What to use to start charcoal grill that won't leave lighter fluid taste?

[walrus]

Weber firestarter cubes sounds like what you are trying to get away from. Use newspaper, sometimes it takes a few attempts to figure how to do it right. And the newspaper makes a strong smell the first few minutes, but quickly goes away and doesn't affect the taste of whatever you're cooking.

 

[louis redfoot]

i use a gas grill now (really who does charcoal for one steak?), but when i used charcoal i just bought those single use bags where you light up the bag

 

[Rubycon]

You've never had a diesel burger?

White gasoline (essentially naphtha) will work. Toss your match on the coals while they're still wet.

Anyone remember George Goble? 20 years ago he used liquid oxygen to light a grill. I really recommend reading up on this before attempting it because if done wrong it could explode.
And even without a conflagration event the fireball is quite hot so you better use at least a six to eight foot pole on your cryostat. Of course this is 2017 so why not devise a tipping bucket device hung under a UAV?

Here's the original tape (yes tape!) from 1995:

A weed torch (250mbh) will get the white tips in no time. However if you have a 20# propane tank you may have a gas grill.

 

[MongGrel]

I was going to mention LOX earlier myself, but your grill won't last long

 

[MrSquished]

It's not rocket science. To start charcoal you use a chimney with newspaper in it. No accelerants. It takes 20 minutes but you got some good foundation to cook with.

If you want to use accelerants, put some goddamn varnish on the steaks.

 

[Rubycon]

Hold on to your pantyhose there, Johnny Rocket!
No one said it had anything to do with rocket science.
But if you want to go there on the hazards of grilling the flesh of animals, so be it.