Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter
Product Information, Not A Review
Quick Specs
What Stands Out
What To Check
A chimney starter is a steel tube with a grate near the bottom. Charcoal goes in the top, a couple sheets of newspaper or a starter cube go underneath, and the draft pulls the fire up through the coals. When the top layer ashes over, you pour them into the grill. No lighter fluid, no fuel smell on the food.
The Rapidfire is Weber's standard size chimney, and it is one of the most popular charcoal chimneys on Amazon.
The Numbers That Matter
1.6 gallons, about 5.7 lb of briquettes. Per Weber, that is the capacity. It is enough charcoal for a full load in a kettle, which is the cook most dads are lighting it for.
Aluminized steel with a cone-shaped grate. The body material and grate shape are what Weber lists.
Two handles. The main handle has a heat shield, and a flip-up helper handle gives your second hand something to hold when you tip a load of hot coals. Weber still recommends gloves when it is hot, and so do we.
| Spec | What it decides |
|---|---|
| About 5.7 lb of briquettes | Whether one load covers a full kettle cook |
| Helper handle | Whether the pour is controlled or a guess |
| 12.5 in tall | Where it stores between cooks |
Who It Is For
The dad with a charcoal kettle or smoker who wants to stop using lighter fluid. It is also a good first charcoal tool for a son learning the grill, since the process is easy to teach: fill, light, wait, pour. If you already run a gas grill only, you do not need it.
Once the coals are down, clean the grate with the Grill Rescue bristle free brush and check doneness with the TempPro TempSwift PLUS thermometer. A chimney of hot coals is also the way to heat a Lodge 12 inch cast iron skillet for a sear. For a monthly box of sauces and rubs to put on the fire, see Grill Masters Club.
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The Short Version
A charcoal chimney is the first tool out at a charcoal cook, and this is Weber's standard size: about 5.7 lb of briquettes, aluminized steel, and a helper handle for a controlled pour. I would point a dad who is still squirting lighter fluid on a kettle here. Buy a pair of grill gloves with it.
MIKE MANNING
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