Grilling: Charcoal vs. Gas
The debate over charcoal versus gas is one you do not wish to get in the middle of. The one straightforward factor you need to understand is that it is a matter of taste and convenience . To encompass the whole range of grills add to this list electric grills, pellet grills and hardwood cooking as well. Ask yourself what you really need, depending on how much space you have, how important is the taste and flavor to you, and how much you are willing to shell out.
Convenience: The best way to think about this problem is to remember that generally the more convenient a grill becomes, the less real smoke flavor you are going to get. An electric grill is easiest to use, but it doesn't have that genuine fire flavor. On the other hand, hardwood fires give you the best flavor, but they are the hardest to work with.
Authenticity: The authentic smoky, off the fire taste of grilled foods is strongest with the original heat source, wood. As you move to electric grills, you find very little of this flavor left. In fact, several electric grills impart virtually nil to the taste of foods. However, the unfussiness of flipping a switch and grilling can't be beat.
Taste: On the subject of taste, a study was done a while back where individuals were laid out with hamburgers and steak, both of which were cooked on gas and charcoal. No one could tell the difference between the charcoal or gas when it came to the hamburgers, but they could tell the difference with the steak. The charcoal grilled steak just had stronger and smokier flavor.
Space: To decide what kind of grill is right for you, consider where the grill is going to sit. A pint-sized patio or covered area is not the place for a large charcoal grill. Electric grills produce no flare-ups and are safer in smaller areas. Gas grills do produce flare-ups and need to be away from any structure to avoid those pesky house fires. Charcoal can be lighted with an electric starter and consequently can be utilized with almost no open flame.
Grilling: Another thing to examine is how you intend to grill. If you need to be able to arrive home from your workplace and toss a pair of steaks or chicken breasts on the grill with almost no bother, then electric or gas might be what you are looking for. Charcoal grills need some time to get going, usually around 10 to 20 minutes before you can start cooking.
Cost: Ultimately there is the price. Gas grills are typically more costly than electric or charcoal, with charcoal being the most economical. If you don't want to spend a lot of dough then charcoal may be the solution. However, charcoal is the more expensive fuel. You can easily spend $5.00 per barbecue cookout on charcoal, while gas might cost around $0.20 per cookout. This means that charcoal fuel won't save you money in the end.
Frank Timmons is a researcher and writer working for http://www.shopperbeegifts.com, where you can get all the best barbecue grills at the best prices. Visit us for all your grilling needs.
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