Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Ok grillers let's hear it.

The age old debate, gas vs. charcoal!
Primal fire which is about as manly as you can get and satisfies that inner desire to cook meat against modern speed and convenience, precise cooking temperatures and times for that perfectly grilled cut of meat.

What is it for you?

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I like Charcoal, but both have benefits

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I'm a gas guy...no messy clean-up.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I don't mind the mess... Make mine charcoal!!!:tu

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

In this case i will swing both ways. During the week I will go for the gas but come weekend its all charcoal

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

All charcoal. So much more flavor.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

wood pellet. best flavor with many options

http://www.traegergrills.com/

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I don't see how much of a mess it takes to scoop up a few bounds of ashes. I put them right back into the empty bag.

Charcoal for me.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Gas everyday and twice on Sundays!

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Depends on what my time constraint is. If its a get out frozen stuff and eat fast gas is the one for me. If I have all the time in the world then Ill use Charcoal. If Im building a forge to anneal and treat steels I like gas its easier to control the temperatures. But thats another beast.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

In the past year I have only used my gas grill to light charcoal in my chimney on the side burner. Charcoal all the way.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

100% charcoal. If you use the right stuff, there's nearly zero ash, so no mess. Just need a little more time, but it's worth it.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Charcoal, can't beat the flavor.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Care to explain?

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Charcoal and mesquite, by a longshot.
I cook on a great big gas grill cause I'm too lazy to go through all the charcoal screwing around. I sure do miss it, though.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I use propane... simply for the fact I get home late and can't wait for charcoal. Easy on; easy off.

Regardless of charcoal or propane... HAS to be on a Weber!! :tu

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Lump charcoal burns away almost entirely. Kingfords, etc leave a ton of ash due to the binders that do not burn away. If you use lump, you have much less ash, much higher heat, lower burn times though but a much cleaner flavor AND the ability to add more charcoal on the fly, it is however more expensive BUT you can get to choose the wood used (hickory and oak burn the longest, mesquite charcoal burns wicket fast and hot but has that distinct flavor).

I prefer propane...j/k, charcoal all the way. I am up and running in 20 minutes with my chimney starter, about 5-10 minutes more then it takes to heat up a gas grill. And cleaning the old ashes, all good charcoal grills have ash catches that only require cleaning every 3-4 uses.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Lump all the way. Most people only know the fake briqutee crap and have no idea how much better REAL charcoal is!

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I have both. A Weber for Gas, quick and fast for the time crunches. A cheap Sam's club double sided charcoal for weekends and slow cooking. A store here did 78 cent/pound shoulders a couple of weeks ago. A weekend worth of work but 'DaDaDamn' it was good.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Gas...I'm lazy.:)

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Propane or gas only wins on ease; nothing else.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Charcoal!!

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

:tu Much easier & meat tastes great, IMHO!:tu

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Charcoal + Chimney = Great Grilling

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Lump hardwood charcoal all the way :dr, unless I am grilling inside then it is gas.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Lump hardwood charcoal? Where do you get it? I don't recall ever seeing it.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I use both but I get a better searing from charcoal.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Depends on the time... I'm all about the Charcoal if ive got plenty of time, it add for flavor to the meat but if im in a rush gas if fast and does the trick in a pinch.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I see a couple of brands at most hardware stores, Cowboy Hardwood Charcoal and another brand but they are the same stuff. There is much better stuff than those 2 brands but they are harder to find.



The only thing I would ever use a gas grill for is roasting coffee :wo.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

WalMart, Lowe's, there are many places that carry lump charcoal. It burns hotter but not longer than brick charcoal.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Charcoal, but I use mostly mesquite. There are so many mesquites in my backyard. I have to do something with all the limbs I cut off. So why not fire them up and cook on them.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Lump charcoal here. I have a little gas grill for tailgating.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Charcoal in the Weber, gas in the pig cooker (hey, I already have a full time job)

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I had a nice propane grill the first 3-4 years I started grilling, but after trying charcoal I have completely switched over to charcoal only. I love the flavor that it gives to the food.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Charcoal here like others have said can't beat the flavor..

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I enjoy using both. For different foods of course. I cook chicken on gas, and steaks on charcoal.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

While gas might be easier, there are some things that you simply cannot do with a gas grill because you cannot control flame-up when you cook with direct heat like you can with a Weber style charcoal grill.

I have both, but by far prefer the charcoal.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

:tpd: 100%

I love the charcoal but during the week I have very little time so I go with the gas.

Every 2 weeks I bust out the smoker and throw down a pork shoulder, brisket, ribs, etc. using charcoal and hardwood.:tu

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I have two Big Green Eggs, a Weber gasser, a Weber Performer, a Smokey Joe Platinum with heavy mods, and a SpiceWine competition smoker. For grilling I use lump charcoal. In the comp smoker I use natural (never regular Kingsford) briqs. In the gasser I use gas.... but I don't use it very often. In fact I would get rid of it if not for the side burner.

Wood/charcoal = flavor

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Lump has the best flavor to me, but I have trouble controlling temps as I an a novice at charcoal. When I do a bunch of ribs or a shoulder, I usually go the charcoal route, but for weeknight chicken, pork chops, or steak, I just fire up the propane. I wish I was better at charcoal. Coffee roasting is another issue all together. I'll have to herf with Rob again to discuss this some more.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Charcoal is more of an art. It takes some time to get a handle on your temperatures. The amount of charcoal lumps, where it is positioned in your grill, hot spots/cold spots, all of that has an effect on your temperatures.

Experiment with it, try something different, you'll hit on the combination for your grill and soon you'll have it down cold!

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Count me with the charcoal crew. Have propane, just don't find it imparts that wonderful flavor that I grill/BBQ to taste.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Wow, the cheapest model I saw JUNIOR (BBQ055) Price: $449.00, is way over my budget. I'll stick with charcoal and my 22" weber...

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

:tpd: 22inch Weber with ash catcher thingy, they go on special for around $100-$110 every so often. Cannot be beat for the price.

The thing with charcoal grilling is understanding what you are cooking and where to place th coals. If I am cooking a 2 inch steak, all the coals go on one side, I sear over the coal directly and finish cooking indirectly, same for chicken, ribs, and other thick pieces of meat. For grilling lots of thinner pieces, a single layer across the entire bottom and everything gets direct grilled. Then if I am doing something fatty like lamb chops or korean short ribs, I put a wide strip down the middle leaving the side for flareups. Then there is a lid, to use or not to use. Lid prevents flareups but actually lowers the temp. a little. I always use it when indirect and use it about 50% of the time when direct grilling. Anyway, for those who have not done charcoal in a while, you forgot how much better it is and should give it a twirl with this very grill as cleanup is quick aand with a chimney so is startup.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I used to be charcoal only. Since moving to Florida, and using a grill 4 or 5 nites a week, I have converted to gas. Foil pouches with wet Hickory chips do a nice job of giving you that nice smokey flavor.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Just thought I'd bring this up, since I grill "ALL" winter long up here. New Year's Day last, was about 12 degrees - charcoal Weber 22 1/2" version - set-up for indirect heat. Supper was a 3-rib rib roast, and then some skewers of scallops cooked direct heat, just before the prime rib was done.

Yes, I grill all year, even in the winter - usually at least once a week. Doesn't matter the temp, when I want to grill, I do.

Some people grill more in the warmer weather. What's the deal? Brats, burgers, steaks, ribs, and such are grilled. If I cannot grill them, I won't cook them. And, since I cannot imagine a whole winter without them, the grill works all year round.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

I'll eventually get a charcoal grill, but I use propane now because it's quick and easy.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Love the charcoal taste, love the propane convenience but i have a grill that has a built in smoker box so I can get some 'Que flavor into my food.

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Charcoal also gives me the opportunity to play with real fire...:D

Re: Charcoal vs. Propane
 

Which is never a bad thing