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.

[Sarahwhizz]

I've had a Weber Gas bbq for years along with a charcoal one. My husband seems to enjoy using the charcoal one a bit more. Must be a man and fire thing, the inner cave man!
They even do electric bbqs now www.bbqs2u.co.uk/blog/gas-charcoal-or-electric-bbq-n20

[pepsi]

As a conclusion to my thread we have decided to keep the gas bbq. We got it out this weekend and had 2 bbq's, just basic burgers and sweetcorn to see how it went. The food tasted fine, did taste a bit bbq'ued. The best thing for us was that it is so quick, we wouldnt have been able to have a bbq on Sat if we had had to wait for the charcoal to warm up as we got home late afternoon but this way we could and the children loved it. Shall keep it outside so that we use it more and not worry about a charcoal one now. Now is there a good thread of bbq recipes?

[hub2dee]

You'd have only got wound up and vommed at the telly, TC.



I think those thingies might be called 'baby bundlers'. misdee also suggested they were good for nightime nappy in the dark blurry eyed changes. We'll buy one or two. I guess also in summer, baby might be happy just in a bodysuit / vest and we won't need much in the way of babygros.

Have a nice day !

[Thomcat]

Oh no missed GD, I love that programme.

Gap did some beautiful little baby grow but instead of having legs they ended in a drawstring bag style! Good for bed time.

[hub2dee]

Darn. I think we need to get future madam some sleeveless bodysuit thingies.

Aagghh Desperate Housewives must dash.

BTW - did you watch Grand Designs ? Mwahahahahahah. Fools.

[Thomcat]

LOL at bug bless!

Re vests - I liked sleeveless in the summer I have to say.

All baby grows do seem to come with l.slvs and feet don't they. But in the summer without a vest underneath and no duvet a b.grow will be fine. If it gets really hot he/she could just sleep in a litle vest.

H&M sell baby sleeping bags, sleeveless and lightweight cotton that is great as well.

[hub2dee]

A 'bug bless' ?????

Is that a meat-eating phrase ? Never heard it !



Bought some more babysuits / 'vests' today, and a few 'bodysuit' / 'babygro' thingies... BTW I noticed bodysuits (the underwear bit) is available in short sleeve and no sleeve and a mother in M&S was saying her

[Thomcat]

You're great hub2dee and a bug bless at teaching your munchkin about plants etc

[hub2dee]

PMSL.

It does !

Delish !!!!!!!

DEFFO RECOMMENDED.

[spook]

Oh God Oh God-I LOVE grilled halloumi. I love the way it squeaks.

[hub2dee]

Aubergine grilled so it melts in your mouth.

A pepper grilled till the skin chars to reveal delicious perfection beneath.

Corn on the cob as if it was made from sugar

Grilled haloumi cheese, tough and rubbery and salty will be your fave.

All BBQ-loving vegetarians please feel free to add to my feast. Flame the meaties !!!!

LOL

Hey, I also have NEWTS ! I love my newts ! Bring a worm and they'll love you forever. But they do like hiding so Lottie will have to be VERY quiet and patient.

Awwww... I can't wait to have my munchkin on my lap learning all about little creatures and plants. Not far to go now (well not for me anyway !!!!!!)

[Thomcat]

Actually I can't claim to be hardcore, D had the coldest hands in the world and got quite soggy. I stayed int he kitchen doing the lay-dee stuff!

A veggie, bbq - errrr, what not even a sausage to be sniffed?! Is there any point in a veggie bbq!!!

Well I'm tempted at the thought of seeing your tadpoles (!!!) so keep me on the list for now,

[hub2dee]

OK, alux AND TC are hardcore.

I handle the fire and item turning, G R O W L !!!! Man's work. DW handles the dainty stuff, presses flowers, prepares the food... 'laydee work'.



We're veggies so you'll have to go elsewhere for your blood-lust.

Unless you're fooled by veggie 'lamb cutlets' and juicy veggie 'burgers', in which case you're welcome. Lottie can watch my tadpoles with me. By then they might have little legs.



LOL.

[Thomcat]

We bbq in the pouring rain in the winter! Did a joint of roast beef on it, was yum.

ummm hub2see, do you do posh things with veg and make your own potato salad and coleslaw and do you butterfly a leg of lamb and so on cos if so I might forgive you the gas bbq and then I'd come to you party

Going to start a thread of BBQ recipe ideas actually fab idea,

[hub2dee]

alux: you're hardcore.

TC: Won't be inviting you then to my 'non bbq events'. Kanga can come though.

[Thomcat]

You must buy a webber bbq, no other will do. Honest. Please don't spoil summer and go gas, that's not a bbq. you need real coals and it must be a webber. they last for about 25 years and are sexy!

[alux]

You can bbq in any weather if your charcoal bbq has a hood. And any self respecting bbq has one. It is all about controlling the temp of the coals. We have bbq'd in Feb while its snowing.

[RTKangaMummy]

I say yes to GAS BBQ and Yes we do have coal fire

[hub2dee]

Gas cylinders are fine outside. Very thick metal.

Some of the latest BBQs and cylinders have special tool-less attach / detach mechanims which is nicer than faffing around with large wrenches, and almost as nice as faffing around with large wenches.

LOL. Joke.

You can use the same arguments about open fires at home: Yes wood and coal are more cosy, more authentic, give you added smell and distinctive crackle / sparks etc. but you need to stock up in advance, you need to build the fire and then keep it going... and then clean out the ash, but it's nicer. A gas fire you just switch on and within 15 seconds you have warmth and dancing flames... 90% of the experience with 1% of the hassle.

I bet people with gas BBQs use them more often than people with charcoal, and for me, the utility is the key factor.

(Same for gas / coal fires in the home of course).

If you expect only to use your BBQ for a couple of big 'get togethers' during Summer, you should probably opt for charcoal. If you think you might be tempted to cook most nights / weekends on it if it's not chucking it down, I'd go for gas. (That's another point: You only need 1/2 hour rain free to gas BBQ a meal. With coal you need 1/2 hour prep, 1/2 cook so requires longer period without rain !)

[alux]

The point of a bbq is to cook using charcoal. Gas bbq is oxymoronic, imo.

Season your meat. Light the fire. Have a few drinks and laughs as you let it burn itself down to smouldering coals. THEN put the meat on. And more drinks...

It is all about letting the smoke cook the food.

YUM.

[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.

[RTKangaMummy]

Had 2 BBQ in that time

HAve new one for last 4 years

old one was too small

[RTKangaMummy]

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

No prob.

Good luck with descision

[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?