BBQs - Gas vs Charcoal

[GI Jnr]

Been lurking in this forum for a little while now. Going to ask the question that I think I know what the consensus is going to be, but will ask it anyways...

Am planning on splashing out this year and buy a decent 'keeper' of a BBQ. In the past, I've stuck to gas purely for convenience as well as that there's a skill with charcoal BBQs that I don't think I've mastered yet - regulating the temp etc. I'm not a total 'tard in the kitchen, but just haven't even invested the time in outdoor cooking.

So - what are the merits of Gas vs Charcoal? I've been following the BBQ thread and really like the idea of smoking the food, but I understand that you can do that on both types? Any other merits/arguments for either...?

Thanks in advance.
Tuan

[calibrax]

The Weber One Touch is very versatile for charcoal. You can smoke food, and controlling the temp is very easy, adjustable air vents make it a doddle. And you can't beat charcoal for proper flavour. Don't get me wrong, gas is very good. But if you can get the hang of charcoal it's worth it. And a chimney starter eliminates the hardest part of charcoal cooking, which is getting the coals lit properly.

[Ritchie335is]

Can opened..worms everywhere.

I think charcoal is best because you get to make fire and its fun.
It does taste better too.

[ibisti]

Charcoal is the only option......

[GI Jnr]

Ritchie335is said:

Can opened..worms everywhere.

I hope so.

I'm a sensible rational chap - If more people on PH say Gas, then I'll buy one. Screw whether I know how to cook with it or not...

Tuan

[Jonnas]

I've got both, Gas for when I don't have the time, Charcoal for when I do........

Simples.......

[drivin_me_nuts]

charcoal. i've got 2. a pot stove and an inbuilt one made of granite sets. gas is convenient, but tastes
nothing when compared to charcoal - food just tastes better.

[Caulkhead]

Charcoal is a BBQ, gas is a cooker in your garden.

[toxicated]

I moved from a big gas BBQ to a Weber One Touch and haven't looked back. Don't worry that it takes too long to light either - I use a heat gun to light it and it's very effective and fast. The flavour from charcoal is wonderful. I've used it four times in the last week

[Pints]

Caulkhead said:

Charcoal is a BBQ, gas is a cooker in your garden.

This.

Charcoal everytime for me.

[bobr]

Tried a gas last summer, it was like having an oven cooked dinner in the pissing rain. Charcoal all the way!

[Zaxxon]

Weber One Touch, everything else is just immitation.

Gas doesnt make a good Braai.

[Stu R]

I speak with some experience of BBQing here, typically averaging somewhere between 75 and 100 a year depending on the weather (not the 'quick lets blacken the outside of some raw bangers' type either), doing quite a lot of work for a US based BBQ company, and currently trying my damnedest to talk them into letting me bring them to the UK. I've done a fair bit of travelling in the US all, well not all but some of which was in the name of BBQ and this summer I'm taking a month to do it all again. I've got some amazing contacts in the BBQ industry, from chefs to sauce companies, and at some point I'm planning on writing a book on it all. I absolutely adore BBQ and the culture surrounding it. Yeah, check me out... anyway.... I said that purely so you can know my opinion is at least remotely credible, I know it's a massively subjective thing, but still....

Anyway, my thoughts....

Gas is st.

HTH

[Shaolin]

Charcoal = BBQ
Gas = NOT a BBQ

[Pferdestarke]

Stu R said:

I speak with some experience of BBQing here, typically averaging somewhere between 75 and 100 a year depending on the weather (not the 'quick lets blacken the outside of some raw bangers' type either), doing quite a lot of work for a US based BBQ company, and currently trying my damnedest to talk them into letting me bring them to the UK. I've done a fair bit of travelling in the US all, well not all but some of which was in the name of BBQ and this summer I'm taking a month to do it all again. I've got some amazing contacts in the BBQ industry, from chefs to sauce companies, and at some point I'm planning on writing a book on it all. I absolutely adore BBQ and the culture surrounding it. Yeah, check me out... anyway.... I said that purely so you can know my opinion is at least remotely credible, I know it's a massively subjective thing, but still....

Anyway, my thoughts....

Gas is st.

HTH

Interesting stuff! Would love to hear more of your experiences!

I can't wait to get the smoker out this summer!

[Bob the Planner]

toxicated said:

... I use a heat gun to light it and it's very effective and fast...

I use a couple of fire lighters and a leave for about 5 minutes than use a hair dryer to give it a good fan - 5 minutes later a proper hot BBQ. Used to use a hot air paint stripper but left that in the UK when I moved to Aus.

[alfa pint]

I've been using the instant light bags on my charcoal bbq, which take the pain right out of trying to light the buggers. Can't believe I've never thought about using my blow torch though. The bags cost a bit more than normal charcoal, but worth it for the lack of effort.

We've had one bbq this year to date - Jan 30 to celebrate Australia Day. Thought the next door house was on fire last Friday, but it was just the first of the bbqs! Won't get that many on the West coast of Scotland, so we squeeze every moment between showers and midges.

[pugwash4x4]

getting good charcoal is half the battle-

if you can get Restaurant grade charcola (like Big K Charcoal) you will find the heat more adjustable and will last much much longer!

[Doobs]

So now we have all agreed charcoal, should the question be ... lumpwood or briquettes?

[LewLew]

Get some bricks build something that looks like a BBQ and then make a fire and put food on it and serve

Then worry about later

Job done!