You can also use an electric starter, a loop-shaped metal heating element that glows bright orange when plugged in. You place the starter on the grate and arrange a mound of charcoal over the heating element, then plug in the starter. The charcoal will ignite in a matter of minutes. Electric starters are available at grill shops and are particularly handy for lighting deep grills like the Big Green Egg. They work equally well with wood chunks. The chief drawback to this device is that it requires an electric outlet next to the grill.