Barbeques - Gas or Charcoal
Discussion
KTF said:
I would say it might be nearer 20 before its ready rather than 15 - 20.
You put the coals in the top, stuff newspaper in the bottom then go round the newspaper with a match. After 10-15 mins you have white coals with flames coming out the top then around 20 mins you have white coals and no flames. Then you just tip the contents into the kettle, put the grill rack on and off you go.
I have this Tesco one when it was on offer for £3 http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-fire-starter/391...
This. About 20 minutes from deciding to cook, to being able to cook sounds about right.You put the coals in the top, stuff newspaper in the bottom then go round the newspaper with a match. After 10-15 mins you have white coals with flames coming out the top then around 20 mins you have white coals and no flames. Then you just tip the contents into the kettle, put the grill rack on and off you go.
I have this Tesco one when it was on offer for £3 http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-fire-starter/391...
I have a chimney starter.
Not long after taking ages to get our previous BBQ attempt going, I happened to walk by the starters in B&Q (£10), saying to the missus, 'I've thought about getting one of these', when another customer walks by and said, 'I used to be like you - best thing I ever bought for barbecuing'. He was right.
Using firelighter cubes under it, I reckon it takes 10-15 minutes to get going, no fuss, and works every time.
I did Jamaican jerk chicken at 8pm last night, cooked indirect with the lid on for about 40 mins (not shown - was charring it at the end) - wonderful.
After finishing that, I shut the vents, put the lid on and we'll get to reuse at least half the coal next time. I think the barbeque's a Weber 57cm kettle, about £100.
Not long after taking ages to get our previous BBQ attempt going, I happened to walk by the starters in B&Q (£10), saying to the missus, 'I've thought about getting one of these', when another customer walks by and said, 'I used to be like you - best thing I ever bought for barbecuing'. He was right.
Using firelighter cubes under it, I reckon it takes 10-15 minutes to get going, no fuss, and works every time.
I did Jamaican jerk chicken at 8pm last night, cooked indirect with the lid on for about 40 mins (not shown - was charring it at the end) - wonderful.
After finishing that, I shut the vents, put the lid on and we'll get to reuse at least half the coal next time. I think the barbeque's a Weber 57cm kettle, about £100.
Oscarmac said:
GrandGinge,
I just googled "Napolean bbq charcoal insert" and clicked on shopping. Too many places to list but the pictures give you the idea. I agree it was expensive but they are great grills, fantastic quality and will last forever.
You use your fancy gas BBQ to heat up a load of charcoal then use the charcoal to cook the food. If only someone would invent a way to heat the charcoal up on its own and do away with the expensive gas part I just googled "Napolean bbq charcoal insert" and clicked on shopping. Too many places to list but the pictures give you the idea. I agree it was expensive but they are great grills, fantastic quality and will last forever.
KTF said:
You use your fancy gas BBQ to heat up a load of charcoal then use the charcoal to cook the food. If only someone would invent a way to heat the charcoal up on its own and do away with the expensive gas part
I do get the absurdity of this but I originally bought the grill because I wanted the speed and convenience. The charcoal tray was added later because we realised that at times we missed the charcoal taste/flavour/smell etc. 
KTF said:
You use your fancy gas BBQ to heat up a load of charcoal then use the charcoal to cook the food. If only someone would invent a way to heat the charcoal up on its own and do away with the expensive gas part
I agree but I think Oscarmac uses one side for gas and the other for charcoal, almost two in one or all gas depending what you require.I am a charcoal man through and through. I have a Weber One Touch Premium (57cm) kettle and a Weber Smokey Mountain.
But I won't lie, on anything other than Friday, Saturday or Sunday it feels like a bit of an effort to use them. Even though with a good chimney starter (and I emphasise 'good' - they need a cone in the middle, flat bottomed one's don't work anything like as well) you can be cooking quickly, I'd still say for a decent load of coals you're talking 30-40 minutes.
If you love outdoor cooking in the summer during the weeks I would get a small gas BBQ (can't believe I just typed that!) rather than using a kettle every night.
But for the weekend's when you have more time or when you have a party DO go for the charcoal and experiment with it - you'll be amazed with the results you can get (especially using smoke) on them! Get the standard 57cm One Touch Premium though - the Performer is just a tarted up version!
But I won't lie, on anything other than Friday, Saturday or Sunday it feels like a bit of an effort to use them. Even though with a good chimney starter (and I emphasise 'good' - they need a cone in the middle, flat bottomed one's don't work anything like as well) you can be cooking quickly, I'd still say for a decent load of coals you're talking 30-40 minutes.
If you love outdoor cooking in the summer during the weeks I would get a small gas BBQ (can't believe I just typed that!) rather than using a kettle every night.
But for the weekend's when you have more time or when you have a party DO go for the charcoal and experiment with it - you'll be amazed with the results you can get (especially using smoke) on them! Get the standard 57cm One Touch Premium though - the Performer is just a tarted up version!
http://www.wowbbq.co.uk/products/weber-chimney-sta...
One of these ^^^
ETA - Worth having a look around for WOWBBQ discount codes too, they send you them on the marketing emails a lot! Usually good for another 15-20% off.
One of these ^^^
ETA - Worth having a look around for WOWBBQ discount codes too, they send you them on the marketing emails a lot! Usually good for another 15-20% off.
Edited by miln0039 on Monday 23 June 18:06
I had a gas grill for a while, but it died of tin worm, so went back to charcoal recently. I must say that I much prefer the charcoal BBQ over the gas. The more recent gas BBQs with the metal heat plates and no lavarocks are just WRONG. My dad has one and while it cooks food, you may as well just cook the food in the oven an eat it outside.
I now much prefer the charcoal. A starter helps loads too to get it up to temp fast ish. If I want to cook steak or burgers (i.e. fairly fast), then I don't even use coal, I make a small wood fire and cook direclty over the flames - nothing quite like flame grilled steak. Cooks a steak better than coal or gas could ever manage, is free as I use kiln dried hardwood from work (scraps bin) and is even more manly and primal!
I do concede that my charcoal BBQ is well suited to it as the rack raises up quite high so I can actually fit a fire in.
I now much prefer the charcoal. A starter helps loads too to get it up to temp fast ish. If I want to cook steak or burgers (i.e. fairly fast), then I don't even use coal, I make a small wood fire and cook direclty over the flames - nothing quite like flame grilled steak. Cooks a steak better than coal or gas could ever manage, is free as I use kiln dried hardwood from work (scraps bin) and is even more manly and primal!
I do concede that my charcoal BBQ is well suited to it as the rack raises up quite high so I can actually fit a fire in.
hman said:
Quickmoose said:
I always considered a gas BBQ to actually be a standard gas hob, from indoors, dressed up to look outdoors-y and plonked 'outside'....
ie
not a BBQ
End of.
this ie
not a BBQ
End of.
It also never ceases to amaze me how standard sausage & burgers can taste almost civil when done on a proper coal BBQ. (Should we also debate type of coal?...)
I'm still on a Weber charcoal kettle, with a chimney starter, smoking chips, etc., and love the flavour but barely use it as by the time it's ready to cook on my wife has got cold and gone inside.
Aiming to get a gas Outback this summer and then just leave charcoal for parties. Imagine we'll never get it out again.
Out of interest, have any of the charcoal fans tried a gas BBQ?
Aiming to get a gas Outback this summer and then just leave charcoal for parties. Imagine we'll never get it out again.
Out of interest, have any of the charcoal fans tried a gas BBQ?
As long as you have the chimney starter, as shown in pic above, you're good to go in 20mins. As far as cleaning is concerned with the temperatures just a quick brush on the grill at the end is all that's needed! The ash falls out the bottom of a webber and just need to stock up on charcoal! If you can't do that you can't call yourself a man....
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