I'm cooking some fajitas today for Father's Day. I got some real mesquite charcoal from one of those little Mexican grocery stores, but I don't think I'm supposed to use lighter fluid. The bag says to use the "starter dust", but I don't even know what the heck starter dust is. Can I use lighter fluid? newspaper? I've never really used this stuff before, and I wanted to see if the flavor was any better. I start grilling at 1:00, so the clock is ticking. Thanks!
I use natural chunk charcoal and lighter fluid to light it. Some people use chimneys but I don't have one and have not learned to use one. Never heard of starter dust either.
Charcoal chimneys rock. Just fill it with charcoal, stuff a couple of pieces of newspaper in the bottom, light it up, and your golden. I'm so glad I don't have to use lighter fluid anymore.
mesquite wood chips? Get some normal charcoal and light them up. Soak about 5-10 of the mesquite blocks and toss them onto the charcoal. Two at a time. If you just use the mesquite chips, it will burn much hotter than you're used to, and you'll more than likely have a lot of burnt meat. Mesquite chips should be used as a flavor enhancer.
You would still soak the chunks and add them to the charcoal. Wood burns much hotter than you really want if you're grilling.
No, no, no. I think he is using this: It's already charcoal not wood. He would not soak it if it is this.
Yeah...It's not the "briquettes". It actually looks like wood. And a fire for grilling can never be too hot, IMO. Grilling is supposed to involve high heat. The fajitas are going to be on the grill for only a couple minutes on each side. My dad has an extra chimney that he's going to let me have, so I think I'll use that and see how it goes. Anybody that knows what the heck "starter dust" is, please let me know. It might be useful...
The natural charcoal kicks major ass! It burns a lot hotter and longer than the sawdust stuff. I have seen the light!
