How to Light a Charcoal Grill With Newspaper

Crumble several pieces of newspaper and place them at the bottom of the grill. Place enough newspaper so that it will surround the charcoal. When crumbling the newspaper, do not crumble so much that air can not pass through the paper.

Place approximately 20 to 30 twigs, about the size and length of a pencil on top of the newspaper. You can gather the twigs from your yard and they should be dry. Ensure that the twigs are evenly distributed on top of the newspaper.

Place the grate on top of the twigs, then place the charcoal onto the grate. The amount of charcoal needed will depend on the size of your grill. Refer to the instructions on the charcoal bag for the correct amount to place inside the grill.

Light the edges of the newspaper on fire using a match or grill lighter. Ensure that the entire outside of the newspaper is lit.

Allow the newspaper to burn, in turn igniting the twigs.

Place the lid on the grill and allow the twigs to ignite the charcoal. After approximately 15 minutes, remove the lid and examine the charcoal. When the charcoal turns a gray or white color you can begin cooking your food.