Gas Grill vs. Charcoal Grill The journey of barbecue actually starts with you choosing between two types of grills, which are the gas grill and the coal grill (Gas vs. Coal Grill).
This guide will compare the gas grill and the charcoal grill together, checking out their differences. But, before I go into more details, let’s briefly talk about them individually.
What Is a Gas Grill?
The first question here is: what is a gas grill? Well, a gas grill is a type of grill that is used to cook food using gas jets that can be found under its cooking surface.
Gas grills are mostly manufactured with stainless steel and created in a cart style that is big, costly, and extremely movable.
Normally, these grills are fueled by either liquid propane or natural gas. Making use of natural gas grills will result in you not being able to transport your grill around easily since you will need to hook up your grill to the gas line of your house.
The alternative, which is adding a propane tank, will make your grill a movable grill.
Although natural gas burns cleaner when compared to liquid propane, it is also cheaper.
What Is a Charcoal Grill?
By its name, a charcoal grill is a type of grill that makes use of lump charcoal or charcoal briquettes as its heating source, which in turn cooks the food. It is a home grill.
Normally, you can find the charcoal fuel under the grill grates, alongside wood chips and lighter fluid, which is used to light up the hot coals.
You can get charcoal grills in a variety of shapes, which include kettle grills, chimney starters, and pellet grills.
A charcoal grill is well-known among BBQ lovers, thanks to the fact that a lot of people regard this method as a more original form of grilling.
This is so because charcoal provides their food with a distinguishable smoky flavor.
Although in comparison, charcoal grilling can be less effective compared to gas grilling. It also has the tendency to make things less even cooked.
Gas Grill vs. Charcoal (Comparison)
Gas vs. Coal Grill: Rotisserie
Most gas grills have rotisserie kits as an alternative. This is a nice, but underused method of cooking that produces moist, cooked meat evenly. And, on the other hand, only a few charcoal grills have rotisserie kits.
Price Comparison of Gas and Coal Grills
Gas grills have the tendency to be costlier compared to corresponding charcoal grills. This is due to the fact that the mechanisms of gas grills are more complex.
The assembly of new gas grills is also more complex when compared to that of charcoal grills. This is thanks to the fact that there are more parts that need to be broken down and also replaced.
But, when it comes to the aspect of fuel cost, it is quite difficult to compare the two. Charcoal is mostly on sale, mainly in spring.
However, on the other hand, propane changes with petroleum prices. Either way, fuel is more affordable when compared to food.
Gas vs. Coal Grill: Environmental Impact
Propane is a petrochemical that is gotten from wells. And, on the other hand, charcoal is gotten from sawdust, which comes from sawmills. They are mostly waste products.
Gas brings out invisible smoke although it also brings out gases and smoke. Alternately, charcoal gives off white smoke, mainly when burning.
Gas Grill vs. Charcoal Grill: Upkeep and Maintenance
Gas Grill
You need to make sure you check the fuel lines and gas connections on your gas grill. If required, you are to refill the propane tanks and also change the flavor briquettes.
Occasionally, you might also need to change the ignition or grates, and also make sure that the igniter collector box, drip tray, and burners are always clean.
You will minimize the maintenance of your gas grill if you always cover it when you are not using it.
Charcoal Grill
It is advisable that you change the grill grates of your charcoal grill every year, but this is also determined by the wear and tear.
The maintenance of a charcoal grill is actually no task as there are not so many parts to maintain, but this is, of course, except for the fact that you’ve gone for a model with electric or gas ignition.
Gas Grill vs. Charcoal Grill: Cleanup
Gas Grill
All you need to do is make sure that you clean up the cooking grate before and after you grill. You just need to increase the grill temperature to high until the smoke stops, then you can proceed to brush the grates.
However, when it comes to cast iron grates, you will need more particularized care and cleanup for them.
Charcoal Grill
To clean up the charcoal grill, you will need to bring out the charcoal tray and proceed to clean the ashes regularly.
Every single time you use the grill, you have to brush the grates. However, in this aspect, comparing the gas grill and the charcoal grill, I will have to say that the gas grill beats the charcoal grill.
Gas Grill vs. Coal Grill: Heat Up Time
Gas Grill
Gas grills ignite instantly and take approximately 10 minutes to heat up.
Charcoal Grill
And, for the charcoal grills, as you might have suspected and expected, it takes quite some time to ignite the charcoal. And, its heat-up time, which can also mean the time it takes to get to its cooking temperature, is about 15 to 20 minutes.
Gas Grill vs. Charcoal Grill: Taste
This is one of the most interesting aspects of the two types of grills.
Gas Grill
A gas grill enables you to easily grill tender foods such as fish, chicken breasts, vegetables, and fruits. These are foods that can have their flavor engulfed by smoke.
Gas grills have a smoke box. It looks like a drawer for wood chips. It will help do the work of a charcoal grill. This means it will help produce the smokiness of a charcoal grill.
However, this doesn’t mean it does the job perfectly, as there are some people that are not lovers of the flavor it produces.
Charcoal Grill
However, in the case of charcoal grills, it is guaranteed that your pork chops, steaks, chicken, and other grilled foods will be infused with smoky flavors.
With a little practice and some calculatedly placed wood chips, a charcoal grill can double as a smoker.
Final Thoughts: Gas Grill vs. Charcoal Grill (Gas vs. Coal Grill)
In the end, the choice between the gas grill and the charcoal grill is determined by personal preferences.
If you enjoy charcoal grilling, try cooking a beer-can chicken, brisket, or some extremely smoky charcoal-baked potatoes.
But, if you will be going for a gas grill, I will suggest you try out grilling burgers and sausages and some of the odd kebabs. This requires little preparation and planning.
However, with all that being said, I’m sure you now have all you need to make the best decision on your choice between these two types of grills.
This will then bring us to the conclusion of this guide on “Gas Grill vs. Charcoal Grill (Gas vs. Coal Grill).”
