Gas BBQ considerations?
Discussion
ViperDave said:
I spend more time cleaning my gàs bbq than I do charcoal one. maybe its because gas is used for sausages and burgers where as the charcoal is only out for steak. But the fat isnt burnt off as well on the gas and can turn nasty.
This. My charcoal one gets the grill cleaned, the gas one has a grill, burner guards, burner and collection panel to clean. And the food doesn't taste as good.I'm trying to decide which to put in the new house I"m building and keep going back and forward...
Gas is great in that you can be cooking 2 minutes after you decide you're hungry. Plus if you're cooking for a lot of people you can maintain a suitable temperature for as long as you like.
Cooking with charcoal is fun though...
Gas is great in that you can be cooking 2 minutes after you decide you're hungry. Plus if you're cooking for a lot of people you can maintain a suitable temperature for as long as you like.
Cooking with charcoal is fun though...
Cleaning a BBQ?
That's just weird.
I buy a new BBQ every year. A cheap one, Less than £30. Throw it away at the end of summer, I don't want that filthy thing dropping ash around my shed all winter and going rusty. Sometimes I buy next summers BBQ the previous year in the sales. I still spend about the same but can get a better one.
I'm sure this isn't the cheapest way of BBQ ownership. But I've never cleaned a BBQ in my life, and that's worth a few quid.
That's just weird.
I buy a new BBQ every year. A cheap one, Less than £30. Throw it away at the end of summer, I don't want that filthy thing dropping ash around my shed all winter and going rusty. Sometimes I buy next summers BBQ the previous year in the sales. I still spend about the same but can get a better one.
I'm sure this isn't the cheapest way of BBQ ownership. But I've never cleaned a BBQ in my life, and that's worth a few quid.
p1tse said:
Like the idea of coming home and putting it on quick scenario, especially as kids can't wait
But I do like the fun of starting up charcoal
Have you tried a starter chimney? Got one a few years back after my parents raved about them and they're brilliant, you can have charcoal up to to cooking temperature in a fraction of the time it takes to start a BBQ normallyBut I do like the fun of starting up charcoal
RizzoTheRat said:
p1tse said:
Like the idea of coming home and putting it on quick scenario, especially as kids can't wait
But I do like the fun of starting up charcoal
Have you tried a starter chimney? Got one a few years back after my parents raved about them and they're brilliant, you can have charcoal up to to cooking temperature in a fraction of the time it takes to start a BBQ normallyBut I do like the fun of starting up charcoal
bga said:
RizzoTheRat said:
p1tse said:
Like the idea of coming home and putting it on quick scenario, especially as kids can't wait
But I do like the fun of starting up charcoal
Have you tried a starter chimney? Got one a few years back after my parents raved about them and they're brilliant, you can have charcoal up to to cooking temperature in a fraction of the time it takes to start a BBQ normallyBut I do like the fun of starting up charcoal
I have a Weber 3 burner (you want at least 3) spirit gas BBQ. It doesn't need cleaning every time. It has a run off tray which the fat goes down. I usually give it a good clean every few months and that's with fairly heavy use.
Depends what type of cooking surface you want really - Some gas BBQs can use either a hot plate or grill with "coals". This is ours with the hot plates in action cooking an easter breakfast - We never use the coals and grill.
All the hot plate needs to clean it is a sturdy scraper and it comes up perfectly fine for cooking on again.
The hot plate has a run-off with a hole through which fat drips into a catch tray below (This relies on the BBQ being perfectly level of course.) Line the tray with foil then fill with kitty litter to make it a breeze to clean.
All the hot plate needs to clean it is a sturdy scraper and it comes up perfectly fine for cooking on again.
The hot plate has a run-off with a hole through which fat drips into a catch tray below (This relies on the BBQ being perfectly level of course.) Line the tray with foil then fill with kitty litter to make it a breeze to clean.
Edited by 200bhp on Tuesday 22 April 09:39
I'm in a similar position myself, 3 burner, gas for convenience.
As lovely a the Weber's look, I can't see myself parting with the cash.
Anyone got any experience of the outback models? Had a look at a spectrum 3 that looks ok for the money, but seems to get mixed reviews.
Is a cheapo replaced every year or a Weber/other pricey one the best option? Or is there something to be said for the middle of the road ones? Gas is gas, right? Other than build quality?
As lovely a the Weber's look, I can't see myself parting with the cash.
Anyone got any experience of the outback models? Had a look at a spectrum 3 that looks ok for the money, but seems to get mixed reviews.
Is a cheapo replaced every year or a Weber/other pricey one the best option? Or is there something to be said for the middle of the road ones? Gas is gas, right? Other than build quality?
We used to have an Outback and it was good. The drawbacks with that particular model were:
1) The lid was flat so once it was alight and the food was on, you couldnt shut it. Much better to have one with a canopy style lid that can be closed when cooking.
2) The Wooden stand dried out after a couple of years and became a bit wobbly. Some regular maintenance would probably prevent this being a problem.
As far as cooking goes it did a good job and the grills were coated with a very durable black enamel which resisted everything in terms of scraping and cleaning.
1) The lid was flat so once it was alight and the food was on, you couldnt shut it. Much better to have one with a canopy style lid that can be closed when cooking.
2) The Wooden stand dried out after a couple of years and became a bit wobbly. Some regular maintenance would probably prevent this being a problem.
As far as cooking goes it did a good job and the grills were coated with a very durable black enamel which resisted everything in terms of scraping and cleaning.
Parsnip said:
I'm in a similar position myself, 3 burner, gas for convenience.
As lovely a the Weber's look, I can't see myself parting with the cash.
Anyone got any experience of the outback models? Had a look at a spectrum 3 that looks ok for the money, but seems to get mixed reviews.
Is a cheapo replaced every year or a Weber/other pricey one the best option? Or is there something to be said for the middle of the road ones? Gas is gas, right? Other than build quality?
Weber's come with a 25yr guarantee (some parts of the BBQ less). In the long haul, it works out a lot cheaper to get a decent BBQ - other decent brands exist. As lovely a the Weber's look, I can't see myself parting with the cash.
Anyone got any experience of the outback models? Had a look at a spectrum 3 that looks ok for the money, but seems to get mixed reviews.
Is a cheapo replaced every year or a Weber/other pricey one the best option? Or is there something to be said for the middle of the road ones? Gas is gas, right? Other than build quality?
Getting a cheap gas every year is a false economy. It also won't grill as well - uneven heat etc.
200bhp said:
We used to have an Outback and it was good. The drawbacks with that particular model were:
1) The lid was flat so once it was alight and the food was on, you couldnt shut it. Much better to have one with a canopy style lid that can be closed when cooking.
2) The Wooden stand dried out after a couple of years and became a bit wobbly. Some regular maintenance would probably prevent this being a problem.
As far as cooking goes it did a good job and the grills were coated with a very durable black enamel which resisted everything in terms of scraping and cleaning.
Pretty much my experience of outback, We have had ours for quite a few years now (7+ yrs or so). A Bit wobbly but then i haven't tried to tighten any of the screws, the wood is a bit faded and stained but then i haven't used the teak oil on it every year (never) like the instructions said. The burners are showing signs of corrosion but still solid and the grills more or less still look new. I have the hooded version, so something to consider is the space this takes up when open as it did mean the BBQ took up a bigger footprint than first thought as it has to stand about a foot from the rear wall. But then the hood is invaluable for keeping the flames outs down and bringing the heat up, or for doing things like baked potatoes etc.1) The lid was flat so once it was alight and the food was on, you couldnt shut it. Much better to have one with a canopy style lid that can be closed when cooking.
2) The Wooden stand dried out after a couple of years and became a bit wobbly. Some regular maintenance would probably prevent this being a problem.
As far as cooking goes it did a good job and the grills were coated with a very durable black enamel which resisted everything in terms of scraping and cleaning.
My comments earlier about cleaning are that the GAS BBQ whilst not needing much cleaning other than brushing and letting the food burn off on max burner. I have found because its always outside under a cover it attracts snails. If it is not used for a while and particularly over winter in the damp. mold can set in over the lava rock and grill, which is time for a major strip down and clean. It does have a sand tray to catch the dripping fat which is another thing that has to be changed/cleaned. Where as the small cast iron charcoal one i have for steaks never seems to need more than a quick brush and burn the food off the grill and the occasional tipping upside down over a flower bed to get the old ash out. But then it also lives in the shed/greenhouse rather than outside and is used for lean meats rather than burgers and dogs, but even so the charcoal seems to burn off the dripped fat better than the gas which collects it in the lava rocks and sand tray ready to feed the snails and mold.
Edited by ViperDave on Wednesday 23 April 11:44
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