Gas or Charcoal?

[AndyHull]

Hi all,

Im gettint a BBQ next month and i have always been drawn to the charcoal type due to supposedly better flavour and because i want to smoke food too.

However, im now begining to consider the gas types after being at a small party a couple of weekends ago where my brotherinlaw had a ST/ST 4 burner gas BBQ from Argos of all places and it's currently on offer at £150, so im tempted.

I like the look of the Webber 1 touch if im going for the charcoal type.

But which ever one i chose i will be building into an outdoor kitchen brick work worktop (etc)

So my question is which one is best for eas of use, cleaning, smoking, grilling and anything else i haven't mentioned?

I know this is a minefield but as most of you guys have been doing this for years you will know the real pro's and con's rather than what people just think or assume!

Many thanks Andy

[RobinC]

Smoking (particularly long smokes) is generally a right pain on a gas. I only ever use my gas one for stuff that is going to be grilled quickly (burgers/sausages etc.) anything else goes on one of the charcoal grills or smoker.

[wade]

Hi Andy

I use both, but these days I really only use the gas BBQ for keeping things warm. Which one you get will depend what you will mainly be using it for - and from your description you sound as if you will be using it more for party grilling etc rather than for slow cook. Personally I would still go for a charcoal BBQ for this type of grilling, as I think it gived a much nicer flavour, however if speed and ease of cleaning is the main consideration then a gas BBQ would certainly fit the bill.
If you do go for a conventional BBQ then the Weber 1touch is certainly a good all rounder - and dont forget that you usually get what you pay for... A Weber should last you a good 10-15 years whereas a cheap own brand may only last you 3 or 4 years.

Whichever you decide to buy I am sure you will eat well from it

Wade

[JEC]

Charcoal for me everytime but I understand why people opt for gas, truely excellent food can be cooked on both and with the correct technique most people would be unable to tell which they were cooked on.

[JEC]

If I were buying a gas BBQ I would by the best I could afford the extra money is well spent and will leave you with a grill that you can use for many years, and normally buy replacement parts for.

[clairbare]

Having tasted food from both types, my personal preference is charcoal every time, to me gas bbq is just like cooking inside, outside and lacks some flavour. But that may be because of the cooks Just my opinion, and we all have those

[British BBQ Society]

there are a few gas BBQ companies that are aware of slow cooking, a foil wrap with wood chips solves the flavor problem, not because they are a sponsor but because i was blown away with their charcoal and gas version look up outdoorchef. I used two of them (one charcoal and one gas) for the telegraph article http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink ... sport.html

To be honest for safety and versatility nothing else compares, they just have to work on their price point.

Cheers

Toby

[AndyHull]

Thanks for the replies guys,

Although im still undecided which to get!!!

I like the idea of the gas BBQ, it's ease of use, temprature control, ease of cleaning and not having to wait for it to heat up for any real amount of time.

But i've only ever cooked on charcoal before and found the flavour very good and i do want to smoke food.
I wish i had the room for a dual gas/charcoal unit Doc but it would leave me with very little room and would probably only use one type and find the other got very little use, then there's afording a dual unit, it's taken me an age to convince the OH to let me get one

Andy