Gas or charcoal grill and why?
The All Important Summer BBQ Poll
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mrb627
Well-known member
GAS
Because it is all I have available currently.
Malcolm
Because it is all I have available currently.
Malcolm
I grew up with a natural gas grill, never having to replenish a propane tank. Simply snap the hose onto the quick-connect by the patio and away you'd go! Once I left home, I didn't have a grill for years. Bought a propane-fueled Weber Genesis model about seven years ago, but have used it so little the past couple of summers I gave it away last week. Will go to the local steak house on the rare occasion I crave a rib eye.
Gas offers convenience and precise control of heat, especially handy when in need of a combination of hot and warm heat on the same rack. A foil packet of soaked wood chips lends authentic grilling flavor. Nothing beats charcoal for true grilling flavor, but gas is easier to control.
Gas offers convenience and precise control of heat, especially handy when in need of a combination of hot and warm heat on the same rack. A foil packet of soaked wood chips lends authentic grilling flavor. Nothing beats charcoal for true grilling flavor, but gas is easier to control.
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verizonbear
Well-known member
Charcoal
Charcoal is a PITA sometimes to get lighted and the coals hot. However the results with more fatty meats, fish and poultry are better. Carcinogens aside, I now go old school with grilling .
Using an electric started instead of lighter fluid with the charcoal is best, alleviates that chemical smell and taste that can linger
Charcoal is a PITA sometimes to get lighted and the coals hot. However the results with more fatty meats, fish and poultry are better. Carcinogens aside, I now go old school with grilling .
Using an electric started instead of lighter fluid with the charcoal is best, alleviates that chemical smell and taste that can linger
Both!
I prefer charcoal, but appreciate the convenience of gas. Plus, I use the gas grill for "holding" food until everything is ready. I have two Green Eggs, large and small, and a gas grill that always get a workout. I smoked a pork roast yesterday with charcoal and hickory that turned out pretty good---notice the smoke ring in the pic. I did other meats, but the pork roast was my favorite!
The little Green Egg was recently given to me by a neighbor and it is quite old (20-25 years)--like most things, some of the parts are NOLA
. I have been working on it for the past month and finally broke it in this weekend.
Thanks,
Mitch
I prefer charcoal, but appreciate the convenience of gas. Plus, I use the gas grill for "holding" food until everything is ready. I have two Green Eggs, large and small, and a gas grill that always get a workout. I smoked a pork roast yesterday with charcoal and hickory that turned out pretty good---notice the smoke ring in the pic. I did other meats, but the pork roast was my favorite!
The little Green Egg was recently given to me by a neighbor and it is quite old (20-25 years)--like most things, some of the parts are NOLA
. I have been working on it for the past month and finally broke it in this weekend.Thanks,
Mitch
dustin92
Well-known member
GAS! It's far easier than trying to start a charcoal fire, waiting for it o burn down, and the hoping you've used enough charcoal! I don't really like the flavor from charcoal either. To me it always tastes like lighter fluid, no matter how long it's been burning.
@verizonbear
There are ways to start a charcoal fire without lighter fluid. Indeed the pros never touch the stuff. Even Alton Brown uses a chimney starter.
There are ways to start a charcoal fire without lighter fluid. Indeed the pros never touch the stuff. Even Alton Brown uses a chimney starter.
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amazingribs.com
But lighter fluid is SO MUCH FUN. 
I Love The Smell Of Napalm In The Morning
Find lighter fluid scent rather gross and certainly do not like it on foods. Dearest Papa and the rest of the men that did BBQ when one was coming up drenched the charcoal in the stuff as one recalls. Then came the big *KaBooom* and "Whoosh* as a match as lit and the grill went up in flames to get "started".
Persons have been building fires for cooking for ages before petrol. Nobody starved and food got cooked.
Find lighter fluid scent rather gross and certainly do not like it on foods. Dearest Papa and the rest of the men that did BBQ when one was coming up drenched the charcoal in the stuff as one recalls. Then came the big *KaBooom* and "Whoosh* as a match as lit and the grill went up in flames to get "started".
Persons have been building fires for cooking for ages before petrol. Nobody starved and food got cooked.
They didnt have a chinmey starter back when my family first started grilling. It was charcoal and stinky lighter fluid. In 1965, my grandmother bought us a Caloric gas grill, which I still have, but cant find a replacement burner. I have a Kenmore thats 15 years old now and still works perfect. Only propane by the little white Blue Rhino tanks around here.
Charcoal
While I'd appreciate the ease and control of gas I just find that charcoal cooking tastes better.
I use an age old Weber kettle and a chimney starter. Use whole lump charcoal and get 3 lumps burning in the bottom of the chimney with a propane torch. Toss in additional charcoal and it will be ready in 15 min.
Mitch's answer is likely the best to have both on hand as each has it's advantages. But if I had to pick one or the other I have no interest in gas.
While I'd appreciate the ease and control of gas I just find that charcoal cooking tastes better.
I use an age old Weber kettle and a chimney starter. Use whole lump charcoal and get 3 lumps burning in the bottom of the chimney with a propane torch. Toss in additional charcoal and it will be ready in 15 min.
Mitch's answer is likely the best to have both on hand as each has it's advantages. But if I had to pick one or the other I have no interest in gas.
Best GRILLING Method
Charcoal OR 240 Volt Electric, having had a large Sears dual control natural gas grill for nearly 20 years and using many propane grills I have found nothing beats Charcoal OR Electric. My electric Jenn-Air grills have perfect heat control at the turn of a knob, if you follow the guide the food is cooked properly every time. I have even installed two JA down-draft Electric grills outdoors in covered screened porches, the JA grilles work beautifully out doors as the fan eliminates most of the eye irritating smoke while still allowing you to smell whats cooking. Many of you probably know that JA makes electric DD grills for outdoor use.
My brother Jeff converted a Weber Charcoal grill to 240 volts. He installed an infinite heat control so you can exactly control the heat input and he also installed a thromostat so you can put the lid on and bake a cake or slow cook without problems. For grilling electricity is less expensive than Charcoal or Propane and far safer than either.
John L.
Charcoal OR 240 Volt Electric, having had a large Sears dual control natural gas grill for nearly 20 years and using many propane grills I have found nothing beats Charcoal OR Electric. My electric Jenn-Air grills have perfect heat control at the turn of a knob, if you follow the guide the food is cooked properly every time. I have even installed two JA down-draft Electric grills outdoors in covered screened porches, the JA grilles work beautifully out doors as the fan eliminates most of the eye irritating smoke while still allowing you to smell whats cooking. Many of you probably know that JA makes electric DD grills for outdoor use.
My brother Jeff converted a Weber Charcoal grill to 240 volts. He installed an infinite heat control so you can exactly control the heat input and he also installed a thromostat so you can put the lid on and bake a cake or slow cook without problems. For grilling electricity is less expensive than Charcoal or Propane and far safer than either.
John L.
Those sure look like MY owners manuals I posted on HERE. I know remember the stains on them. But my grill is exactly like that. The missing base depends on whether it was a permanent in the ground or seperate small propane tank with legs.
cornutt
Well-known member
Gas. I will admit that charcoal does taste better with some things, but I don't have the time or the patience to mess with it. I've got a small Weber. Propane, but it doesn't need its own tank -- it's connected to the house supply.
whirlcool
Well-known member
We used to have a Weber charcoal grill. These things need a little bit of wind to circulate the air around inside the grill. In Houston we have plenty of days where the air is positively still. When this happens the charcoal in the Weber goes out. Then you have to relight. Again and again.
So we have a nice gas grill and don't have that problem. We don't use it as often as we thought we would though. With all the bugs and mosquito's it's an event going inside and outside the house to check on things on extremely hot days which is usually the case down here in the summer.
So we have a nice gas grill and don't have that problem. We don't use it as often as we thought we would though. With all the bugs and mosquito's it's an event going inside and outside the house to check on things on extremely hot days which is usually the case down here in the summer.
You're right Laundress
Because the manuals are still safe and sound right here with me. The grill, with its base with legs and the very important burner control is in my garage attic, but unfortunately, minus the specially made cast iron burner.
Because the manuals are still safe and sound right here with me. The grill, with its base with legs and the very important burner control is in my garage attic, but unfortunately, minus the specially made cast iron burner.
