The Eternal Barbecue Question: Gas or Charcoal?
Which is better when it comes to a barbecue grill – gas or charcoal? People have been arguing this point for many years. Each has its pros and cons, and people are often fiercely loyal to their chosen method of grilling. But if you’re just starting out with barbeque cooking and trying to decide which to buy, here’s a look at what each has to offer.
Gas
* Quick. In just 10 minutes, the grill is ready.
* You can easily control the heat. It gives you the flexibility of pacing the cooking. Sometimes you need to cook something over low heat for an extended period, and other times it needs to be at a higher temperature for less time. With gas, it’s easy to handle these things.
* Versatile. You can use the gas burner on the side to cook some vegetables, and the rotisserie attachment is ideal for slow cooking a roast.
* Flavor. Some people don’t like the flavor of food prepared on a gas grill. Plus, you won’t get the aromatic flavor of wood smoke that you will with a charcoal flame.
* Easy cleaning. There are no ashes to clean up. A tray to catch the drippings handles most of the cleaning, and you can increase the heat for several minutes in order to burn off the remains so that they can be more easily removed.
* Cost effective. You can get eight hours of grilling out of a single propane tank.
* The initial cost may be high; however there is a wide range of prices to suit any budget.
* It may prove to be more cost effective in the long run especially if taken good care of, but this depends on the changing prices of gas.
Charcoal
* The flavor and aroma of wood smoking can’t be matched.
* The purchase price is pretty reasonable initially, but over the long term it might be less so.
* They’re slow, both to get started and throughout the cooking. From the time the briquettes are lit and have burned down enough to start cooking, 40 minutes have probably gone by. This won’t work for the times when you have a sudden desire to barbeque.
* Timing is critical. There’s no way to regulate the heat, so it’s important that you watch your food carefully while it’s cooking.
* If you barbeque a lot, the expense of charcoal briquettes can really add up.
* Cleaning out ashes is a tedious job. You have to let the grate cool down completely before you can clean it, and it’s a tough job.
Hopefully you’ll find these BBQ tips useful in your choice of charcoal or gas. Pick the one that fits both your lifestyle and your budget. Those who lead busy lives might prefer a gas barbeque because they require less time in order to fully cook a meal. However, if you have some time on your hands, you can’t beat the flavor that charcoal gives.
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