Gas, Charcoal or Both?
Gas, Charcoal or Both?
One of my boyhood memories is of watching my Dad struggle on the weekends to start a charcoal fire with lighter fluid (gasoline when there was no lighter fluid around). Looking back, I don't think we ever used the grill except on weekends because of his work schedule.
He would wait around for the fire to get hot before grilling up some chicken pieces or hamburgers but my dad is one of those guys who can't sit still. So he would get involved in some other project that had to be done and forget about the fire. When he came back and found the coals burned out, he would say something under his breath and start all over again.
Now that I'm a dad myself grilling for my own family, I have the choice of either gas or charcoal. At the moment, I use a gas grill -- I love how easy it is to turn on the gas valve, hit the ignite button and instantaneously have a fire. But I'm very close to picking up an inexpensive charcoal grill that I can use on the weekends. Maybe it's getting your hands dirty arranging the charcoal, the time standing around watching the coals get hot or even the smell of the charcoal burning. Whatever it is, there is something nostalgic about grilling with charcoal that I want to experience again.
Yeah sure there is more clean up, you have to get rid of the used up coals. And then there is always the possibility that the coals will burn out in the middle of cooking. That wouldn't happen with a gas grill, although there was a time I couldn't figure out why my steaks were taking so long to cook until I realized the gas tank had run out.
But there are also a lot of benefits to grilling with charcoal, which leads me to this article. I wanted to look at the pros and cons of grilling with charcoal and figure out how they affect my style of cooking. I'm not even going to approach electric grilling but it's something you may want to check out for yourself some time.
I put the question of gas vs. charcoal to a couple of my professional chef friends who had opposite positions. Although their preferences were different, they both came up with great reasons why they choose their style.
One chef listened quietly while I ranted about the virtues of gas grilling, waited until I was finished, and then said, "Yes, charcoal grills are more work and what type of grill you use will depend on your lifestyle and the amount of time you have available, but in the end you can't compare gas grilling to charcoal grilling. Forget about it, charcoal wins hands down."
When I asked why he was so enthusiastic towards charcoal he said, "Because with charcoal, you add more flavor and you can make a hotter fire and heat is your friend."
The other chef I spoke with favored a gas grill for the convenience and felt you could achieve the same great tasting food by various cooking methods, food prep, and the use of woods for a smoky flavor.
Who's right? In my opinion there is no right answer and it really just depends on personal preferences. It really depends on your lifestyle and how often you plan to use the grill. Look at my list of benefits for both gas and charcoal to see which fits best into your lifestyle.
Benefits of Gas and Charcoal Grills
Gas
- Push button convenience
- No messy charcoal to deal with
- Easy to start
- Control temperature with a dial
- Control temperatures for longer periods of time
- Can still use wood for smoky flavor
- Wind is not a factor
Charcoal
- More heat
- Hotter grill
- Flavor from charcoal
- More intense smells
- More hands-on experience
About the Author:
G. Stephen Jones created the Reluctant Gourmet™ back in 1997 as a hobby to assist other novice cooks who may find the art of cooking a little daunting. As an ex-Wall Street broker and Stay-at-Home Dad, he tries to explore cooking from a different perspective. Visit http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/ for more tips, techniques, and recipes.
Copyright © 2004 G. Stephen Jones, The Reluctant Gourmet™
