New BBQ - Gas or Charcaol - Discuss

Rykard

hi,

I am looking for a new BBQ - my question is gas or charcaol?

your thoughts please pros & cons

JustRidecp

Charcoal everytime. Currently got a gas one and its useless - heat is only really distributed over the flames meaning its a nightmare to cook over - the pumice briquets are shite. If you get a decent charcoal eg, Weber, you can distribute the heat a lot better by piling the coals differently i.e. you can shove them all over to one side and get an indirect heat which is ideal for cooking things like whole chickens or joints or you can slope the coals, cooking steaks etc over the hot hight part and chicken, burgers etc over the cooler lower part. You also adjust the height of the grill a lot better. With charcoal you can also put things on the coal to flavour the meat - wood chippings, rosemary sprigs, bay leaves etc.

The most important thing however is that charcoal simply tastes better!!

photojonny

I had a gas BBQ a few years ago, and used it literally every day in the summer to cook my evening. Got a bit of fresh fish or meat, chucked it on, and had it with with some veggies.

The BBQ was eventually nicked (with the gas bottle!) when I was on holiday. When I moved to a new place I bought a charcoal one (as I was short of cash) and have used it a grand total of once! All that hassle with dirty charcoal, cleaning it out, and when using it getting the damn thing to light and then waiting for the coals to go white.

I do think that real charcoal tastes a bit better, but if you get a gas one that has lava rocks in the bottom that get heated up, you won't tell much difference. You can also get special wood chips to chuck on to give a more smoky flavour.

If you want to use the BBQ a lot get the gas one, it's so much quicker, takes about 2 mins to heat up, and no cleaning probs. It can essentially be an everyday cooker instead of a 'one use a summer' garden ornament.

rohloff-rich

Real men use real BBQs - charcoal is the ONLY way 8)

JustRidecp

rohloff-rich wrote:

Real men use real BBQs - charcoal is the ONLY way 8)

Cant pour beer on a gas bbq!!

swear

Charcoal for absolute sure; look for a bbq called a hot spot the ibis of bbq's

8) 8) 8)

Cressers

You're going to put it in the garden right? Only a few yards away from an efficient cooker and grill? Why do you want to cook over a fire like stone age man or the Third Worlds' poorest people? Need I say more?

JustRidecp

Cressers wrote:

You're going to put it in the garden right? Only a few yards away from an efficient cooker and grill? Why do you want to cook over a fire like stone age man or the Third Worlds' poorest people? Need I say more?

No. Troll off.

hammerite

JustRidecp wrote:

Cressers wrote:

You're going to put it in the garden right? Only a few yards away from an efficient cooker and grill? Why do you want to cook over a fire like stone age man or the Third Worlds' poorest people? Need I say more?

No. Troll off.

Whilst it could've been more eloquently put I tend to agree.

Why cook with a gas BBQ when most of us have got gas cookers in the kitchen? Surely people cook a barbecue for that charcoal taste? :?

gkerr4

i have to say Gas - sorry charcoal fans.

as stated earlier - this is purely for the ease of use. If you have people comng round on a sunny evening and the BBQ / eating becomes a social gathering, then you just want to be outside with your guests and cooking food -

you do NOT want to be there cursing and swearing trying to get it lit then waiting for the coals to turn etc etc etc - not to mention all the cleaning it out of ashes later.

just fire up and cook

whilst I agree that charcoal does add a certain taset - i'd go for gas everytime becuase it is easier and you will enjoy it and use it more often.

Rykard

but surely if you plan properly then time everything you have the charcoal at the right heat as your guests arrive and put the right meat on so you just have to keep an eye on it...

We had a great one on Sunday, weather stayed fine and sunny, plenty of nicely cooked meat was eaten and I spent time with my guests ( missus threatened me slightly after I spent the whole time 'cooking' last time lol)

richa

Gas.

You'll use it more.

heavymental

I think I'd go for gas reading the posts above. If you still want a 'proper fire' fix, get yourself one of those chimenia things to light up alongside the bbq to keep everyone warm and happy. All bases covered then. Nicely cooked food, fire, smoke in your eyes etc.

Ghost Donkey

Charcoal for me. Lid on most of the time for best cooking through. WHen my cheap supermarket kettle BBQ's had it's day I'll be buying a weber.