The Eternal Barbecue Question: Gas or Charcoal?
Charcoal or gas: which is the best choice in a BBQ? The debate has been going on for quite a long time now. There are pluses and minuses to each, but many people have a strong loyalty to whichever type they prefer. But if you’re new to barbeque cooking and you don’t know where to start, here’s a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Gas
* Quick. In just 10 minutes, the grill is ready.
* You can easily control the heat. You have more leeway when it comes to timing the meal. 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.
* Versatile. The side burner can be used for cooking veggies, and the rotisserie is useful for slow roasting of large cuts of meats.
* Flavor. Some people don’t like the flavor of food prepared on a gas grill. Plus, you won’t get the aromatic flavor of wood smoke that you will with a charcoal flame.
* Easy to clean. There are no ashes to clean up. A tray to catch the drippings handles most of the cleaning, and you can increase the heat for several minutes in order to burn off the remains so that they can be more easily removed.
* 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 can save you money over the long term if you maintain it properly, provided gas doesn’t skyrocket in price.
Charcoal
* The flavor and aroma of wood smoking can’t be matched.
* Initial cost is low, but it may not be efficient in the long run.
* 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’s no way to regulate the heat, so it’s important that you watch your food carefully while it’s cooking.
* If you barbeque a lot, the expense of charcoal briquettes can really add up.
* Cleaning out ashes is a tedious job. The grate is hard to clean, and it takes a long time for the unit to cool down enough to clean it.
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. Busy people might want to get a gas grill as they are highly effective time wise. However, if you have some time on your hands, you can’t beat the flavor that charcoal gives.
