Charcoal or Gas

Charcoal or Gas

The eternal question when it comes to barbecues and grills ? should you stick with the authentic method of heating charcoals to achieve that tangy, smoky taste or will you get just as good results using a quick and convenient gas appliance? There's pros and cons for both of course and the ultimate decision normally comes down to convenience, cost and, of course, your specific preference. Many foods don't taste any different whichever method you use although it is generally agreed that meats such as steaks and chicken do taste better when cooked on coals ? this is because they are not highly spiced like burgers or sausages whose flavours can overpower subtle smoking methods. And that?s another plus for coals ? you can flavour your meats and grills in many different ways using the new flavoured bisquettes ? simply add one to your hot coals and add subtle hints of apple or maple or even cherry! On the downside, there?s no way of controlling the heat and the coals do take some time to reach cooking temperature ? and then there?s the hot ashes to dispose of when you?ve finished. The coal barbeques are normally considerably cheaper than gas versions but the coal itself is more expensive than gas ? so swings and roundabouts again! The traditional barbeques are popular for family gatherings and parties as they tend to get everybody involved and create a good atmosphere. However, if you just want to come home and grill a couple of steaks or chops then a gas barbeque is probably your best option as they heat up instantly and have totally controllable heat - just like using the grill on your cooker! And now you can use ?rubs? to give steaks and chicken etc. a multitude of different spicy flavours as well as that authentic ?smoked? taste. However, the initial outlay is usually more expensive than the coal version although the gas itself is actually cheaper than coal. There?s also the question of storage ? the canisters can be quite large and cumbersome. And suppose you want to take your barbeque to the campsite or the beach ? the gas ones are certainly less portable than the coal grills. On the other hand, gas offers a quick, clean and highly efficient way of cooking in the outdoors ? and by being able to control the cooking temperature you ensure that all your food is thoroughly cooked through. So, the decision is yours - for authentic taste and flavour the original coal version would probably be best but if you want all the fun of barbequing without the wait and the mess then go for gas - either way, cooking outside on a barbeque or grill is always more fun than cooking in the kitchen!