Choosing the right barbecue - Gas versus Charcoal
QUICK COMPARISONSCharcoal
- Traditional choice for distinctive smoky taste and flavour
- Easily portable, ideal for picnics and the beach
- Economical to buy and to run
- Easy to set up - no need for a gas bottle
- Takes a good 20 minutes to warm up
Gas
- Easy to light and ready to cook in minutes
- Quick and simple heat regulation
- Convenient and versatile with many optional extras
- Cleaner cooking, and easier to clean
- Can be difficult to set up initially
- Good for entertaining large groups due to speed of cooking
So you need to decide whether your priority is speed offered with gas barbecues or the authentic taste of a charcoal barbecue.
Most people previously opted for charcoal barbecues as they are relatively cheap to buy and maintain. However, the price of gas barbecues has come down over the past few years and the range of models available has increased.
It is important that you cook your food well, so the gas barbecue may be the better bet if you haven't used one before, as you need to spend the time achieving and maintaining the desired temperature with a charcoal one. If you go for gas, try and opt for one that has the gas connections between controls, burners and gas hoses pre-made otherwise you will need to set aside time to do this yourself. You will also need to connect it to a portable gas cylinder - not difficult, but important when you consider the extras required to get a gas barbecue started.
Choosing the most appropriate grill
- Disposable -Simplest to use. Great for its portability
- Charcoal tray - Cheap and easy grilling. Look at cast-iron 'hibachi' grills.
- Larger charcoal or gas tray grills - Adjustable heights
- Multi burner gas grills - Good to control, many have separate hob and/or pull down hood for smoking
- Dual-fuel - Best of gas and charcoal in one
- Smokers - Use a separate heat source for slower and different bbq style
Other useful features to consider
- Cooking hobs - Majority come with one so you can roast or smoke food with indirect heat
- Griddles & Hotplates - Good for cooking smaller items of food that may fall through the larger grill.
- Warming racks - Good to keep food warm when not cooking it
- Shelves - Some barbeques have side, front or base shelves
Most useful tools for a BBQ
- Grill Thermometer - Always useful so you know the BBQ has reached the desired temperature and can work out how long your food will take to cook
- Spatulas - Ideally long handled with a broad blade for lifting and turning food
- Tongs - Like spatulas, long handles for turning food. Best to be tensioned or spring-loaded.
- Knives - Sharp and good quality are essential as is stainless steel as it will not rust and lasts longer.
- Cutting Boards - Use separate large heavy duty ones for different raw meat, fish and vegetables.
- Meat Thermometer - Essential - simple insert into meat as it cooks
- Fan - Helps to get rid of excess smoke and help start problematic charcoal!
