How to Light Your Grill: Preparing the Fire

If you’ve finished setting up your grill but you're left wondering the best way to fire it up, check out our tips and tricks below.

Quality Fuel for a Quality Grill

The most important element of any Argentine Asado is obviously the fire! For the best results, use high-quality hardwood charcoal or wood splits. These will produce great embers and coals, enhancing the flavours of whatever you choose to cook on your grill.

Building your Fire

To get your fire started, it’s similar to lighting a log burner or open fire. Place wood kindling in a pyramid shape inside the firebox. Add a couple of pieces of charcoal (if you're using) and a few smaller splits.

Place a natural firelighter in the centre of the pyramid. Firelighters are a quick and easy way to ignite your charcoal or wood. Avoid using standard firelighters or other chemicals as they can ruin the wood aromas and leave an unpleasant taste on your food. If you don’t have any natural firelighters, use paper, cardboard, or old egg boxes.

Light the Fire

Using long matches or a lighter, light the firelighters. Allow them to burn for a few minutes until the kindling starts to catch fire. Kindling lights faster and supports the larger logs as the fire builds.

Add Larger Wood Splits

Once the kindling is well-lit, start stacking on the hard firewood. Add slowly but over a short period of time. Let the wood burn and fully combust. This can take up to 30 minutes, so don’t rush it. Allow the wood to fully burn and produce hot embers/coals for your Asado.

Distribute and Maintain

Once the wood has fully burned and you have hot embers, use your Rake to move them to the area below your grill. This will provide the steady, even heat needed for grilling.

Continue to feed and stoke your fire throughout the cooking process. Adding small amounts of wood periodically will help maintain a consistent supply of embers and keep your cooking going smoothly.

Final Comments

The exercise of moving the coals from the fire to the grill is what makes the Argentine asado so authentic and different from other grilling techniques. Move the coals under the grill to create a “bed” of coals. These can be arranged in zones to create different temperatures, and it’s best to position them to match the size of the cuts of meat or other dishes you intend to grill.

Final Tips

• Safety: Always wear heat-resistant gloves when handling hot equipment or adding wood to the fire.
• Patience: A well-built fire takes time to develop into a bed of hot embers. Patience is key to achieving the perfect grilling temperature.

By following these steps and tips, you'll be able to prepare the perfect fire for an authentic Argentine Asado. Enjoy your grilling!