BBQ: Gas Vs Charcoal

slick rick

slick rick

slick rick

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So when it comes to barbecuing what do you folks Prefer, gas or charcoal?

If you can give a reason why and say what choice of coal or gas is your preference, if you have one.

Thanks! :)
 
Thanks for your input Glaucus, I know exactly where you are coming from. I think that food cooked on a charcoal barbecue will taste better.

But I can see pro's with going gas too in terms of convenience, not having to wait for coal to get hot, temp control for even cooking etc.
 
Gas bbq? May as well but bbq sauce on it and stick in the microwave.

Sorry can't see the point of them at all.
 
Omitting all discussion regards flavour, which people will argue about until the end of time, banging on about smoke and lava rocks etc.

It has to be charcoal as it makes the experience, a gas bbq is just an outdoor grill really, nothing special about cooking on it.
 
There's nothing wrong with having a gas grill outside and it's definitely fun/can produce nice meat. It's not the same as a charcoal/lumpwood BBQ though and don't let anyone tell you any differently :)
 
Gas bbq's are good for big parties where you will be cooking nearly all day.

When it's just a family bbq or you doing your own dinner, charcoal is best.
 
Ah, this one again. I see the fanboys are quick off the mark with their "You might as well cook it indoors" bull****.

Cooking on charcoal/wood is better - everybody knows that.

To compare cooking on a gas BBQ with cooking on an indoor cooker is ignorant. Do any of the fanboys cook food directly over a gas flame indoors? I doubt it. On a gas BBQ, the food sits directly above the flame and fat drips down onto the flame causing flare-ups. This creates smoke and also chars the food - aka, flavour.

Gas has its place. It's very convenient for one. As mentioned above, you can switch it on and be cooking 10 minutes later. If you're only doing a few sausages for a sandwich, who's going to spend half an hour lighting charcoal to cook them. Stick them on a gas BBQ and they'll be tastier than from a frying pan but quicker than lighting charcoal.
 
Gas bbq's are expensive in comparison.

Gas bbq's are more likely to need replacing sooner just by the fact they have stuff and kit and parts that go wrong and get gunked up.

I don't really get the convenience argument. Are people saying their time is so precious and limited they can't wait 20 minutes? Hell the oven takes nearly as long to heat up.
 
Charcoal with a chimney strated has you fully up to temp in under 20 minutes.
If you use lump wood then you also have very little ash to deal with after.
 
I do get that some people don't like, know how to or find the whole fire thing intimidating which is difficult to admit in our chest beating ug ug man cook dead animal over fire then plant his seed in his woman society.
 
It has to be charcoal, it's not a BBQ if it's cooked on gas.

Had a BBQ for 16 people yesterday and it all went really well, chickens thighs/drumsticks were cooked in the oven first then "finished off" on BBQ.

My secret is to have a tinfoil tray on hand (perch it on one edge of the BBQ) which can be used to keep burgers, sausages warm one they've been cooked. I always cut open one of everything to check that it cooked to ensure nobody get "jippy tummy".

It's all about the quality of the meat used as well, our butcher makes his own sausages/burgers/lamb koftas so job done :)
 
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Stan_Lite said:
Ah, this one again. I see the fanboys are quick off the mark with their "You might as well cook it indoors" bull****.
Click to expand...

I'm still waiting for the it's for real men argument as it's the closest you'll get to wearing a loincloth in the garden. :p
 
Some interesting responses here :)

I was very surprised when I went over a friends for a BBQ who was using gas that the food did actually have that charred taste and it was very nice, not quite as good as cooked with charcoal but it was damn close.

I was expecting more of a split between gas and charcoal, gas it getting its arse kicked! :)
 
HEADRAT said:
It has to be charcoal, it's not a BBQ if it's cooked on gas.

Had a BBQ for 16 people yesterday and it all went really well, chickens thighs/drumsticks were cooked in the oven first then "finished off" on BBQ.

My secret is to have a tinfoil tray on hand (perch it on one edge of the BBQ) which can be used to keep burgers, sausages warm one they've been cooked. I always cut open one of everything to check that it cooked to ensure nobody get "jippy tummy".

It's all about the quality of the meat used as well, our butcher makes his own sausages/burgers/lamb koftas so job done :)
Click to expand...
Sorry mate, but that's not bbq either :p
 
slick rick said:
I was expecting more of a split between gas and charcoal, gas it getting its arse kicked! :)
Click to expand...

Because bbqing is the while experience, gas tales away 80% of said experience, more expensive, less versatile etc. And relay isn't much mire convenient. Light charcoal and go do some prep work for 20mins.
That's before you even get to indirect cooking with added wood which most gas bbqs you can't do. Unless you spend a hell off a lot, then they are more convenient but again takeaway what a BBQ is all about.
 
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