chimney Starter (Black). This starter is completely made out of iron and has a shiny black color on all sides.
When it comes to coal-based products, it is best to choose black or darker colors as any light color is destined to become dark after prolonged coal burning. With Fabrilla BBQ Chimney Starter, you will get the option to use your gas stove to heat up the coal that cuts the heating time down to 5 minutes.
You can see a wooden handle is placed on the side of the chimney starter to let you easily carry it around whenever required. As the handle is made out of wood, it will not get heated up while coal is burning so you can safely hold the starter. It is also placed far away from the core of the starter to reduce the radiated heating effect. In a single run, Fabrilla BBQ Chimney Starter allows you to heat up to 250 grams of coal without any delay in heating speed.
Pros:
- It is an affordable chimney starter
- The heating speed is very fast
- Very light in weight
Cons:
- Build quality could be better
- Not suitable for regular outside use
2. Weber Metal Chimney Starter Large Rapidfire
Specifications
- Colour: Silver
- Coal capacity: ~500 grams
- Time to heat up coal: 15 minutes
- Weight: 1.5 Kg
Weber is probably the most popular name on our list and received a ton of positive feedback from its satisfied customers. Hence, we have included a chimney starter from Weber next on our list.
In the 2nd position, we have rather a premium chimney starter that is the Weber Metal Chimney Starter Large Rapidfire. With a metal outer body, the Weber Metal Chimney Starter weighs approximately 1.5 Kg, which might be a bit heavy considering up to 5000 grams of charcoal that can be put in the chimney at once.
But, you can carry it around either via the given heatproof handle on the side or an extended moveable hook on top for an easy grip. The time required to heat up the coal is pretty low on this chimney starter due to its ventilation friendly design approach.
The core has a cone-shaped structure that makes sure that flames reach all of the charcoal easily so that the heating does not take long. You can see a ventilation grill on the lower portion of the starter as well as on the side of the starter for a perfect air transfer that helps in burning the coal.
As for the handling, there is a sturdy metal handle on the side which is protected by a heat shield to make it easier for you to carry it and pour coal on your charcoal grill. As it is a premium option, it has a very durable build quality and resistance to bending and deformation.
Pros:
- Premium chimney starter
- Can contain up to 500 grams of coal
- Durable build quality
Cons:
- The price tag is a bit too high in comparison
- It is a heavy chimney starter
3. Krevia Steel Barbecue Fire Starter Grill
Specifications
- Colour: Black
- Coal capacity: 250 grams
- Time to heat up coal: 5 to 6 minutes
- Weight: 1 Kg
You might not have heard about Krevia before, as it is not a popular name in the market as of now. But, you should check out its value for money chimney starter that we are mentioning below.
If you are looking for the best chimney starter under an affordable budget, then your search ends here. The Krevia Steel Barbecue Fire Starter Grill is one of the most affordable options from the market right now with a very interesting set of features.
Under a small investment, you can completely remove any need for synthetic fuel and firelighters as you can heat up to 250 grams of coal on this chimney starter in just under 5 minutes. It is surely one of the quickest and easiest ways to heat up the charcoal for your barbeque.
Talking about the build quality of this chimney starter, it is spectacular that you will get a sheet metal formed chimney starter under a very small budget with an overall weight of 1 Kg. There are separate holes on the lower portion of the chimney to allow upward airflow from the bottom, and there, the built-in grill also has holes so that air reaches charcoal easily to allow efficient burning.
As for carrying it around, it has a wooden handle and a dedicated heat shield to let you carry it and put it safely in the barbeque once it is ready and red hot.
Pros:
- Value for money option
- Wooden handle along with a heat shield
- Comparatively lightweight
Cons:
- Sheet metal tends to bend upon impact
- Coal capacity is less
4. Flareon BBQ/Barbecue Fire Starter KitÂ
Specifications
- Colour: Silver
- Coal capacity: 550 grams
- Time to heat up coal: 10 minutes
- Weight: 1.6 Kg
Flareon is a comparatively fresh brand in the market and ready to compete with many big brands with its premium quality products. Hence, we will recommend this heavy-duty chimney starter from Flareon.
Next, we have another heavy duty chimney starter with a robust build quality. The Flareon BBQ/Barbecue Fire Starter Kit for Grilling Rapidfire Chimney is made out of galvanized steel so that it has a very high shock and abrasion resistance.
As steel is also highly resilient against corrosion, you will not have to worry about corrosion due to constant washing and moisture contact. Also, the galvanization process increases the material’s ability to withstand high temperatures. Hence, it can tolerate high coal temperatures without any problem.
You can find a metal handle on the side that is encased in plastic so that it stays cool even when the chimney starter is burning to let you pick it up and pour coal safety into the barbeque. The air ventilation system on this chimney starter is also very good because of the open design aspect so that you will not need an air blower to heat up the coal quickly.
You can get a couple more items from Flareon, such as Flareon briquettes and Flareon lighter cubes, that will help you get started under a matter of minutes without any gas stove whatsoever.
Pros:
- Body material is good
- High corrosion resistant
- Does not get damaged easily
Cons:
- Price tag higher in comparison
- Heavy option
5. Sapretailer BBQ Charcoal Chimney Starter
Specifications
- Colour: Silver
- Coal capacity: ~275 grams
- Time to heat up coal: Under 10 minutes
- Weight: –
SapRetailer is also one of the least familiar names on our list. But, it has a great chimney starter that you should check out right now.
In the end, we have another versatile chimney starter from SapRetailer. With a silver color finish, you get all of the essential aspects covered with this chimney starter. It has a coal storage capacity of around 275 grams that can be heated under 10 minutes under ideal heating conditions.
They have also provided a plastic handle on the side that is absolutely necessary to pick up the starter and pour the charcoal wherever necessary. To heat the coal, you can simply place this starter on your gas stove and let the heating begin automatically without any extra chemical medium.
It is a perfect choice if you want a good design along with the quickest, easiest, and cleanest way to heat up your coal without needing any additional resources other than charcoal and a high-temperature flame. And as you can see it has a very ergonomic design, you will surely get the coals ready for cooking without any hassle. Even inside, it has an evenly holed grill that allows even temperature distribution for efficient coal-burning that reduces overall heating time.
Pros:
- Great design
- Handle is sturdy
Cons:
- Build quality could be better
Buying Guide For The Best Chimney Starter
Even though you can use chemical fuel to start your barbeque right away, it is recommended to heat up the coal beforehand. There are various reasons for getting a decent chimney starter, such as a positive effect on health, faster coal burning, overall ease in operation, etc. Now that we have mentioned most of the details available for our top picks for the best chimney starters in India.
Make sure you read the following buying guide so that you can get the right option according to your needs. Here, we will be explaining the basic properties of a chimney starter in a little depth so that you can get an idea about which option can turn out to be the most useful chimney starter for you.
1. Material
There are several different materials builds available in the market when you look for chimney starters. But, you must choose a better material build for high durability and reliability for a very long time.
As chimney starters are constantly heated up, the material should be able to withstand high temperatures without causing any physical or chemical change on the outer body. Also, a better build material helps with a lot of environmental factors such as corrosion resistance that might become a problem after prolonged usage.
2. Coal Capacity
If you own a large-sized barbeque, then you need a similarly large chimney starter as the amount of coal you will need for cooking will be high. With a large chimney starter, you can preheat a higher quantity of coal and keep putting it in the barbeque so that it does not get cooled down quickly.
Also, make sure that coal is getting heated up at a faster rate irrespective of the coal capacity as it also affects the overall cooking speed of the barbeque and ruins the fun as you will have to wait a lot for coal to be ready.
3. Chimney Design
The design aspect of a chimney starter determines how easily you will be able to use it. For starters, you should look for an extended handle with a separate heat shield, so that heat of the burning coal does not reach your hand. Prefer wooden handles as they allow a higher resistance to temperature as compared with the metal handles with plastic encasing.
Also, if the chimney starter has a moveable secondary handle on top, it helps a lot to give a tight grip while pouring in the charcoal.
4. Heating speed
No one likes to wait a long time if all of your friends have gathered already and ready to begin the barbeque session. The heating speed for each chimney starter is different, as it highly depends on the design approach that varies with each option.
For the fastest performance, make sure you go with an air ventilation friendly design as it helps to burn the coal faster without needing any extra equipment. Few brands in the market also sell dedicated lighter cubes that burn at a very high temperature that helps to burn coal within minutes. That will surely increase the heating speed of the chimney starter and get the coal ready even sooner.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answer is yes. If you own a charcoal grill or any other charcoal powered burning equipment, you need to get a dedicated chimney starter. As you may already know, charcoal does not start burning easily. It is pretty hard to burn large quantities of charcoal, especially in the moist and cold seasons. With a chimney starter, you can directly put coal on your gas stove and get started quickly and eliminate the long waiting time.
Well, you will be glad to know that having a chimney starter has a very positive impact on your health if you are a regular barbeque user. Generally, you will need to add some sort of chemicals like petroleum or kerosene to start burning the coal in barbeque. These chemical compounds create a bad smell that ruins the taste of the food, which is going to be grilled on the barbeque.
Also, inhaling the toxic fumes made by petroleum will kill your appetite and have hazardous effects in the long run. But, having a chimney starter completely eliminates the need for chemical compounds and thus helps in adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Dealing with high-temperature coal, you will have to be as safe as possible. And choosing a good chimney starter is surely a step towards user safety as most of the chimney starters come with a heatproof handle and a heat shield that prevents contact with the hot surface.
Pouring the coal might be a little unsafe as it is already burning, but this can be prevented with an extra grip that you can get with a moveable secondary handle available on certain chimney starters.
Conclusion
If you have made it to this part of our article, we will assume that you have read about all of our top picks and the buying guide that will surely let you understand chimney starters in detail. Make sure you also check out our FAQ section mentioned above so that you can clear any doubt that you might have regarding the chimney starters mentioned in our article.
Although, if you are confused between a couple of different options, here are our best recommendations. These recommendations are based on the majority of common needs of a lot of customers so we can assure you can easily pick one out of our top choices and it will be sufficient for all your needs.
- First of all, we will suggest the Fabrilla BBQ Chimney Starter (Black) as it is the most affordable option on our list, and you can buy it right away without thinking twice. Even though it has a cheaper price tag, it is made out of Iron and capable of heating up to 250 grams of coal in just under 5 minutes.
- As durability is a major concern for a lot of people, our next recommendation for you is the Flareon BBQ/Barbecue Fire Starter Kit for Grilling Rapidfire Chimney – Black. It is a somewhat heavier option on our list that weighs nearly 1.6 Kg that can confirm its decent build quality and durability. Made out of galvanized steel, this chimney starter can heat up the coal in just a matter of minutes.
- Lastly, we will recommend the most value for the money option available in the market, which is the Krevia Steel Barbecue Fire Starter Grill. This chimney starter also comes at a very affordable price tag while giving you a satisfying set of specifications. There is a separate heat shield near the handle too, so that you can carry the chimney starter while it is running.
Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. You can also post any questions down there if you have any!
