The time has come to buy a new BBQ. You have been weighing your options and have carefully considered what you are about to do. Now it’s time to take the plunge. However, purchasing a BBQ is a process in and of itself. You must now go into research mode to determine the price, size, capabilities and type of grill you would prefer to have. And all this before you can step into the store. Chief among those decisions is the choice of fuel you would like to use. So you have to ascertain whether a gas barbeque or a charcoal one suits your needs best.
Choosing between gas and charcoal BBQs is not straightforward. Both types have numerous advantages supporting their use. Therefore, you may find that the finer details drive your final decision.
So, read on for more about the differences between charcoal and gas BBQs. It is also the first step in how you choose which of the two is more likely to suit your purposes.
Cost
Establishing a workable price range narrows down the list of what you can get, thus focusing your choice much faster.
With that in mind, you also have to consider what determines the different price points. Gas BBQ prices vary the most. Those at the lower price tier often cost between $50 and $100, while the higher-end types can go for as high as $5000. In contrast, both the lower-end and higher-end charcoal BBQs cost less than gas, primarily because of design differences.
Ease of use
If you are concerned about how much effort you must put into operating your BBQ, opting for gas may be your best bet. It takes only three steps to get a gas grill ready for cooking: light it, set your preferred temperature, and prepare your meal.
Compare this to charcoal BBQs where just the lighting requires you to take a few extra steps, like laying the briquettes or wood, getting the right kindling, checking the vents, fanning the flames, then waiting until the fuel is burning before you can begin the cooking process. Additionally, any temperature adjustments are tricky to execute.
Temperature Range/Regulation
Gas BBQs may be easy to light, but they don’t always attain high enough temperatures to allow you to take full advantage of cooking different foods on the appliance. Most lower-end types will limit you to temperatures that don’t allow for the perfect sear on a steak. However, some brands address this disparity by offering more efficient models that use fewer BTUs while maintaining high-performance levels.
Conversely, charcoal BBQs produce higher temperatures while burning. These capabilities make them the grill of choice with meat connoisseurs. The only drawback with charcoal grills is the difficulty regulating the cooking temperatures. Understanding how to do so takes some trial and error, learning and patience, especially when cooking different food types. In contrast, most gas BBQs come with easily adjustable temperature gauges that allow more precise regulation.
Maintenance
Maintaining a charcoal BBQ is more straightforward than using gas. While clean-up for the former is more involving than the latter- burning charcoal produces soot which is more difficult to clean- gas BBQs require more in-depth maintenance in the long run. You will need to check and replace the fuel lines and gas connections, periodically refill the tanks and replace the ignition or gauges at different intervals.
With these facts in mind, choosing a gas and charcoal BBQ boils down to which one ticks more of your preference boxes. However, no matter your choice, buying one will allow you to enjoy the benefits of flavourful grilled food whenever the urge strikes you.
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