Charcoal or gas barbecue?
 

Well, it's Memorial Day stateside so today is one of big kick-offs to barbecue/grilling. So what is your preference?

I just bought a Weber charcoal grill and did up some ribs last night - turned out pretty good.

We keep getting gas ones and they keep breaking so i'm inclined to think that i like charcoal ones better just cause they can't really break, right :(

Always always always charcoal.
Those flavored ceramic briquettes that they have in gas grills are seriously a joke.

Also, there are some grills which have a nice setup for real wood as well (usually for smoking). Those are nice as well.

Not to mention that the design and mechanisms for gas grills (in my experience) do not favor long-time ownership.

My family just had a feast from our charcoal grill last night. Gas is too much like using an oven; charcoal has definite rich taste different from the norm.

Charcoal. I have an inherent distrust for any and all gas-based applicances. Keep that junk away from my home!

Charcoal tastes better, but gas is cleaner and easier to use. (Although I do also fear any type of gas appliance). If I'm going to eat it, then charcoal. If I'm going to cook it, then sage, gas plz.

My grill is supposed to be gas, but I beanerrigged it become a charcoal grill. Charcoal just makes everything taste so much better. Also, Memorial Day grillin' HOLLA. :D

I agree with a lot of you saying that Charcoal is much better for the taste. We have a gas grill here and it just isnt the same.

Charcoal is a lot better for the taste, but this year - and it's been happening pretty much every year - we've been doing all our grilling on a gas grill.

Both - Charcoal for taste, but gas for convienence.

Pretty much the same as Locke here. Gas is nice when I have to cook something after school and have no intention of getting the charcoal grill fired up, or in the middle of winter when I don't really want to spend a lot of time outside getting the charcoal grill going. Otherwise, there's nothing better than a good steak on a charcoal grill. Or salmon.

Now I'm hungry.

Oh god, bbq salmon... don't make me cum.

In my limited experience with charcoal, it seems like it takes too much work. With me being lazy, this does not appeal to me. Also, charcoal grills seem to burn things faster. I don't like burnt food. Gas is convenient in that it requires little setup. However, it's taste is too, well, gassy. No, I go with the third choice: electric. It can be used indoors and outdoors. It tastes better than gasses food. It has a more convenient setup than gas or charcoal grills. Things taste quite good, though occassionally a little dry. Wah! Taking the road not traveling!

I sort of like the smokey flavor and auroma that charcoal adds to meat and vegetables when grilling. Though, the trend nowadays is using a propane grill because of easier clean-up, better control of the heat, and being able to quickly turn it on and off by a flick of a switch. However, I do prefer charcoal, just as long as I'm not the one who's making the BBQ haha

charcoal is the main way I go when I cook on the barbeque, but in the event that I'm actually trying to control the temperature to a specified range then I will cook with a gas grill... but that is a rare instance when I do that, though it will be put to the test again this coming Thanksgiving when I smoke my turkey via the grill...

Now are we talking just regular grilling here or barbeque? With barbeque using gas is the pissing on a bible and throwing it at the pope of cooking. With regular grilling it's vaguely acceptable but still not even close to as good. Then again I don't clean my grill out of tradition so I may be a bit of a barbeque nazi.

Hmm? SO does gas count the usage of propane & propane accessories?
If so, I use that, but there is always a number of charcoal briquettes in near the flame at the bottom.

What about electric grills? What do you guys think about it? Good? Bad?

This is pretty much how I feel as well. Sure charcoal does taste better but in my honest opinion, it's not worth the effort if I'm the one cooking the food, and it's just for me for a few people. Gas grills take about 10 seconds to heat up and hell your still eatting BBQ, and you are gunna like it don't lie.

But then again, this will be my first summer not eatting meat, so I guess BBQs will be pretty pointless for me to attend. Unless there is beer or attractive females; both of which are better than gas AND charcoal combined.

I think you can read my post and clearly see my thoughts on the subject.

All my BBQs re on charcoal grills. Not rich enough for gas grills. :p The results are always tasty anyway.

Hmmm.....Gas grilles are alot easier to operate but those charcoal ones taste better....soo hard to choose!!!! I guess Charcoal....

im from texas ok, if that doesnt scream charcoal then i dont know what does. however im working in CT and my boss bought a gas one, it cooks evenly and sometimes a lil quicker, but still not the same as that nice smokey charcoal grill

I was born and raised on charcoal. Cut an oil drum in half, install some hinges, weld some legs, build a grill... BAM! you got yourself the perfect grill for the beach. I've seen my friends' gas grills break on them too much to be reliable.

fatt, you and me would get along just fine. i actually am building one for my boss (like outside right now) i just came in to refill and check the internet stuffs.