Choosing Between Charcoal and Gas Barbeques

Which is better when it comes to a barbecue grill – gas or charcoal? The debate has been going on for quite a long time now. Each has its pros and cons, and people are often fiercely loyal to their chosen method of grilling. But if you’re just starting out with barbeque cooking and trying to decide which to buy, here’s a look at what each has to offer.

Gas

* Quick. It only takes 10 minutes or so before you can start cooking.

* You can easily control the heat. It gives you the flexibility of pacing the cooking. Sometimes you need to cook something over low heat for an extended period, and other times it needs to be at a higher temperature for less time. Gas can help you easily manage these requirements.

* Flexible. You can use the gas burner on the side to cook some vegetables, and the rotisserie attachment is ideal for slow cooking a roast.

* Flavor. Some people don’t like the flavor of food prepared on a gas grill. And it certainly doesn’t offer up the distinctive wood smoke taste of food cooked over charcoal.

* Easy cleaning. You don’t have to sweep away ashes. Drip trays will take care of most of the mess, and turning the heat up for 10 minutes or so will burn off the rest so it can be easily scraped off.

* Cost effective. You can get eight hours of grilling out of a single propane tank.

* Your upfront costs might be higher, but there are a lot of different price points to fit most budgets.

* It may prove to be more cost effective in the long run especially if taken good care of, but this depends on the changing prices of gas.

Charcoal

* The taste and aroma of smoked wood can’t be beat.

* The purchase price is pretty reasonable initially, but over the long term it might be less so.

* They’re slow, both to get started and throughout the cooking. Lighting the briquettes and letting them burn down sufficiently can take up to 40 minutes. This won’t work for the times when you have a sudden desire to barbeque.

* Timing is important. There is no heat control, so you have to keep a close eye on your food.

* The cost of briquettes may prove to be quite expensive in the long run.

* Cleaning out ashes is a tedious job. You have to let the grate cool down completely before you can clean it, and it’s a tough job.

So there you have some BBQ tips to help you decide between gas and charcoal. You should choose the one which fits not only your budget, but also your lifestyle. Those who lead busy lives might prefer a gas barbeque because they require less time in order to fully cook a meal. But if you have lots of time, charcoal grills win hands down for flavor.