Shopping for a new bbq grill is a difficult challenge, especially when you are buying it online. There are a lot of factors that need to be put into consideration. Such as price, temperature, heating speed, maintenance, and much more. It is evident that the gas and charcoal grills are the most popular in the market, and as such, the fierce competition burns between them. In this Charcoal vs Gas Grill article, we will discuss the characteristics of the both, and try to demonstrate which one you should buy.
It is important to keep in mind that we will not suggest which one is better, as it is entirely up to the reader to decide because mainly, both grills are good, there are just differences which make the other one more preferable in some aspects. Let’s see what should you consider when it comes down to the grills.
Charcoal vs Gas Grill: The Price
If the price is not the most important factor, it certainly determines in a great matter which one you should buy. The prices may vary, but you will have to spend a couple of more hundreds if you want a gas grill to compliment your yard, while there are various options for the Charcoal Grill on the other side.
What is important to say is that it is not hard to find a Charcoal grill for less than $100. There is a large selection of grills and smokers based on the Charcoal that can last for eternity. You just need to carefully choose and be patient. Of course, if you are looking for a more stylish, larger, and professional option with the lasting durability, you will have to spend between $200 and $400. But, any good grill around $100 will come in handy.
On the other side, a gas grill tells a different story. You will hardly get out without spending a couple of hundreds of dollars more than you would naturally spend on a charcoal grill. While there are budget-friendly models at $100, it is not a big secret that it is just a matter of time when the metal will start rusting and will get bend, not to mention that they will stop giving the necessary safeguard from the hazard, the pricier models do for years. These models are only good as a few years until they will become completely useless to you. It doesn’t hurt to mention that gas grills usually sport a pair of side burners and more parts in general, which means that you will have to pay at least $500 for a good model, and up to $2,000 for a pristine, top-notch grill.
Charcoal vs Gas Grill: The Smoking capabilities
Many gourmands and other cuisine enthusiasts enjoy the taste of the smoked meat. What makes Charcoal grill ahead of the gas-based grill is that Charcoal grills are ideal for trapping the smoke and creating greatly flavoured smoked meat. On the other side, wrapping the woods in the foil and placing it near the burners in order to make connection between the smoke and the meat can be very difficult and tiring, not to mention it requires an intelligent approach with experience.
“There is nothing better than cooking over open fire! Even when cooking at home over coals, you get that feeling of being outdoors camping with friends and cooking in the wild, I love it! The added flavour the coals and smoke provide can’t be beaten” Andy, Bright Camping.
Charcoal vs Gas Grill: The Temperature
In this section, we are going to discuss the possible range of the temperature in each grill, the temperature control, and the heating process, let’s start with the gas grill.
The pricier gas grills are equipped with the well-known Infrared sear zone which helps maintain the temperature you desire, it also allows the faster cooking process, making it ideal for the faster-cooking food. Obviously, you will have to spend a lot of money to get one, but it is highly recommended. The temperature without the Infrared ranges between 300 F and 600 F. The firing up time is very fast and easy, within 5 to 10 minutes, your grill is ready for cooking.
The Charcoal Grill has a more complex Temperature process. While it can be set as low as you want up to 1000 F, the temperature is quite difficult to maintain, meaning that you need to keep an eye on your grill in order not to allow the fire to get extinguished. This results in a slower heating up process, which can last up to 30 minutes.
Maintenance
The gas grill is fast and easy to maintain. The collection trays and the deflectors help you keep your grill crystal clean with the minimum cleaning of the bars occasionally. The Charcoal Grill is a little harder to maintain, there make a mess with all the ash that they leave behind. Fortunately, you can solve this problem by purchasing a collector tray. Furthermore, pricier models come equipped with it.
Conclusion
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Both grills perform great if the maintenance and experience is right. Getting the right temperatures might be a little difficult. It is also important to note that gas grills are dedicated to the meals that take longer to cook or grill, while the Charcoal Grill is perfect for fast meal grilling. Which grill do you use?