The debate continues to rage on over which grill is better gas or charcoal, and the most debateable point that die-hard grilling aficionados swear by is the unique taste that the flavors gives off to the foods being grilled. Here’s some of the advantages and disadvantages of using either type of grill.
Taste
While charcoal does tend to give off that smokey flavor of the charcoal being used – mesquite, cherry, hickory, alder, kiawe, etc., some people argue that depending on how fast the meat is cooked and how long the time is given to absorb the flavor from the charcoal the difference may not be all that noticeable. Some gas grill manufacturers in an attempt to address that taste issue have designed models that catches the drippings from the food being cooked and infuses the flavor back into the food being cooked.
One advantage that a charcoal grill has over a gas grill is the ability to reach a higher temperature needed for searing the food being cooked. Some of the cheaper gas models may not be able to reach high enough temperatures to sear the food, about 600 degrees fahrenheit.
Convenience
Gas grills will start up instantly and takes only a few minutes to reach cooking temperature, while charcoal grills can take some time to start and about 15-20 minutes to get to the temerature needed for cooking. Avoid using charcoal lighter fluid and starter charcoal as they tend to add unwanted flavors into the food, instead use a chimney starter to light the coals.
Charcoal BBQ grills tend to be more portable as you can take it to the beach or to a picnic, but there’s always that messy cleanup of the charcoal and the ashes afterward. To address the portability issue gas grill manufacturers now make a number of portable gas models which allows you to just pick up and go.
With charcoal grills you also need to be farther away from structures like your house as they tend to flare up, whereas a gas grill will have controls and dials so that you regulate the flame and keep a more cosistent cooking temperature
Cost
Gas models tend to be pricier than than charcoal models. With the gas models prices starting at around the $100-300 range and depending on the features could run up to $800-$1,500 or more. Charcoal grills start at around $30 with the deluxe models costing upwards of $400.
Which one should you buy? I have both types of grills including an electric grill for indoor cooking at the table. Poultry, fish, breads, vegetables and fast cooking meats goes on the gas grill, while meats that take longer to cook and those that require smoking goes to the charcoal grill.
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