How to light charcoal quickly, step by step

Read in EnglishThe carne asada is a true institution in our country, especially in the north, as it is the perfect occasion to grill your favorite cut of meat over charcoal and accompany it with sausages, chorizo, chistorra, beans, nopales, green onions, guacamole, and salsas made in a molcajete. As Father's Day and summer approach, there’s no better way to spend the weekend than with a carne asada, but at Kiwilimon we will make your life easier by explaining how to light the charcoal quickly, you’ll be amazed! You can also read: 10 recipes with arrachera to celebrate dadBefore lighting the charcoal Surely you are eager to start grilling your meats, chorizos, sausages, vegetables, and more, however, it is important to keep a few things in mind before lighting the charcoal. 1. Safety first Place the grill in a location with enough space and excellent ventilation, preferably outdoors, to avoid any accidents.  2. Clean your grill Before getting to work and starting to cook, it is essential that the grill is clean and free of food residue, dust, or grease. 3. Buy enough charcoal Remember that you need to buy a sufficient amount of charcoal for the carne asada, which should be completely dry; otherwise, it will be difficult to light it. 4. Seasoning will be key The best thing is to prepare all your meats hours before lighting the fire, as they will have an even more delicious flavor. You can marinate with salt, pepper, herbs, butter, beer, and more.  5. Don’t forget the sides! Although the arrachera, steaks, chorizo, chistorra, and other cuts and sausages will be the stars of the grill, do not forget the sides. You can prepare potatoes, nopales, creamy spinach, grilled vegetables, potato salad, beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, molcajete salsa, and more.  6. Arrange the charcoal correctly Spread an adequate amount of charcoal evenly across the grill, as this way the heat will distribute better.  You can also read: The five essential cuts of meat for your barbecueHow to light the charcoal quicklyNow that you have everything ready for the carne asada, we explain two different ways to light the charcoal quickly, it’s very easy and you probably already have everything you need at home.  Use a hair dryer When lighting the charcoal, it is necessary for the fire to spread and reach other pieces of charcoal to grill the meat, however, for this, oxygen is needed, so a hair dryer is a good option to increase the airflow and thus light the charcoal quickly and easily.  1. Place a good amount of charcoal on the grill and distribute it evenly. 2. Form a small mound in the center and light it with a match or lighter. 3. Allow this small mound of charcoal to ignite properly. 4. Once it is lit, distribute the charcoal and apply the airflow from the hair dryer to ignite all the charcoal.  Use newspaper Another good way to quickly light the charcoal is by using some newspaper; here’s how to do it.  1. Place a good amount of charcoal on the grill and distribute it evenly. 2. Cut strips of newspaper, roll them up or make them into balls, or place them all over the grill. 3. Light the pieces of newspaper and wait for it to ignite the charcoal quickly.  A carne asada or barbecue is an excellent option to enjoy all kinds of delicious dishes and refreshing drinks, but remember to be very careful when lighting the charcoal to avoid an accident, so it’s always good to have a fire extinguisher at home.  You can also read: Basic guide for your next barbecue with dad