[Closed] Barbecue: Gas or Coals, the definitive argument.

My BBQ had a cast iron plate over the gas, great for cooking anything that kicked off a smell. Cooked amazing stuff on it all over the place. Easy to carry, clean, and use. Got used more because it was easy and heated up in minutes. Perfect for 90% of people. For most BBQ is just an excuse to make a fire and cook some cheap sausages which would be better done on the gas.

Gas, every time.

Coals - get hotter, more smoke, man make fire, you can get some great results but requires more attention - e.g. having a hot and cool area of the grill

Gas - gets going quickly, way more control so better result usually, still lots of smoke, doesn't char quite as well if that's what you want

If you want to stand around something warm and smokey, drink beer and just eat stuff -> coal

If you want to get home, discover it's a gread evening and fancy a BBQ NOW, hang around outside, drink beer and eat great stuff -> gas

edit:and welcome to the summer threads 🙂

If im assing about on site its gas on a Cadac - nice piece of south african kit..and if feeding a lot of people it works very well.

Sun morning fry ups a treat - everyone seems to pop out of the woodwork for a bacon butty.

If i'm mobile then its a cobb..

Not really into the authentic smokey/burnt taste of a real BQ and just get fed up wiv smeling like ive been bq'd.

Gas is superior in every conceivable way. It's safer, cooks better, less mess, more convenient and cheaper. However when it's sunny and I'm pissed none of these things matter. So coals, everytime.

Gas? May as well cook in the kitchen. Safer, cooks better, more convenient and cheaper.

That's my view currently wrecker. I'm for the coals option, but Mrs Kryton wants a gas bbq for spontaneity...

Both?

Coals man myself but I can see the spontaneity angle.

That's my view currently wrecker. I'm for the coals option, but Mrs Kryton wants a gas bbq for spontaneity...

Coals = Barbecue

Gas = Hob

And here endeth the thread

Tried gas with lava rocks last year but couldn't get on with them. Hot spots, dead spots and flare ups. Discovered a wonder starter gel in france for coals and got consistent and relatively speedy glowing coals each time. The taste was so much better too.

Coals = Barbecue

Gas = Hob

And here endeth the thread

+1

A gas burner is not a BBQ.

but doesnt the flavour from a bbq come from the fats and juices released from the food hitting the coals and making smokey flavours? So hot coals heated by a gas flame or normal charcoal should give the same result?

I wonder if in a blind taste test people would be able to tell the difference.

but doesnt the flavour from a bbq come from the fats and juices released from the food hitting the coals and making smokey flavours? So hot coals heated by a gas flame or normal charcoal should give the same result?

I wonder if in a blind taste test people would be able to tell the difference.

Don't start bringing irrelevant so called facts into this, it's a primal cook vs fire thing, it's not just about the taste, it's about the whole cooking experience. 😉

My BBQ had a cast iron plate over the gas,

I have a cast iron griddle that fits on my gas hob. And an extractor hood.

The answer is of course charcoal. A decent kettle BBQ allows you to extinguish the coals and re-use next time, so hardly inconvenient.

Dunno but Jack Daniels wood shavings on the gas bbq did impart a fair bit more flavour compared to the lava rocks alone.

I have both a large gas and a Weber BBQ. Gas is reliable, gets hotter than charcoal, easy to cook on for perfect results, easier to clean afterwards which makes it perfect for large BBQ's parties of up to 50 people.
The Weber is easier to get out for the spontaneous BBQ's but can be hit and miss. I use a chimney (as above) to get the charcoal going but still you can be waiting ages for the temperature to build up to cook on often using a lot more fuel than stated. It is more satisfying to cook on charcoal but I don't notice much difference in flavour. I found my old wonky eyesore of a brick built BBQ to be better than the Weber for results.
I still use the Smokey Joe for camping which I picked up as a bargain at an end of season B&Q sales.

in no world is cooking on a gas cooker outdoors a barbecue

leffeboy - Member
Coals - get hotter, more smoke, man make fire, you can get some great results but requires more attention - e.g. having a hot and cool area of the grill

Gas - gets going quickly, way more control so better result usually, still lots of smoke, doesn't char quite as well if that's what you want

If you want to stand around something warm and smokey, drink beer and just eat stuff -> coal

If you want to get home, discover it's a gread evening and fancy a BBQ NOW, hang around outside, drink beer and eat great stuff -> gas

This.

I've got both. The gas Outback has lava rocks which when coated up properly with fat and juices does give a lot of flavour. The charcoal Weber is great for big joints of smoked meats. I use both when doing large groups, but cook different things on each.

Maybe these two evidential images settle the arument:

[img] [/img]

or

[img] [/img]

Maybe these two evidential images settle the arument:

competition barbequing.

Really?

Do they do the barbecues in eduro colouring and have special clothes for the event?

Really Competition barbecuing 😯

Is all charcoal created equal as I really struggle to get my Webber up to heat which I suspect may be to do with the cheap Aldi briquettes?

ok, can we just close this now. I'm seriously hungry 🙁

my Webber

Some brief research tells me whichever option it is, Weber Kettle it must be, with a cover. And a chimney if coals.

Hmm, not cheap though the gas ones.

Really Competition barbecuing

Is all charcoal created equal as I really struggle to get my Webber up to heat which I suspect may be to do with the cheap Aldi briquettes?

Our residential agreement means that charcoal BBQs are not allowed. We've got a gas one now and it's OK but not the same. The problem is that I'm not happy leaving the gas cylinder outside in indirect sunlight as it's stored in a real sun trap. Having to store the gas cylinder downstairs in the basement kind of kills the spontaneous argument as well... 🙁

I miss charcoal..

Starving now, so would happily accept food from either. But for me, it's not a BBQ if I haven't set fire to something. So charcoal.

You laugh, but it's HUGE in the US

Strange hobby but then again barbecues are not exactly prime vegan territory

Strange hobby but then again barbecues are not exactly prime vegan territory

BBQ comps are perhaps a bit strange but watching others compete in baking [i]on the television[/i] is a lot stranger. I can't believe that the beeb made that shite.

I prefer charcoal and would say that gas is just outdoor grilling, however, I can see the ease of use argument as my neighbour behind often just kicks his grill off for Sunday breakfast which I could never be arsed to do with the coals.

Also agree that decent quailty charcoal makes a massive difference to consistent heat and longevity of the cook.

I don't burn things on my BBQ either - there's a lot to be said for learning to use them properly and indirect cooking.

Either way though I think outdoor cooking is something we should all embrace more. This weekend I think it's time to dust off the tools (pretty late in the year for me not to have cooked yet).

Gas .... if only for the speed and convenience of it.

Coals = BBQ
Gas = Cooking Outside

Fwiw I use one of them chimneys to light my coals and it fires up pretty quickly.

The problem is that I'm not happy leaving the gas cylinder outside in indirect sunlight as it's stored in a real sun trap.

I think the answer to this is that you need both, more accurately 3 types of BBQ to survive.

I currently have a small but very sturdy "travel" BBQ that gets the most use. Easily big enough to cook for myself, Mrs-g and the mini-gs, almost all our BBQing is done on that.

Then we have some enourmous webber thing that mrs-g bought that gets used once or twice a year as cooking for less than 20 people with it is just a waste of heat and time.

What I don't have is a gas one, and I can see the space in my life for one of these. As soon as I get a bigger garden I am getting one purely for the "get in in after work, sun will be gone in 45 mins, can cook and eat in that time" of it all. Friends have one, and it has 'coals' on it that heat up, smells like a BBQ, tastes like a BBQ, sounds like a BBQ, it's a BBQ.

It's not the same as a proper one, you won't get the ritual of the building the fire, sitting around chatting and waiting and thats is what I would miss, but the people saying you should just cook something on the grill indoors are completely missing the point.

And if gas, why not just use the grill indoors...

I presume you don't bother going outside to ride bikes ?

I mean, what's the point, a turbo trainer in the garage is much more practical 🙂

I would say most important is the meat.

Put shite sausages on a coal BBQ and it isn't going to improve the situation.

Barbecue: Gas or Coals, the definitive argument.

Coals. Part of the fun of having a BBQ is the effort involved in making fire to cook like the caveman.

I mean if you want to cook with gas that's fine too but that's not BBQ coz that's simply cooking with outdoor kitchen.

Therefore, ask yourself this question do you the time? If you do then coals but if you don't then gas.

However, if you are organising some sort of outdoor orgies where food might be served than you might want to first cook using gas and then finished of with coals or vice versa depending on what you cook. This is to add consistency or flavour to the food. So there you go the answer.

My own personal preference is to use coals as I can't be arsed to mess around with gas equipment. For coals I just create BBQ stand using bricks and some wire mesh etc ...

😀

I like the Aussie approach. They have public barbeques in parks and public spaces that are typically free to use.

[img] [/img]

Controversially (for this thread) many of them are electric!

But which direction would we queue???? 🙂

"We've got a gas one now and it's OK but not the same. The problem is that I'm not happy leaving the gas cylinder outside in indirect sunlight as it's stored in a real sun trap"

you live in death valley ?

Odd isnt it ... if i could achieve the same flavor with my gas hob inside - would i bother BBQing ?

everything tastes better cooked on the open flame

Had one of these fitted to our camper once it turns up.

[img] [/img]

Like that ^

But I'd want it to make a suitable "Psshhhhhhh-tiku" noise as it slides out 😀

isnt that just a george foreman ?

I don't think the punchin' preacher would fit in that hole.

My BBQ had a cast iron plate over the gas,

What's the shizznit with this half drum malarky? Is there any practical reason it's better than (or even different to) a big rectangular tray?

Like that ^

But I'd want it to make a suitable "Psshhhhhhh-tiku" noise as it slides out

"My own personal preference is to use coals as I can't be arsed to mess around with gas equipment."

yep messing around with something thats - less messy , easier to handle , more energy stored per unit volume thus easier to store , something thats waterproof , something thats up to temperature quicker......

while i agree with the sentiment your justifications shite 😉

fwiw - i was anti gas till i had some bbq food done by a friend of a friend on his BBQ and it tasted soo good - nice smoked flavour , not charred/burnt and no grease.

went over to the guy to ask what his secret was - two things he said, he had a quality gas BBQ he said this gave him more reliable control and 2 - he had a meat thermometer allowing him to prove things were up to temp without the normal telltail that the uk use for bbq....black on the outside cold on the inside :d

the fact he was a chef to trade and owned/ran his own hotel probably helped :d

Ah! You can tell the weather is nice again as the definitive Gas or Coals thread has appeared.

toby1 - Member
I prefer charcoal and would say that gas is just outdoor grilling, however, I can see the ease of use argument as my neighbour behind often just kicks his grill off for Sunday breakfast which I could never be arsed to do with the coals.

OK, I'm beginning to see an argument in favour of getting a gas BBQ here...

I have a Weber Q120 (gas), for weekdays and a Weber Kettle for weekends. They are both brilliant.

I have a Weber Q120 (gas), for weekdays and a Weber Kettle for weekends. They are both brilliant.

I was looking at those. How long do those 500g cannisters last?

Hang your heads in shame gas boys. If it's not charcoal it's not BBQ and if you think it is you're simply wrong.

My friend showed me a trick on his Gas BBQ of using a small plank of wood on top of the grill, which is ultimately sacrificed, but gives off the required smoke to add flavour, he get 3-4 uses of each piece about 6"x 2" before it's gone. You can also cook fish on top of the plank.

Gas BBQ for Sunday morning fry up is ace - Sunday afternoon however and it's coals all the way.

I like the steel tube thingy for lighting the coals where do you get those from then?

EDIT - just seen this btw..

OK, I'm beginning to see an argument in favour of getting a gas BBQ here...

A similar effect can be achieved by cooking your breakfast indoors, and taking it outside to eat.

Gas for grilling ..Coals for BBQ-ing.. they're two different things.

both cooking outdoors

If it's not charcoal it's not BBQ and if you think it is you're simply wrong.

Also weber q120 and coal weber kettle; great combo. Breakfast or two small bits of fish for diiner is much easier on the gas but I prefer the coals.

Kryton - In answer to your question re the canister, not a huge amount of time. Perfect for what it was designed for but not ideal for relatively frequent home use. I bought the adapter tubing and run mine off a normal gas bottle now. The hose kit was about 30 quid from memory.

I'd rather stick needles in my eyes than buy a gas bbq. You don't need to spend big on a webber as a lot of copies do the job well. You just need a good air flow, variable height on the rack and a lid. Always use charcoal, never use brickettes and control the temp by using the air control and lid.

The key to barbequing well, is temp control, getting to the right temp and keeping it there. Ideally keep the lid down most of the time.

(that was for the non bbq expert btw) 8)

Coals = Barbecue
Gas = Hob

A gas burner is not a BBQ. + millions...

Had a weber kettle for 3 years and a decent outback gas bbq, didn't touch the outback in three years and just got rid of it...

The ONLY time I'd consider gas is when you've got small children and not a lot of time between getting home from work and having to have dinner ready. Kids are now big enough to wait the extra 15mins or so now, so the gas is gone...

My way of looking at it:

Cheap gas BBQ = crap, you end up with hot spots, cold spots, flames burning food etc

Cheap coal BBQ = a coal BBQ, just may not last as long or be as easy to use but with care you can still get the same results as any coal BBQ.

Expensive gas BBQ £>>£ "expensive" coal BBQ

I also like to be able to stand around the coal BBQ and enjoy the heat as the evening draws in. Doing that with gas is a waste of gas.

If you want to splash out on a decent gas bbq then go for it. Just don't get a cheap one. I find coal is much more cost effective and nothing to go wrong.

I'd rather stick needles in my eyes than buy a gas bbq.

You don't need to spend big on a webber as a lot of copies do the job well. You just need a good air flow, variable height on the rack.

Always use charcoal, never use brickettes and control the temp by using the air control and lid.

bar•be•cue or bar•be•que (?b?r b??kyu)

n., v. -cued or -qued, -cu•ing or -qu•ing. n.

. a grill, spit, or fireplace for cooking food over an open fire.

i guess i could achieve the same thing if i had a gas hob and i put a wire mesh grill over it at an appropriate height instead of my frying pan

Gas? May as well cook in the kitchen. Safer, cooks better, more convenient and cheaper.

(BTW, a gas man here, but I am buying myself a nice new charcoal one this year too).

My mate BBQ Ben says it's got to be coals.
(He is a former UK BBQ Champion)
That's good enough for me.[url= http://www.bbqben.co.uk/ ]BBQ Ben[/url]
He also wrote the book on it.
[url=www.bbqa.co.uk]Haynes[/url]

Why would anyone think the gas vs coal thing is to do with manliness? It's to do with what BBQ is and isn't, that's all. I'm not saying you can't get nice food on a gas grill but it's just not a BBQ.

I have a gas BBQ (Weber grill), Coal BBQ , Coal Smoker and an Electric smoker.

All of them are damn good. Personally for 'grilling' ie burgers, steaks, fish, octopus, prawns etc - I prefer a gas BBQ. For low and slow style cooking - ie butt, brisket, ribs, whole chicken, an electric smoker is by far the easiest and best for results.

But I do enjoy fire - so I do use the coal ones too....and the results are also good.

Gas plus coal plus portable means I can cover all bases. Gas useful for everyday cooking, we BBQ 5 nights a week some weeks ! Coal good if we have more time at weekends (small kids as well not always conducive to hot BBQs). Portable great in campervan for everything.

Woo hoo. She's agreed to a Webber premium bundle with ash catcher, chimney and cover for £250. But she's just seen the Weber outdoor fireplace.

This could be expensive.

I've had some cracking food at barbecues and of course, some shit food as well. It's always been more to do with the person stood in front of the thing, and the quality of what he or she was cooking than the heat source.

Shamefully we have a Weber fire as well and its a bloody awesome wee thing. Although those VW logburners on Facebook look quite cool as well !

I got a [url= http://m.homedepot.com/p/Weber-Genesis-E-330-3-Burner-Propane-Gas-Grill-in-Black-6531001/202830392 ]Weber E-330[/url] and a kettle BBQ. I used to live in Houston so outdoors cooking occurred several times a week. I've never actually unboxed the kettle BBQ (it was free) as the Weber is sooooo good!

With a bit of skill and some advice off my guru [url= http://amazingribs.com ]Meathead[/url] you can cook some amazing proper Texas smoked BBQ. It turns any sunny day into a cooking extravaganza. Even though I say so myself, my 12 hour applewood smoked pork butt is legendary on my street every year we do the annual street party.

It's not the BBQ, it's the ingredients and labour that go into it. So for me, gas wins for control of heat and convenience. Nursing a coal BBQ for 12 hours would be a ball ache.

Went to use my gas barbecue at the weekend and it's died a death after a good few years service. Was thinking of going back to a charcoal one anyway which I'l be using as a smoker as well, anyone have any recommendations on what are good?

I did use to use the gas one which I'd convert into a smoker and that worked fairly well. I like to do proper pulled pork/brisket etc as well as having the option of doing more kid friendly stuff should it be needed.

These guys use charcoal. That means it must be the best.

The problem is that I'm not happy leaving the gas cylinder outside in indirect sunlight as it's stored in a real sun trap.

You are joking aren't you?

Just to clarify, I live in Switzerland (hence the petty residential restrictions on charcoal BBQs) and it can hit 40+ degrees in summer. The gas bottle we have is black, it's in a south-facing location and I honestly wasn't sure if it was a good idea to leave a gas bottle in the sun all day....
I've now googled it and it would appear that 52 degrees is unsafe (no worries there!) and it's actually not advised to store bottles underground so I think I'll be leaving it outside, attached to the BBQ in the future. 😀

I've had some cracking food at barbecues and of course, some shit food as well. It's always been more to do with the person stood in front of the thing, and the quality of what he or she was cooking than the heat source.

This makes the most sense really (despite being from dd ;)), it is about the quality of the cook.

If you spend 12 hours marinating meat, cook it well at the correct temperature and serve it with nice sides you'll get a better result than scorching crap sausages on either a gas or coal grill.

Personally I'd love to have both, both I'm actually more into finding a smoker before even looking at a gas grill. Anyone looking to sell a Weber Smokey mountain for not stupid money please let me know. At the moment struggling to justify the £300 it is for the size I want.

Might have a run to some local bbq shops this weekend though to see if there are any deals around.

Anyone looking to sell a Weber Smokey mountain for not stupid money please let me know. At the moment struggling to justify the £300 it is for the size I want.