Gas or charcoal?

[jdbower]

With a moratorium on political posts, how about a nice religious one?

Can you guess what my preference is?

The lighter is my favorite accessory

Since summer's nearly here it seems fitting to see if anyone has any neat toys for cooking the only way men know how - with fire! I just used my Weber Chimney Starter for the first time, starts the coals nicely without any lighter fluid at all.

 

[jbrumberg]

jdbower:

There is only one way to cook outdoors and it is not with gas. I use my grills year round despite the conditions outside. I laugh at blizzards !

 

[Gatorboy]

Put me in the propane (gas) column. Apparently there is more than one way to cook outdoors.

 

[Jstpssng]

Gas is much, much faster and convenient; you can be eating supper in the time it takes the charcoal to burn down.


However, I prefer the flavor of food grilled on charcoal.

 

[Jimbrown]

Well i used to be a charcoal only type and there are times when it is by far the best I now use gas. If I want wood flavor I put some wood chips ( I got about 300 ac of mesquite) in some aluminum foil on the grill with the food. I also used to grill all year long when I lived in Germany it drove the germans crazy. The problem is I usualy only grill a small amount and the charcoal goes to waste.

 

[RobS]

Both for me. Charcoal when I have the time and want the quality. Gas for speed. To further the discussion, matches or lighter? Nothing like an Ohio Blue Tip for nostalgia!

 

[RoyJackson]

Charcoal grilling results in higher green house gas emissions...

 

[Dozernut]

We carry two grills in the camper, a Coleman Road Trip and small Weber charcoal grill. The Weber for the steaks and brats and the Road Trip for cooking.

 

[MossRoad]

Charcoal grilling results in higher green house gas emissions...

So does eating cabbage.

I've been gas grilling for 20+ years, and while it is convenient and a LOT faster, I still prefer the tasted of charcoal. I've gotten around the lack of flavor with a gas grill by using different rubs and marinades. While it makes the food taste great, it still isn't the flavor of charcoal.

I'll have to try the wood chips on the gas grill. Can someone explain exactly how to do it?

 

[Bird]

I'll have to try the wood chips on the gas grill. Can someone explain exactly how to do it?

As Jimbrown said, you can wrap some chips in aluminum foil and put that on the grill, but Home Depot and other places sell little metal boxes with slotted lids. You just put your wood chips in on and set it on the grill (directly over the flame is the only place I've set mine). My Great Outdoors Smoker came with its own box for chips, but I have another one from Home Depot for the CharBroil grill. And like many other people, we used charcoal a lot many years ago, but not anymore; too much trouble, and the propane is too convenient.