P1Fanatic

As BBQ season is fully open Im looking at getting a decent bbq for the coming months. I like the style of the outback range. The other halfs mum has a gas outback and they are pretty covenient and a lot cleaner.

So what do you lot use and which do you think is the better & why?

Simon.

ProperCharlie

got a webber myself. once it's going it will cook for 2 hrs + on one load of charcoal. put the lid on and the meat doesn't burn, gets a great flavour and keeps all its juices. top notch, and only about £70.

had mine for about 3 years. it sits outside all year round and still seems in fine condition. i cleaned it for the 1st time last week.

Steve Perriam

there is only one to bbq and thats using charcoal

if u wanna cook with gas then stay in the kitchen

CEL

iTrader: (1)

Agreed

imlach

Yeah...gas BBQ's are fine if you cook outside all the time - ie, if you live in a hot climate like the States or Canada where ppl BBQ just about every night. Namely, it's an outside replacement for the hob.

..but for occassional use, charcoal is more 'fun' FFS, people buy all that chemical guff to put on their gas BBQs to make it appear more like a charcoal BBQ. Why?

Men always prefer creating an inferno anyway, which is what a charcoal BBQ involves

BexTait

Food cooked on a charcoal BBQ tastes better than gas (IMHO). Plus it's good fun to play with the flames
Bex

class_A

Charcoal = BBQ
Gas = Outdoor cooking

P1Fanatic

/aarrgh aargh in tim taylor manly caveman voice

Thats pretty much what I thought but I was getting drawn by laziness to the ease of Gas.

Cheers,
Simon.

Tiggs

same old nonsense.....go to Oz and they have gas outlets outside!

this "cook it with charcoal" rubbish is just a UK thing.

the joy of a BBQ is cooking outside in thefresh air- not standing around clearing up mess every week.

We have a gas and use it every night in the summer, clean tidy and tastes great (if your food taste ****e blame the cook/food not the type of flame!)

andypugh2000

I had a charcoal bbq for donkeys years but last year got myself an outback gas 3 burner, i must say i will never cook on a charcoal bbq again, none of the incinerated meat or gritty burgers ever again and IMHO there is very little taste difference in it.

My brother had a bbq at the weekend and it was torched on a charcoal bbq, it was litterally burnt offerings
but i guess its like the old pepsi / coke challenge

imlach

I guess we could compare it to what people have in their lounge. REAL fires are much better, but involve a bit of effort (lighting, mess, etc). "Coal effect" fires are for the lazy. Tries to be something it isn't, and looks naff.

I have a real coal fire. The REAL thing

imlach

As I said, if you're serious about cooking outside, gas is the one as it is therefore just an outside hob. No difference.

If, however, you want the joy of cooking like cavemen, stick with charcoal. It's more exciting

ProperCharlie

real fire, here.

i bet Tiggs has one of those ones with a light and a revolving shade for "flicker" effect.

andypugh2000

Anyway can anyone prove that you can get taste from a bit of glowing wood?? Charcoal burns at around 1000 degrees, how can you get flavour from that?? The taste comes from the smoke created by the fat dripping onto the fuel, be it charcoal or lava rock it doesn’t make any difference

ProperCharlie

that's just lack of competence of the bbqer. my steaks and chicken thighs were perfect.

to get the smoked flavour: add some wood chips, let the smoke get going, put the meat on and put the lid on with the airhole closed. the meat goes slightly yellowish. great with chicken when the heat has died down a bit.

Steve Perriam

yeah if u burn stuff on a charcoal bbq you either need more praccy or you should stick to the kitchen and your gas cooker

i've been using charcoal for yrs and on average over the past few yrs do 3-5 bbq's a week.

IWatkins

Charcoal = Man's BBQ
Gas = Woman's BBQ

End of story.

mark_h

Gas, much more convenient and tastes no different anyway.
But charcoal, loads more fun getting it lit Once used so much lighter fluid we actually set fire to the BBQ itself - the legs were on fire

Muffleman

Good grief, I can't believe all you wussies out there with your gas griddles

Only baiting.....

However, with a gas bbq you don't need petrol, you don't get big bast.... flames that the fire brigade have to put out. You don't get a red hot bbq that stays red hot for 3days.

Where's the fun ?!?!?

Nope, it's gotta be a proper bbq for me, and I never end up with burnt offerings.....

jasey

Two years ago I would have been with the cavemen above

Got a gas bbq now and would never go back to "the dark side".


Just like I was never gonna get a dishwasher - now wouldn't be without one.
And a Patio Heater - means you can stay outside til 2.00 am in your shorts and not die of exposure !

Up the ****

Tiggs

"i bet Tiggs has one of those ones with a light and a revolving shade for "flicker" effect."

nope- i have central heating...move with the times- do you ride a horse and dump in a bucket? since when has "what they used to do" been the best thing?

jasey

Tiggs - People didn't used to speak ****e all the time on here

ps That's not a dig at you - or anyone else on this thread

Geezer

I'm sure that if you can be bothered to do it properly, then a charcoal BBQ can produce food that isn't raw on the inside and black on the outside.

However, if you want to have BBQ'd food that is consistently good, and still has a BBQ taste, and is easy to use, then gas is has to be.

As for the 'lazy man's' this and that comments, why don't you go back to coal fired central heating (central heating, pah! far too namby pamby), walking to work and hunting your own food.

Geezer

P.S. using a charcoal BBQ does not = large *****

Dunk

iTrader: (1)

Gas BBQ ????? You might just aswell string an extension lead outside and plug a microwave into it.

BBQ = Charcoal
Cooker = Gas

D

IanW

You just cant beat a proper charcoal BBQ, end of story!

scoob_babe

Ian cooking anything????
Gas or charcoal, he could still poison us all

Faire D'Income

Well, I'm firmly in the gas camp having used one for many years but I reckon the only reason charcoal afficionados claim that they can taste the difference is down to the amount of dried out, burnt meat they can see on their plate.

Judging by barbecue gas sales it will only be a matter of a few years before charcoal is virtuallly entirely replaced in the UK.

And yes, I do have a vested interest.

Brendan Hughes

Particularly if you are close to it after having put on too much lighter fuel - in fact, you risk quite the opposite


PS, not sure why you're all talking about namby pamby barbeques, we tend to chainsaw a few trees down, put them in a big heap and set light to them . Ten-second toast, anyone?

Muffleman

Nope, you're aboslutely right - the biggest ***** are behind Gas BBQ's !



Only joking mate, all a bit of fun really - just couldn't let that little gag go to waste

POC

I used to be 100% that charcoal BBQ was the best, until I got a gas one

I like the fact that you can cook on the gas BBQ within 5 mins of lighting it, quick and easy to clean, quick and easy to cook on, very cool

Apart from yesterday evening, decided I was gonna cook some turkey on the barbie, switched on the gas and the poxy thing wouldnt light, stood scratching my head for a few seconds then decided to push the button again......... .......... cue a massive fireball, hitting me on my bare chest and taking most of my chest hair with it LOL

Paul (still glad he has his eyebrows )