Is Gas BBQ Grilling Better Than Charcoal?

When you’re looking to invest in a BBQ, you want one that’ll last. But with lots of different options out there, it can be tricky to know which is the best option.

One factor that you may be tossing between is the age-old question, gas or charcoal? Is one really better than the other? Are there many differences between the two?

Most people usually prefer one to the other, but they both have negatives as well as benefits. This guide will run through the pros and cons to help you decide which is best suited to you.

The Benefits of a Gas Barbecue

A gas bbq provides the complete grilling experience that’s convenient and brings ease to cooking outdoors.

If you’re wanting a quick and easy solution to BBQ cooking, gas is the way to go. Although it sometimes isn’t the most favourable for the lack of authentic charcoal taste, it’s perfect for those who want the speed.

Why Choose Gas?

There are many benefits to choosing a gas BBQ, the best-selling points are listed below:

– Food cooked in a flash, perfect for when you simply can’t wait. It can take just 10 minutes to heat up a gas barbecue.

– You want the ease of cooking. It’s fast so you can use it mid-week as well as at the weekends for larger groups.

– Precision cooking. You can set temperatures to make sure the whole grill is the same, whereas on a charcoal BBQ it can be tricky to get the same heat all over.

– Less mess from charcoal. You don’t need to worry about the fuss of charcoal cooking.

Although the temperature control can be helpful, it also means that you can struggle with heat retention. You’ll also find it difficult to create flavoursome crusts on the meat unlike on a charcoal BBQ.

You’re also limited when cooking indirectly or if you’re wanting to smoke your food. Gas BBQs are the more simplistic style of barbecuing food, so if you’re more than an amateur you may want a BBQ that offers more.

The Benefits of a Charcoal Barbecue

Charcoal barbecues are popular due to their versatility, authentic BBQ flavour and _. If you want to get the most out of it, you’ll need patience and some BBQ experience. But if you love BBQing, you’ll enjoy trying out new things on a charcoal barbecue.

Why Choose Charcoal?

Charcoal is the chosen BBQ for most enthusiasts for many reasons… 

– The versatility. You can experiment and cook a variety of meals on a charcoal BBQ. Sear steak quickly with a hot heat, or slow cook meat on a low heat.

– You’re able to smoke food using the radiant heat to add extra flavour. This adds to the BBQ experience and allows you to impress your guests even further.

– When you cook on a charcoal BBQ, less moisture is lost resulting in juicier meat.

Charcoal Barbecue Negatives

For those who don’t have much experience cooking on a barbecue, a charcoal BBQ may take some time to get used to. The live fire can make it difficult to control the heat, but after multiple use you can start to use this to your advantage.

Charcoal barbecues also take longer to heat up than the gas counterpart. It can take around 20 – 30 minutes for coals to heat up, so if you’re wanting a quick meal a charcoal BBQ might not be the best way to go.

In relation to the extra smoky flavour, there are many other ways you can achieve this if you don’t have a charcoal BBQ. Using sugars, oils and marinades, you’re still able to achieve the authentic barbecue flavour you desire without using charcoal.

Which Is for You?

Choosing the right BBQ for you is all about how you want to use it – do you want it for quick, simple burgers, or do you want to venture into ribs, smoky steaks and a lot more than your usual barbecue meal? 

If less hassle is what you’re after, a gas BBQ is your go to. If you’re a BBQ enthusiast, you’ll prefer the challenge of charcoal.