Bbq gas or charcoal ???

[NoIDeer]

I've got gas BBQ, a wood/coal kadai and a coal kamado oven. Much easier to turn the gas on to grill a steak but the open fire is always an occasion even if it's just two of you, flavours a bit better too.

 

[bowji john]

The argies have the best solutions

Check out Argentinian solutions - they know a thing or two about Braais

 

[Dagless]

I use gas, but with Penroc lava rocks between the burners and the grill. Food cooked in it tastes identical to a charcoal BBQ, but with none of the mess. Takes about 10 minutes to get up to temperature. Use it all year round, I wouldn't think of cooking a steak on the hob indoors anymore.

 

[WalkedUp]

Yes you can cook outdoors on gas, but you can only barbecue on solid fuel (wood/charcoal etc). I have been disappointed on so many occasions when I have been invited to a ‘barbecue’ at a friend’s house and then go into the garden to see a gas grill thing.

 

[John Gryphon]

as it would just be like cooking it on the hob and carrying food out into the garden

Yes and we might as well run an extension lead out and plug in an electric frypan if we were to cook on a steel plate.

I use gas, but with Penroc lava rocks between the burners and the grill. Food cooked in it tastes identical to a charcoal BBQ,

There is no 'identical' in that for me as when cooking over wood coals the added wood smoke flavourings are missing.
I will throw a handful of Rosemary onto the coals for even more smoke.

We generally do it over coals, here are marinaded chicken wings, there are two levels of them cooking over Banksia cones shown in this screen capture. A half 44 Gal drum with ex bakers cooling racks for a grill is the simplistic way with real flavour. Juices and fats drop onto the coals and burst into oh so smoky flavours and proper hardwood is the key.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Charcoal

 

[SussexSteve]

May as well cook it in the oven if you aren’t using charcoal or wood. But that’s just my opinion. If it’s just for 3 or 4 people better off with a pellet fed pizza oven

 

[Kevgun]

Going to throw a big, clanging spanner in the works here.....

Hot smoking pellet grill......

Yep, same as, I have a Pit boss pellet smoker its expensive but does a great job, I use the hickory pellets and cherrywood, In fact I am going to spark it up tonight

 

[bowji john]

These guys made me a tripod based open fire cooking station for our camp down by the river

They also do this kind of stuff

The Asado BBQ | Argentine Barbecue | Stainless Steel Grill

Meet the Asado - The Newest and most Unique Stainless Steel Barbecue in our family with its Authentic, Beautifully Engineered, Argentine style design

blackforgebbqs.co.uk

 

[Shootgun]

A good wood fire for me and cooking over amber…

 

[Dunwaters]

I suppose that depends on the size of it, if I load mine up for smoking it last a fair few hours.

I learned from a couple of purists , open grill, bbq on charcoal. 40 minutes cooking approximately.
The gas is on tap, I start with skewers, then chicken and salad, pause and on to the red meats. 2-3 hours.
Then an hour to clean it the next day

 

[NP435]

Gas, its a simple job to set up a wood smoker inside the gas grill for added flavor. Another gas advantage is not tasting the petro chemical charcoal lighter fluid in the meat.

 

[johndeere]

couldn't get on with gas
charcoal is my next move

 

[Freeforester]

The Australians have perfected the art.

When I lived there, after my first barbie I was blessed with the nickname ‘the blacksmith’

Some of us prefer the offerings of the Brazilians

Not all charcoals are equal either.

 

[Klenchblaize]

What's not to like and it comes in the best colour one could wish for:

XL Charcoal BBQ - Ceramic Smoker Barbeque

Our family best-selling Big Green Egg — used by Michelin-star chefs for its amazing flavour and efficiency. So much more than barbecue. Hungry? Take a look.

www.biggreenegg.co.uk

K

 

[sauer]

charcoal for me but ive an armada / addiciton to camp stoves from a trangia to a jetboil and in between ....

basically if its outside then game on and enjoy

Paul

 

[John Gryphon]

When you members are talking about 'charcoal' is that the proprietary pre made bagged commercial variety or is it the self made stuff as in what is the norm here? That is not technically charcoal but simply 'coals' IE half a barrow of top quality hardwood that`s burned down to blue coals that is ready to cook on when a very fine white powdery ash forms on top.
I haven't ever tried commercial charcoal as there is always had plenty of wood available for country dwellers.

 

[Morkai]

I buy restaurant grade bagged charcoal, it has fist sized lumps, they go well.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

These guys made me a tripod based open fire cooking station for our camp down by the river

They also do this kind of stuff

The Asado BBQ | Argentine Barbecue | Stainless Steel Grill

Meet the Asado - The Newest and most Unique Stainless Steel Barbecue in our family with its Authentic, Beautifully Engineered, Argentine style design

blackforgebbqs.co.uk

That's a spit roast not an asado. I spent 6 months in Buenos Aries, this is Asado.

 

[Fabnosh]

Charcoal for me. Like other posters, I’m really picky. Dorset charcoal company is the only one I’ll use these days - consistent, hot and burns with a really predictable gradient.

FN