Charcoal vs Gas grill

Have you tried a gas grill yet? What's your opinion of them vs. a charcoal grill?

I know it's the wrong time of year to be asking this, but I wanted to hear what you think of gas grills vs. charcoal grill (yes, I know I can google this, but I wanted to hear people's opinions, not just from one or two websites), in terms of cost (like having to buy propane vs. buying charcoal and lighter fluid), and taste (some people swear by charcoal, but I've been hearing that propane isn't terribly different).

Anyway, which one do you prefer, and why?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Well, at my house we have a gas grill and the food tastes fine. We don't really bbq that much to begin with, but it always is good when we do.

I have had food from a charcoal grill and I really liked the smoky flavor it gave the burgers.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Gas is easier and more convienient, but it just can't match the taste of charcoal.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Yeah, charcoal is generally accepted as tasting better, but you have to buy charcoal and lighter fluid, and clean out the old charcoal, while gas grills are easier to light and easier to deal with, with less cleanup involved. You do have to refill propane tanks for gas grills, too. We had a charcoal grill until we could afford a gas grill, and we've used gas ever since.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Charcoal gives food a great taste, but you can forget about convenient temperature control and quick results. Is it not possible to get a gas-fuelled barbecue that allows the use of charcoal to help flavour the food?

I was speaking idiomatically.

I have a gas BBQ it's easier then charcoal I think. But it doesn't beat the good charcoal taste. That is sublime. Though you can get something to go on top of the gas to try and get it to taste like charcoal. It works abit but it's still not the same.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

We use a gas BBQ at home, we find it more convenient than the charcoal. We used to use the charcoal years ago.

FELIPE NO

Taste wise, I am a little more inclined to say that charcoal tastes better. But in all honesty, both work really well and it's up to the buyer/user's preference. Grills that burn natural gas is more environmentally friendly, and is great for temperature control.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

This was discussed here last year.

That said, out of just those two options, I would prefer gas. I prefer the taste of a gas-cooked item largely because the charred flavor of items from a charcoal grill makes the food less appealing to me. I prefer my food not be, to whatever extent, burnt. Also, gas grills take less preparation and less management. I don't know the costs of the grills, but if a gas one is more expensive, it makes up for it in labor.

My personal overall pick is an electric grill, but that wasn't your question.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Well, I agree with the follks who said they prefer the taste of food cooked on a charcoal grill. But both are still fine with me, it just depends whether I'm preparing the food (I'd go with gas) or simply a guest (pass that smoky flavored goodness).

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Gas grills don't actually make your food taste THAT much different, charcoal just always tasted more authentic or like, bbq-y to me. My dad has a gas grill and my grandma has a charcoal one, one of those old round half sphere things, and I prefer food cooked on that one.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I like the taste on both, but I would have to prefer charcoal if I had to pick one. As a kid we would take a tire rim, fill it with charcoal and put a grill over it. mmmm... that was good BBQ.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

My friend used to do that all the time when I went to his place. The food tasted great everytime. Although on some occasions, it was a little burnt...

How ya doing, buddy?

natural gas/propane are MUCH easier to cook with, and are a breeze to clean up... and If you're living in an apartment building, it's alot easier to hide the propane cylinder when you're done, then it is to dispose of a few pounds of hot charcoal...

That being said... It's almost worth the effort to cook on charcoal, the flavour is phenomenal!

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Arainach

Gas is easier and more convienient, but it just can't match the taste of charcoal.

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FELIPE NO

Shouldn't this question be asked differently? like, do you prefer using charcoal or no? I mean, most modern barbeques use propane or natural gas to provide that handy dandy source of heat. Whether you choose to include charcoal for flavour is where the preference thing comes in. The only place I have ever seen a coal only grill, the ones where you use lighter fluid, are at parks and reservation/conservation areas. As for me I am not too fussy. My dad uses a non coal grill and everything we cook on it tastes just fine.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?