Grilling: Gas or Charcoal

[kukyfrope]

A family member has offered to buy me a grill for christmas. I've actually never used one much myself, so I'm wondering which would be best? Pros and cons of each maybe, or personal experiences?

If grilling, I mostly like to eat hamburgers, hotdogs and steaks if that helps any

 

[keeleysam]

Charcoal is the only way to go. It tastes so much better.

 

[StevenYoo]

gas is MUCH more convenient, but u'll never get that charcoal flavor.

unless u use smoky wood chips.

just get the gas grill and some wood chips

 

[bootymac]

Charcoal

 

[Atomicus]

Gas grill w/ those volcanic charcoal rocks on the bottom. My dad uses it and they add a nice smokey/charcoalish flavor compared to just gas.

Gas = convenience and more control over your temp, gas is cheap too

 

[Quasmo]

chacoal is awesome if you buy kingsford matchlite briquettes (charcoal) it lights damn quick with out fluid and you're ready to go. Get a weber grill they're super awesome.

 

[creedog]

Honestly, If you really arent into grilling get a gas grill as they are just sooo convenient to use. I hardly ever cook a piece of meat in the oven anymore.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: keeleysam
Charcoal is the only way to go. It tastes so much better.

 

[NFS4]

Charcoal for the flavor
Gas for speed (wanna just cook it quick and be done)

Overall, Charcoal FTW. Only an idiot would disagree

 

[DaWhim]

charcoal for real bbq

 

[vi edit]

Gas. Ultimate heat control, better cooking area, easier setup and cleanup. Infinitely more convenient.

My Dad used charcoal for 40 years...and finally switched over to a nice gas grill. He hasn't used his charcoal since. If I want a little smokey flavor I'll toss some mesquite chips on the burners.

 

[BurnItDwn]

If you are lazy, the go gas.
If you are not lazy, then go charcoal.

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: Quasmo
chacoal is awesome if you buy kingsford matchlite briquettes (charcoal) it lights damn quick with out fluid and you're ready to go. Get a weber grill they're super awesome.

that's some of the worst stuff to use. try using plain lump charcoal with wood chips.

 

[dawnbug]

My parents recently got a gas grill, and I don't really notice any major flavor differences. Things still taste yummy.

My parents were always big charcoal fans, but I think they've been won over by the gas grill, because it's so easy to use.

 

[Captante]

Charcoal does taste a bit better, but its a serious pain in the rear... after owning both for many years I'd only consider gas & as others have suggested get some mesquite ships for when you want the smoke flavor.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Captante
Charcoal does taste a bit better, but its a serious pain in the rear... after owning both for many years I'd only consider gas & as others have suggested get some mesquite ships for when you want the smoke flavor.

Pain in the ass?? :roll:

Crumpled newspaper + charcoal + this + one match FTW.

 

[WW]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Captante
Charcoal does taste a bit better, but its a serious pain in the rear... after owning both for many years I'd only consider gas & as others have suggested get some mesquite ships for when you want the smoke flavor.

Pain in the ass?? :roll:

Crumpled newspaper + charcoal + this + one match FTW.

exactly...lump charcoal in a chimney starter....

get a weber gold charcoal grill...it's awesome

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Captante
Charcoal does taste a bit better, but its a serious pain in the rear... after owning both for many years I'd only consider gas & as others have suggested get some mesquite ships for when you want the smoke flavor.

Pain in the ass?? :roll:

Crumpled newspaper + charcoal + this + one match FTW.

But then you still have the issue of waiting half an hour for the coals to get hot enough to use, and then 2 hours for them to cool down enough to be able to put things away.

I grill outside when it's 0 degrees, fscking around with charcoal isn't pleasant at that temp.
I'll take gas for the sheer convenience factor.

Why do you drive an automatic?

 

[PHiuR]

gas just because it's easier...

Charcoal if you want higher quality.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Captante
Charcoal does taste a bit better, but its a serious pain in the rear... after owning both for many years I'd only consider gas & as others have suggested get some mesquite ships for when you want the smoke flavor.

You're kidding, right? Charcoal is brain-dead simple. And what clean up? The ash falls into a collector and you empty that into the yard waste trash can and you're done.

You'll never catch me grilling with gas.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
But then you still have the issue of waiting half an hour for the coals to get hot enough to use, and then 2 hours for them to cool down enough to be able to put things away.

And in that half-hour I'm prepping the meat. It takes at least 15 minutes to prep the meat for a two-person meal. By the time I've got the meat ready, the coals are hot.

As for cool-down, so? There's nothing to put away, as I said the ash drops into a collector and you don't need to worry about that until it's full. And if you need to kill the fire sooner, just close the vents. 30 minutes then.

ZV

 

[WW]

with a chimney starter, I'm cooking in 15 minutes...

and on the weber gold, you shut the vents, and keep the remaining charcoal to use the next time....pull the lever on the bottom a few times clears all the ashes.

I bought the weber charcoal (I have a gas grill too), and didn't tell the wife. I cooked up some chicken breasts, and she takes a bite of it, looks at me and says, "what did you do to this chicken? it's incredible"

I make beer can chicken, steaks of course, chicken breasts, even bread and pizza on mine.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Captante
Charcoal does taste a bit better, but its a serious pain in the rear... after owning both for many years I'd only consider gas & as others have suggested get some mesquite ships for when you want the smoke flavor.

Pain in the ass?? :roll:

Crumpled newspaper + charcoal + this + one match FTW.

But then you still have the issue of waiting half an hour for the coals to get hot enough to use, and then 2 hours for them to cool down enough to be able to put things away.

I grill outside when it's 0 degrees, fscking around with charcoal isn't pleasant at that temp.
I'll take gas for the sheer convenience factor.

Why do you drive an automatic?

1) Wait an hour? Try 20-25 mins.
2) 2 hours to put things away? Close the vent and put the lid on. I clean up the next day.
3) Dump charcoal in chimney. Crumple newspaper, put in bottom. Light match and set on top of grill grate. Go back inside and sit the hell down.
4) Because my parents bought me the car and I said "THANK YOU" instead of "Bitch, take this sh!t back and get me a stick." If they bought me a stick, I'd probably be driving it still right now.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: WW
I make beer can chicken, steaks of course, chicken breasts, even bread and pizza on mine.

We've done our Thanksgiving turkey on our Weber for the last 10 years or so. It's amazing. Cooks much faster than the oven too. I highly recommend it.

ZV

 

[JulesMaximus]

Gas is great for slow cooking at precise temps. I prefer a good gas grill. With wood chips you can get a good smokey flavor.