Abstract: A device for concentrating and conserving a fuel source in a cooking appliance is provided. The cooking appliance has a fuel supporting surface, an appliance side wall about the fuel supporting surface and a cooking surface supported substantially between the side wall and above the fuel supporting surface. The cooking surface receives food items to be cooked. The device comprises a free-standing fuel concentrating apparatus supported solely upon the fuel supporting surface for selectively concentrating the fuel source beneath at least a portion of the cooking surface. The concentrating apparatus creates a plurality of fuel enclosures such that loading at least two of the fuel enclosures and the ignition and combustion of the fuel source within one of these loaded fuel enclosures saves ignition and combustion of the fuel source located within any adjacent fuel source area.