The BBQ Report

When it comes to buying a grill, the first big decision is choosing between gas and charcoal. Many grilling purists will argue till the cows come home that if you are cooking on gas grill you aren’t really grilling and might as well be using a microwave. I think that’s silly, in this article we’ll consider some of the important difference between the two.

Which tastes better, charcoal or gas?

The argument here, and this is the big one, is that you just can’t “real” grilled flavor from a gas grill because its heat source is burning propane instead of charcoal. In reality, most people can’t tell the difference. Most of the flavor imparted into the food from grilling comes from cooking on an open flame. The heat of the grate sears and chars the food while whisps of flame from dripping fat tickle the meat and produce flavorful smoke. However, I’m sure that charcoal (especially lump charcoal, or even wood) impart a little extra something, and you’ll almost never hear anyone say they prefer the flavor of gas. All in all though, it’s just not signficant enough to make it the only factor to consider.

How important is convenience? Playing with Fire?

A gas grill is more convenient to get going, just turn the knob and push the igniter and whooosh, you’re cooking with gas. It takes only about 10 minutes for a gas grill to heat up and be ready for cooking. If you are roasting chickens or other large cut of meat you run indefinitely on the propane without additional fiddling. When you are done, simply turn if off, no messy cleanup. Gas grills are also easier to control the temperature on. Low, High, just a twist of the dial. Multiple burners mean you can easily set up several different zones of different temperatures.

Charcoal on the other must be retrieved from the garage, portioned out, lit, and allowed to burn down for about 30 minutes. If you are cooking for a long time, you might need to add fresh charcoal from time to time. Once you are done you have a pile of ashes to deal with. It is also harder to control the temperature of a charcoal fire. Some more expensive charcoal grills have ramps that raise and lower, which helps. Other than you’ll need to rake the coals around to produce different temperature areas, if needed.

When its time to grill are you in a hurry? Many people grill after work during the week, and don’t want to fool with charcoal or have time to wait for the fire to heat up — they just want to eat! If a grill is convenient you will almost certainly use it more frequently.

Counterpoint is that playing with fire is just plain fun. Did Lewis and Clark have a gas grill? I don’t think so. Grizzly Adams? Hardly. There’s just something primal about harnessing the power of fire that to many people is the primary motivation for grilling. Does this sound like you?

How much money do you want to spend?

A charcoal grill is going to be cheaper than a gas grill, no question. You can get a grill for as cheap as $50, and it’ll be hard to spend more than a few hundred dollars. A typical kettle grill will run somewhere around $85 or so. You’ll have to supply a constant supply of charcoal of course, and that can add up if you grill frequently. Since they have fewer parts and a simpler design, you’ll not likely to have to replace parts on a charcoal grill, and they’ll last for years and years.

A gas grill on the other hand will pretty much start at $150, and can climb up into the thousands of dollars for gleaming stainless steel models. Expect to spend $300 – $450 for a nice full featured grill. Depending on your grill’s construction, you might find yourself replacing the burners every few years, especially if it is exposed to the weather. Being more complex, there’s also igniters to go out, regulators to die, and so forth. It’s not rocket science, but compared to the simple metal drum of a charcoal grill, it’s just got more “stuff” to break. Propane is fairly inexpensive, and tank will last you months, though its always good to have a spare.

The final decision

Which type of grill is best is the source of endless debate, but the it really comes down to personal preference. Each has its merits, and each has its faults. So what type of grill do I have? Well, I have both (plus a BBQ Pit, but that’s another story). Here’s why. I do 90% of my cooking on a gas grill. I cook 2 or 3 times a week, and often after work when I don’t have a lot of time. If I am cooking a some particularly nice steaks, have friends over, or otherwise have a more relaxed schedule, I’ll break out the Weber charcoal grill and cook over a wood coal fire. Best of both worlds!