Poll: BBQ Gas vs Coal

Charcoal or gas

  • Charcoal

    Votes: 101 68.2%

  • More charcoal (because i like it burnt)

    Votes: 47 31.8%

  • Gas - an elegant grill for a more civilised age

    Votes: 31 20.9%
  • Total voters
    148

fireisdangerous

fireisdangerous

fireisdangerous

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For last 5 years of owning a house every summer I have tied to commit to getting a proper BBQ but can never make my mind up so end up using the disposable ones.

But this year now that I have a decent size garden I would like to take the plunge. In a perfect world before children (1 two yr old and another en route) I would have got a nice charcoal BBQ and spend time getting it light enjoying a beer. But these days I don't have that luxury so im learning towards Gas.

How long do the gas bottles last and is the taste dramatically different vs coal?
 
don't see the point of 'gas bbq'. More like 'I've got an outside hob'.

A bbq, in my opinion, is anything that uses wood or coal to provide heat, therefore adds a characterful flavour to the meat or anything you're cooking.
 
Charcoal, charcoal, charcoal. Gas is not bbq'ing, it's just cooking. I'll fight any man to the death who suggests otherwise.

And how is bbqing a faff? Fill kettle with charcoal, light for 10 minutes, pour in BBQ, after 10 minutes, get grilling. Hardly a faff. We have spur of the moment BBQ's all the time. As long as you've got a bag of charcoal in the shed/garage, you're good to go anytime.
 
I went gas years ago and found the bottle lasted ages. The first couple of cooks are less flavoursome, but cook off a load of cheap sausages and burgers and let the fat drip on the lava rocks and the lava rocks then recreate the "charcoal" bbq effect.

I have also fed people who were like the above from gas ones and they couldn't tell the difference.
 
robfosters said:
Charcoal, charcoal, charcoal. Gas is not bbq'ing, it's just cooking. I'll fight any man to the death who suggests otherwise.

And how is bbqing a faff? Fill kettle with charcoal, light for 10 minutes, pour in BBQ, after 10 minutes, get grilling. Hardly a faff. We have spur of the moment BBQ's all the time. As long as you've got a bag of charcoal in the shed/garage, you're good to go anytime.
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Gas is every bit as good. Your technically not even BBqing, your grilling.

Less faff by miles. Light BBQ, put food on, eat. While your still waiting for your coals to light im eating mine.

I only use mine at home very occasionally, 99% of the time its while im camping. Again gas is much cleaner for karting about. If i want to go back to basics i still a cast iron skillet in the fire and cook on that.
 
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Just a bit more time to enjoy your cold beer. Why the insane rush to eat?

Also, if you think food off a gas BBQ tastes as good as food off a charcoal BBQ, you are either plain wrong or a crap cook.
 
robfosters said:
Just a bit more time to enjoy your cold beer. Why the insane rush to eat?

Also, if you think food off a gas BBQ tastes as good as food off a charcoal BBQ, you are either plain wrong or a crap cook.
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Anyone who thinks there is supposed to be a taste difference is the crap cook.
 
Cooking on a gas bbq is just retarded, you might as well just cook it in the kitchen and then take it outside, it's all about the charcoal
 
Haze said:
Cooking on a gas bbq is just retarded, you might as well just cook it in the kitchen and then take it outside, it's all about the charcoal
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Not everyone that uses a BBQ uses it at home.
Anyone that comes outside at home is a bit strange when you have a perfectly good hob/oven /microwave inside.
 
robfosters said:
Also, if you think food off a gas BBQ tastes as good as food off a charcoal BBQ, you are either plain wrong or a crap cook.
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Cleverer people than you or me have proved that is not the case - the difference is minimal and only really noticeable on very specific cuts and cooking methods.

For your average BBQ cook, gas or charcoal with wood chips will produce results that are nigh-on indistinguishable. How you cook is more important than what you cook on.
 
glitch said:
Cleverer people than you or me have proved that is not the case - the difference is minimal and only really noticeable on very specific cuts and cooking methods.

For your average BBQ cook, gas or charcoal with wood chips will produce results that are nigh-on indistinguishable. How you cook is more important than what you cook on.
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Couldn't agree more, people think just because its cooked on a charcoal bbq it must be the best tasting meat ever. When actually it's just a bit burnt.
Another plus for me with gas is now fast it is to adjust and how adjustable it is.
 
I'm trying to sort out my garden at the moment and looking for a new BBQ - I'm considering going for both, a smaller gas one and a bigger kettle type charcoal one - I've used both a lot and there isn't a massive difference between the two (depending on what you are doing) but I'd like the convenience of gas for days when I just want to cook on the bbq and nip back inside (happens a lot in scotland) and then the kettle for days when we are outside in the sunshine... also want to try some smoking so having options for trials is good!
 
I'm going for a gas BBQ because I just like the idea of cooking outside in the garden on a nice day with family, I'm not that much of a food snob where I'd know the difference between the two. Plus, I'm extremely impatient when I'm hungry so gas is a must :p
 
I used to be very anti gas bbq's, but they're just so quick and convenient and no smoky clothes. If you have time on your hands all the time, then charcoal wins, but when you just want a couple of fast burgers/steaks then gas is king. And like pepp77 says above, after the first couple of bbq's the juices add the flavour back to the point that you'd be pushed to tell the difference. Gas convert here. :-)
 
charcoal and i don't get the faff bit, charcoal chimney starter and it doesn't take long anyway, can be preparing dishes etc, surly no one who is so short of time is cooking outside regardless.

oh and its not manly to use gas.
 
Glaucus said:
charcoal and i don't get the faff bit, charcoal chimney starter and it doesn't take long anyway, can be preparing dishes etc, surly no one who is so short of time is cooking outside regardless.

oh and its not manly to use gas.
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Also this. I've always used chimney starters ever since I can remember. Takes 10 minutes, i.e. the time it will take me to set the table.
 
Glaucus said:
charcoal and i don't get the faff bit, charcoal chimney starter and it doesn't take long anyway, can be preparing dishes etc, surly no one who is so short of time is cooking outside regardless.

oh and its not manly to use gas.
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I eat chicken in a can, raw. Why faff with roast chicken that takes a couple of hours, when 1 minute and there a chicken on your plate? Skip to 4:50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVza_AnhQ3E
 
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