Charcoal or Gas: The Endless BBQ Debate
Charcoal or gas: which is the best choice in a BBQ? People have been arguing this point for many years. There are pluses and minuses to each, but many people have a strong loyalty to whichever type they prefer. But if you’re new to barbeque cooking and you don’t know where to start, here’s a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Gas
* Fast. 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. There are those who don’t enjoy the taste of food that’s been cooked over a gas flame. And it certainly doesn’t offer up the distinctive wood smoke taste of food cooked over charcoal.
* Easy cleaning. You don’t have to sweep away ashes. Drip trays will take care of most of the mess, and turning the heat up for 10 minutes or so will burn off the rest so it can be easily scraped off.
* Cost effective. You can get eight hours of grilling out of a single propane tank.
* Your upfront costs might be higher, but there are a lot of different price points to fit most budgets.
* 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 taste and aroma of smoked wood can’t be beat.
* Initial cost is low, but it may not be efficient in the long run.
* 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 important. There is no heat control, so you have to keep a close eye on your food.
* If you barbeque a lot, the expense of charcoal briquettes can really add up.
* Cleaning out ashes is a tedious job. The grate is hard to clean, and it takes a long time for the unit to cool down enough to clean it.
So there you have some BBQ tips to help you decide between gas and charcoal. 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.
