Off Topic BBQs - Coal or Gas?

Anybody got any coal BBQ recommendations? Looking for a new one and seeing as though there's a few on here with a passion...

 

Weber.

 

Weber.

 

I prefer A George Foreman Gill Meself.
Lot less hassle.

 

Never thought I'd see top quality BBQ advice from sunny Hull but the above is sound advice - on the make of BBQ and the chimney

In Oz pretty much every park and beach has free gas BBQ's so it's a toss up between cooking free and easily on a gas BBQ or carting the Weber and charcoal to the beach with you

 

It's not just Pattie and scraps and sausage rolls here you know.
We even have salad mate!!

 

In these parts they call me the BBQ King.

 

I'm an 'Ull lad so I'm across the culinary progression (Although Frydays is still one of the best eateries from what I can tell)

 

I can see why!

 

Weber.

 

Weber.

 

You've cracked it Lewis

 

Not only do I not understand the point of gas bbqs, I don't understand how one brand of shop bought coal BBQ can be better than another. Surely it's all metal, coal and a grill?

Eager to be enlightened.

 

There's a first time for everything TigerSyd! We're very cultured here in 'Ull, City of Culture, we know who we are!!

 

My wife refers to me as the Serial Griller. Nothing beats a good charcoal fire for cooking meat, but don't discount gas altogether. Gas grills exist for one [valid] reason, and one [valid] reason only: speed and convenience. When the wife asks you late in the evening to grill up a couple of steaks, it can be preferable to have a fire at cooking temp in less than two minutes. As long as time permits, though, charcoal rules And someone already mentioned the chimney firestarter. I swear by 'em.

I have a grill with two chambers, one for gas and the other for a coal fire. The latter has a side firebox (AKA smoker box) for smoking meats rather than apply direct heat. I'm still working on my pork loin and rib recipes, but I smoke the best brisket and the best salmon in Texas.

 

Couldn't you cook that steak quickly and conveniently in the kitchen?

 

It's a fair question - but for whatever reason a Weber seems to do the job better than others

I will give Aussies a rap for their BBQ skills - and there are more Webers here than any other make by a long way

 

Yes, but it creates more mess and is less fun.

 

It was very rare we actually bothered with charcoal, it just took too long.
After observing Mr and Mrs DBT live outdoors last summer and abandoning their kitchen in favour of their gas BBQ purchase (and he swore by charcoal), we bought a gas bbq last month.
So far, we've used it regularly. Find it quick and little mess. Afterwards, we shove everything to soak in a storage box and then give it a scrub before we go in. The storage box then doubles up as a.. storage box for the bbq utensils/ plates/ cutlery etc which stay in the shed. Very little mess.
The only problem I see is I end up doing more of the cooking (and the washing up). Oh and my alcohol intake has increased.

 

Interesting read... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/11653334/Gas-v-coal-BBQs.html