Buying guide
Solid Grill Fire Starters
Our pick
Meeco's Red Devil SureStart Firelighting Squares
Buy Meeco’s Red Devil SureStart Firelighting Squares for regular charcoal grilling: America’s Test Kitchen found no off-flavors in its test.1
Buying advice
- Keep starter boxes dry: Bob Vila could not light its Rutland 24-pack squares immediately after immersing them in a glass of water.3
For occasional cooking or trying a starter before a bulk box
A small pack suits occasional grilling or trying a starter before buying a bulk box.5 Choose Weber Lighter Cubes in the 24-piece pack; America’s Test Kitchen found no off-flavors in its test.15
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4 products
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Every specification for these products
| Specification | Meeco's Red Devil SureStart Firelighting Squares | Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares Box of 24 Squares | Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares Bulk Box of 144 Squares | Weber Lighter Cubes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pieces per pack | 144 pieces2 | 24 pieces4 | 144 pieces4 | 24 pieces5 |
| Lights when wet | Yes2 | No (Environment: dropped them in a glass of water and then took them out)3 | Yes4 | Yes (Duration: 2 hours; Test method: Soak starters in water for 2 hours and then try to light)1 |
| No taste or smell on food | Yes (Test method: Grill flank steak over each bed of coals and taste for off-flavors)1 | Yes6 | Yes (Test method: Grill flank steak and zucchini over each bed of coals and taste for off-flavors)1 | Yes (Test method: Grill flank steak over each bed of coals and taste for off-flavors)1 |
| Time to ignite | Not published | Not published | 9.4 s (Test method: Light chimney starters filled with briquettes, using the lowest number of units recommended by each manufacturer and timing how long it takes for the starters to ignite)1 | Not published |
| Made from | compressed wood fiber and wax2 | compressed recycled wood chips, paper fiber, and wax4 | compressed recycled wood chips, paper fiber, and wax4 | Paraffin wax1 |
| Form | Square2 | Square6 | Square4 | Cube1 |
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4 products
Meeco's Red Devil SureStart Firelighting Squares
- Lights when wet
- Yes2
Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares Box of 24 Squares
- Lights when wet
- No (Environment: dropped them in a glass of water and then took them out)3
Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares Bulk Box of 144 Squares
- Lights when wet
- Yes4
Weber Lighter Cubes
- Lights when wet
- Yes (Duration: 2 hours; Test method: Soak starters in water for 2 hours and then try to light)1
How they compare
Scroll the table to see every product and specification.
| Specification | Our pickMeeco's Red Devil SureStart Firelighting Squares | Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares Box of 24 Squares | Rutland Safe Lite Fire Starter Squares Bulk Box of 144 Squares | Weber Lighter Cubes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pieces per pack | 144 pieces2 | 24 pieces4 | 144 pieces4 | 24 pieces5 |
| Lights when wet | Yes2 | No (Environment: dropped them in a glass of water and then took them out)3 | Yes4 | Yes (Duration: 2 hours; Test method: Soak starters in water for 2 hours and then try to light)1 |
| No taste or smell on food | Yes (Test method: Grill flank steak over each bed of coals and taste for off-flavors)1 | Yes6 | Yes (Test method: Grill flank steak and zucchini over each bed of coals and taste for off-flavors)1 | Yes (Test method: Grill flank steak over each bed of coals and taste for off-flavors)1 |
| Time to ignite | Not published | Not published | 9.4 s (Test method: Light chimney starters filled with briquettes, using the lowest number of units recommended by each manufacturer and timing how long it takes for the starters to ignite)1 | Not published |
| Made from | compressed wood fiber and wax2 | compressed recycled wood chips, paper fiber, and wax4 | compressed recycled wood chips, paper fiber, and wax4 | Paraffin wax1 |
| Form | Square2 | Square6 | Square4 | Cube1 |