Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The Great Grill Debate: Gas or Charcoal?
Grilling up a storm with the deluxe gas Tru-Infrared grill at the Char-Broil Live Grilling Tour
The grilling community may share a common love of cooking outdoors, but there is one burning question that divides them: charcoal or gas? Any hard core roaster, BBQ master, or grillin’ god worth his/her salt knows that the issue is far from clean cut. Here is our wrap up of the issues at hand.
Appeal. The shiny stainless steel gas grill holds an allure all its own, as much a status symbol as a new Lexus. The charcoal grill holds to its name a long-standing tradition of down-home cooking, evoking hot summer days from your childhood.
Cost. Gas grills are generally more expensive, ranging anywhere from $200 to $20,000. However their fuel is cheaper than charcoal, and chances are you won’t have to make as many trips to the store. Convenience is one of the biggest reasons people go for gas. No lugging charcoal bags or cleaning up layers of ash after a long cook out; with gas, life is easy.
Results. Flavor is where things get tricky. Although charcoal may be a bit more of a hassle than gas, it produces a smoky char-grilled flavor that can’t be beat. Nothing is better than tending a rack of ribs until they fall off the bone. And today you can find all kinds of interesting wood varieties that add depth and flavor to your results. Gas gives you speedy heat up and temperature control, perfect for the weeknight griller or the half-time chef. If you’re a stickler for consistent results, gas is the way to go.
In the end it all comes down to personal preference. The ease of a gas grill encourages you to make it a frequent option – and mo’ grillin’ mo’ better, right? Charcoal takes more attention and fussing, but the finger-lickin’ payoff is worth the wait. So what do you think? Gas or Charcoal? Check out our facebook page and let us know what makes you a grill master!