What's the point of grilling with propane?

[Arkitech]

From what I understand it's clean burning (as in no smoke). So what's the point, just throw the meat in the oven. Same difference right? Or have I been watching too much King of the Hill.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

Charcoal causes cancer.

 

[iamwiz82]

Charcoal causes cancer.

tasty, tasty cancer.

 

[Red Squirrel]

The flames and such cook in a different way that adds more flavor. It does not burn as clean as an electric element.

 

[FoBoT]

It's because you taste the meat, not the heat
grilling is all about the meat

 

[OCGuy]

People in condos/apartments don't smoke out the neighbors.

Also it allows the men to stand around something and drink beer while the women make the side dishes.

 

[effowe]

Taste the meat, not the heat.

Edit: Beaten, damnit.

 

[Eug]

You can't grill in the oven. Propane provides a nice open flame. No smoke, but if you really want smoke, some BBQs (like my Weber) does have a compartment for wood chips for adding smoke.

 

[weadjust]

I have a cast iron griddle on my propane grill grates. When I cook a ribeye steak Alton Brown style there so much smoke it looks like my carport is on fire. I use the charcoal grill for chicken and burgers.

 

[mmntech]

All depends on what you're cooking. A gas grill is nothing like an oven because you can't sear in an oven. The biggest advantage is better control the heat. High heat is there when you need it, gone when you don't. Foods that benefit from this include tender vegetables, breads/baked goods such as pizza, and stuff that needs high heat searing like streak, lamb, and pork chops. Imparting a smoky flavor doesn't really help these types of food.

Charcoal works well for things like burgers, ribs, chicken. Medium heat foods that don't have a lot of favour on their own. You'll see a lot of professional BBQ chefs use both types of grill for these reasons. Best of both worlds.

 

[BladeVenom]

You can add wood chips.

 

[Howard]

I think grilling, as a concept, is entirely different from baking or broiling...

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

From what I understand it's clean burning (as in no smoke). So what's the point, just throw the meat in the oven. Same difference right? Or have I been watching too much King of the Hill.

No, you were just asleep or stoned when someone tried to teach you to cook.

 

[MotionMan]

From what I understand it's clean burning (as in no smoke). So what's the point, just throw the meat in the oven. Same difference right? Or have I been watching too much King of the Hill.

Wrong.

Have you really never eaten something that was cooked on a propane BBQ? Wow.

MotionMan

 

[Red Squirrel]

You know, I never thought of adding wood chips to my BBQ, that would be interesting. Not sure what the best way would be to do this though, enclose them in something but allow a small hole for the smoke to come out? Don't want them to actually catch on fire, just want them to burn. I'll have to try experimenting with that, and have a fire extinguisher handy, just in case.

 

[MotionMan]

You know, I never thought of adding wood chips to my BBQ, that would be interesting. Not sure what the best way would be to do this though, enclose them in something but allow a small hole for the smoke to come out? Don't want them to actually catch on fire, just want them to burn. I'll have to try experimenting with that, and have a fire extinguisher handy, just in case.

They sell wood chip smoker boxes like these:

MotionMan

 

[Drako]

Convenience

/thread

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Wrap the woood chips (after soaking them in water for a 1/2 hour to 1 hour) in double-wrapped aluminum foil, poke some small holes in the foil and place them over a burner on your propane grill. No special smoker box is required. Works for charcoal grills too. Place the foil-wrapped wood chips directly on the coals.

 

[Drako]

My wife and I cook out on the gas and/or charcoal grills spring to fall, and winter when we can - we live in California. Cooking inside the house just heats thing up inside. We like to cook outside when we can, and propane grills are just pretty damn convenient.

 

[Eug]

If you really want to smoke a chicken or a prime rib or something, what works better is a dedicated smoker. You can get an electric one for a few hundred bucks.

It's much harder to regulate the temp for smoking inside a BBQ than it is in an electric smoker.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wrap the woood chips (after soaking them in water for a 1/2 hour to 1 hour) in double-wrapped aluminum foil, poke some small holes in the foil and place them over a burner on your propane grill. No special smoker box is required. Works for charcoal grills too. Place the foil-wrapped wood chips directly on the coals.

That's what I was thinking too. Think I will give that a try next time I'm making chicken in the BBQ.

 

[Dallascisco]

Lets see, you'd rather cook in an oven which will heat up your house on an already 90+ degree day? Way to make your AC unit work that much harder.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

So what's the point, just throw the meat in the oven. Same difference right?

you sound like a friend of mine. he can't cook to save his life either.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Also it allows the men to stand around something and drink beer while the women make the side dishes.

This.

 

[Anubis]

convenience, and ease of use