Barbecues Gas V Charcoal, pros and cons.

[pepsi]

We have had a gas bbq in our garage for nearly 6 yrs and have only used it twice! It was hard getting it out of the garage as theres a step and we had to make a ramp, anyway. We are thinking about getting rid of this one and buying a smaller one. At the time I think we thought we would have lots of big parties but two children later the parties havent happened. They are now 5 and 3.....how do you keep your kids safe when doing bbq. So whats best. Im inclined to go for charcoal as I want that bbq smell and taste. DH favours gas as its cleaner and quicker. Can you leave a bbq out in all weather and through the year. Saw the webber on which is porcelain in Homebase catalogue for £99.00. Can you leave something like this all year round and it still be ok next year.

[BethAndHerBrood]

We have a bbq made by Outback. It's called "Titanium" I think. We leave it out all year round, but it's got a cover made especially for that model, IYSWIM. It's gas, and it's a doddle, wouldn't go back to charcoal now, especially not with children around, just seems more dangerous somehow.

[morningpaper]

I like charcoal because building the barbie with wood and charcoal makes me feel all manly. I tend to do them in the evenings, so no children around, although I have done them in the day but as there is usually a crowd of dads trying to light it and waving their willies around, no children can get near.

[hub2dee]

Second Outback. I'd suggest gas. Hot in 60 seconds. Yes, it hasn't got the cavebear thrill, but then again you can actually regulate the temperature so stuff doesn't get burnt.



We live ours outdoors all year.

In the Summer, if it's not raining, we cook on it daily.

[hub2dee]

Sorry, Fredian slip: I wish we could live outdoors all year.

We leave our BBQ outdoors all year. V. compact.

[hub2dee]

LOL. I am not having a good evening.

Freudian slip.

Maybe I'll press PREVIEW this time.

LOL.

[pepsi]

Any more pro's and cons. On which type of bbq does the food taste better. Doesnt a gas bbq taste the same as grilling indoors?

[jessicasdaddy]

as a chef i find charcoal bbq,s much better. you dont get the same taste or smell from gas, and i personally find them borring.

gas bbq,s safer? - i wouldnt say so, if the gas leaks or the bottle gets to hot you get 1 hell of an explosion.

if you stand by the bbq at all times.. like you should for safety, then the kids will be easy to handle

[sweetmonkey]

we have a gas one and it is like cooking on a grill, howver you can get brickettes that you put under the grill which give the bbq taste, yummy!!
after all the smell and taste is one of the best bits!!!

[Sari]

Isn't the whole point of a bbq the fact that the food will taste as though it's been barbecued? I'd say charcoal every time, otherwise you might as well cook it indoors. Plus our kids love helping light the fire and watching it burn. They're 5 and 2.5 and they know not to get near if we're not around. We've got a permanent brick bbq which is about table height and obviously not unstable so I guess that's less of a safety hazard.

[tarantula]

I agree with Sari. I love bbqs and fires in general and think its important that kids are taught to respect fire from an early age rather then be shielded from fire. BBQs are all about the taste of cooking over charcoal.

[pepsi]

Im thinking now of one of the kettle bbq's. Ive seen a Terrence Conran one which Sainsburys are doing for £60.00, anyone have one like this? Do you light the charcoal then put the lid on....I was wondering if this would make it slightly safe if the children are around.

[RTKangaMummy]

We have GAS and leave it outside all year with aplastic cover thoing over it

we use woood chips to make smokey taste and smell

DEFFO BRILL

[moondog]

Charcoal..got to be. If it's gas,it defeats the whole object surely?
Never understand those people with huge complex expensive gas bbqs.
Build your own with bricks and an old oven shelf!

[Fio2]

DONT ASK ME!!!!
preferably without the neighbour hanging out of her window yacking

[moondog]

lol fio2!

[foxinsocks]

We have that Weber barbeque - you can buy and little 'hood' for it (make of some fabric). It covers the whole thing and then you can leave it out in the garden. Ours has stood outside through the whole of winter and is completely fine. They are a fantastic make of bbq and I would never get another. The food cooks brilliantly and it has a good instruction manual if you're unsure of what to do.

I used to do whole roasts on the Weber - they take a few hours but they are delicious. We have a tiny patio garden and we've taught the kids (age 3 and 4) to steer clear of the bbq and we've had no problems so far.

[foxinsocks]

'a little hood' not 'and' doh!

[lima]

another vote for the Outback here - ours lives outside under a cover and is used several times a week in fine weather. It has lava rocks in it which heat up and the food certainly does taste barbecued rather than grilled.

we had a brick built charcoal one in our last house which was good - but it took about an hour to get up to optimum cooking temperature and the neighbours used to complain that they couldn't hang washing out whilst it was going.

Gas is more convenient

[lima]

and re the kids - mine are 6 and 3 and we've been barbecuing since long before they were born and safety has never been an issue - mind you the gas is probably advantageous as you don't have to leave it unattended for about an hour whilst the charcoal is getting up to temperature

[Ameriscot2005]

I much prefer gas, and we use our BBQ at least 3x a week. Charcoal is no fun whatsover - little control over the temperature, takes ages to heat up, ash blowing everywhere, and it stays hot for hours after you are done with it (although Murphy's Law often kicks in to say that it will run out of puff when your food is only half-cooked). And you have to store the lighter fluid which is highly dangerous.

Using a gas grill is not the same as cooking indoors. Who puts a slab of meat directly on their hob burner?

According to Ainslie, in his Big Cook Out book:

"There are two basic types of barbecue available - charcoal or gas - and whichever you choose, they both work on the same basic principles.

"The food is placed on a rack over the heat and, as it cooks, it releases melted fat and cooking juices. These fall off on to the heat source (charcoal, coals, lava rocks or metal bars or plates), which converts this moisture into smoke that then rises up and flavours the food. Contrary to popular belief, charcoal in itself imparts no actual flavour - it is only the smoke from the cooking juices and any aromatics added to the coals that actually add any flavour to the food - so you do, in fact, get that same outdoor flavour when you use gas too."

[RTKangaMummy]

Yes LAVA ROCKS that is what they are called at the bottom

Then we put wood chips on top

Thanks

[pepsi]

Im really torn now. Have just read everyones comments and cant decide. It seems that everyone is in agreement that you can leave the bbq outside. Do you leave the gas cylinder outside as well. Ours has been coverd up in the garage for 6 years. Do you think it will still be ok?

[RTKangaMummy]

We leave our GAS outside and have done for 13 years {not same one}

No prob.

Good luck with descision

[RTKangaMummy]

Had 2 BBQ in that time

HAve new one for last 4 years

old one was too small

[Ameriscot2005]

Yes, you can leave the barbecue and cylinder outside all year round. You can buy a weatherproof cover for the barbecue.

We've never had any trouble starting the barbecue back up in the spring, even when we were in the US and the grill and tank had been through -20C.

You wont know if your grill will work until you try it though.