Taste: Gas Grill vs. Charcoal Grill (using mass market charcoal)?

[mshan]

I currently own a Weber Baby Q100 gas grill.

Seen the Weber One Touch Gold charcoal grill recommended on these forums before.

Just wondering, in terms of taste, how my gas grill would stack up again that Weber grill, using mass market charcoal such as Kingsford, etc. and a Weber Chimney Starter.

 

[spacejamz]

/pulls up lawnchair and opens up a beer

 

[chorb]

edit: I was thinking briquette, charcoal would taste better.

probably taste like lighter fluid if you go the charcoal route.

If you're just cooking burgers or steaks that are on the grill for a short amount of time it wont matter really. Gas will just make things quicker to set up and cook and easier to clean.

 

[IGBT]

gas. the eco-KOOKS are going to ban coal.

 

[zerocool84]

Well the biggest thing is that many people don't know how to cook on coal. They either undercook it or overcook it. With gas you can control the fire to make it easier for most people to grill.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Originally posted by: IGBT
gas. the eco-KOOKS are going to ban coal.

So glad you stopped in and had something new to say (oh wait...) and thats a great reason for why he should go with gas right now, since it makes zero sense whatsoever.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: IGBT
gas. the eco-KOOKS are going to ban coal.

Gas tastes better because the eco-KOOKS are going to ban coal?
I find your logic impeccable.

Charcoal > gas

 

[Feldenak]

When I can head over to Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, Kroger, etc... and pick up hardwood lump charcoal, I'd say that's mass market. I have both a gas grill and a charcoal one. Can't beat the gas grill for convenience but I prefer my food cooked over the coals.

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: chorb
probably taste like lighter fluid if you go the charcoal route.

If you're just cooking burgers or steaks that are on the grill for a short amount of time it wont matter really. Gas will just make things quicker to set up and cook and easier to clean.

I beg to differ. Unless you use practically the whole damn bottle, I don't see your food tasting like it.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: chorb
probably taste like lighter fluid if you go the charcoal route.

The OP specified using a chimney starter, no lighter fluid used.

 

[aplefka]

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: chorb
probably taste like lighter fluid if you go the charcoal route.

If you're just cooking burgers or steaks that are on the grill for a short amount of time it wont matter really. Gas will just make things quicker to set up and cook and easier to clean.

I beg to differ. Unless you use practically the whole damn bottle, I don't see your food tasting like it.

Seconded. Any lighter fluid should be long gone by the time the coals burn down to a cookable glow.

 

[Krazy4Real]

Originally posted by: Feldenak
Can't beat the gas grill for convenience but I prefer my food cooked over the coals.

This.

 

[sactoking]

Originally posted by: mshan
Weber Chimney Starter.

Originally posted by: chorb
probably taste like lighter fluid if you go the charcoal route.

If you're using lighter fluid with a chimney starter, you don't deserve to grill.

OP, go with some of the widely-available lump charcoal like Cowboy or Royal Oak. Cowboy can be found at both Lowes and Home Depot (I think). Wal-Mart carries Royal Oak. They're both better than briquettes. Charcoal grilling with these is WAY better than gas.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: chorb
probably taste like lighter fluid if you go the charcoal route.

If you're just cooking burgers or steaks that are on the grill for a short amount of time it wont matter really. Gas will just make things quicker to set up and cook and easier to clean.

err, that would be briquette. Charcoal is not soaked in kerosene. I like charcoal. If you are too lazy to use a charcoal chimney, get a George Foreman grill.

 

[mshan]

Didn't realize lump hardwood charcoal was so readily available.

Think there maybe a charcoal grill sometime in my future.

(just edited my OP to include Weber Chimney Starter, so previous comments about lighter fluid were probably not out of line)

 

[Dacalo]

I am partial to charcoal myself. Gas is good too, but charcoal just seems to taste better in my experience.

 

[PottedMeat]

How many people actually use lighter fluid? I've always used a pile of sticks & newspaper or a chimney starter.

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: IGBT
gas. the eco-KOOKS are going to ban coal.

Gas tastes better because the eco-KOOKS are going to ban coal?
I find your logic impeccable.

Charcoal > gas

your as thick as two bricks. they want to ban coal. so get the gas grill rather then something you can't use.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: IGBT

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: IGBT
gas. the eco-KOOKS are going to ban coal.

Gas tastes better because the eco-KOOKS are going to ban coal?
I find your logic impeccable.

Charcoal > gas

your as thick as two bricks. they want to ban coal. so get the gas grill rather then something you can't use.

Err, you do realise the coal for cooking is not the mineral coal for power plant right?

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: IGBT
gas. the eco-KOOKS are going to ban coal.

BBQ Pellets>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Charcoal > gas

Fixed.

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: IGBT

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: IGBT
gas. the eco-KOOKS are going to ban coal.

Gas tastes better because the eco-KOOKS are going to ban coal?
I find your logic impeccable.

Charcoal > gas

your as thick as two bricks. they want to ban coal. so get the gas grill rather then something you can't use.

Err, you do realise the coal for cooking is not the mineral coal for power plant right?

they want to ban it. when ever they declare a "save the air day" outdoor gas grills are exempt.

 

[hiromizu]

you should be using soler energy. be green

 

[xSauronx]

for short things, flavor is about the same. longer cooking, go with charcoal

i have a weber smokey joe that i can throw in the car easy. i could have gotten gas but...well its less like awesome to open a valve and click a button

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

For grilling I prefer charcoal. For chicken I use a wireless probe thermometer. One caveat about lump charcoal, it burns hot and fast. I mean HOT and FAST. You have to watch it. There are natural briquettes sold at Lowes (Stubbs) that work well with no funny taste and a lot less ash. It lasts longer so unless you are doing something that requires high heat for a shorter time, you might find that a better choice.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Charcoal tastes better for grilling anything. That includes short-time stuff, like burgers. It's not even close.

Gas grills are just outside ovens. They are fast and convenient, but the food tastes no different than if you cooked it on the stove. If you cook burgers on a gas grill, you might as well just have fried them in a pan, or gotten one of those grill-pan things to put over your burner.