Gas grills?

[Fulmar]

Ok you charcoal aficionados, is cooking on a charcoal grill as easy as a gas grill? Is it as fast? I've never owned or cooked on charcoal unless it was in a pit.

The reason I am buying this grill now is that our kitchen is being gutted and I still want the ability to cook.

Unless you have someone there with you to show you the secrets of the coal, I'd recommend gas.  If you can use a stove you can use a gas grill.  If you do choose charcoal, don't buy cheap charcoal.  Kingsford or bust.

[SPKmes]

Here you go you can still be a man and use a gas grill.

http://www.megabbq.com/?p=49=1


This link is too a write up about a custom made BBQ

[j500ss]

I'll throw my 2 cents in just for kicks. With any grill, go heavy or go home. Yep the more it weighs the better, hold heat better, last longer, and yes you can smoke on it. It will costs some coin up front, but it will be worth it.
I have a flame broil grill that is probably 5 years old now I guess. Cast iron burners, cast iron cooking grates, home made steel burner tents, helps keep flare ups down. It will grill from 200 degrees up to 500 depending on settings. Weber's are definitely good, just stay away from the couple hundred dollar cheapo's.

For your situation you may even want to look for a dual side burner model, If you want to spend the coin you can get grills, where you can use the gas or burn charcoal, some have smoker boxes built in with their own small burner, Just a matter of how much you want to spend. If it is going to sit outside much, look at models where there is alot of stainless used in the exterior construction. I get monthly news from here, Smoking-Meat.com

Lots of great ideas, and links to tons of sites too. BTW yes I have a charcoal grill too, and smoker and whole hog cooker. Though I don't use the grill much, the gas is just too convenient, and whatever you do if you get cast grates DO NOT clean them, treat them like a good old cast fry pan.

[1Boner]

Yes, its a Hemi.

[Sincraft]

I have one with a deflector instead of direct flames.  The 'shield' itself heats the food.

Theoretically.

Now this is a bit older, say 4 years old.  But it sucks.  I can't use it, don't like the taste of the food compared to a charcoal or lava rock fired grill.

Not to mention, the food does not evenly heat.  It's a charbroil with one side burner. 

Gotta keep the lid closed all of the time, but gotta watch flare ups from the pan it heats, which seems to flame easier than from rocks.

Dunno - to each his own...I'm just not a huge fan of the gas grills.

[Sikboy]

Ok you charcoal aficionados, is cooking on a charcoal grill as easy as a gas grill? Is it as fast?

If I want Cheap or easy, I'll head to the kitchen.

I don't know. For me grilling is more about the whole process. Light the coals. Listen to Buffet or Robert Earl Keen on the stereo. Play catch with the kids, or even just sit there and read. Grilling has changed my life in the past (well, it was what I was reading that made the difference, but the coals were burning lol). To me, Grilling is that little bit of Zen that keeps me sane. And that has nothing to do with either easy or fast.

-Sik

[Banshee7]

Ok you charcoal aficionados, is cooking on a charcoal grill as easy as a gas grill? Is it as fast?

Charcoal takes longer to get to a good cooking temperature, but once the meat is actually on the grill it's about the same.  But hey, what's the point in grilling if it's gonna be quick?

[Shuffler]

Some folks don't have time.... so why not just stick a frozen dinner in the mocrowave...

[Banshee7]

Some folks don't have time.... so why not just stick a frozen dinner in the mocrowave...

Exactly.  If time is an issue, just cook in the kitchen.  Grilling can almost be considered an art form    It takes time and patience.  The REAL outdoor chefs like to slow cook on top of a charcoal/hickory.  But hey, whatever floats your boat 

[Shuffler]

Don't forget mesquite and pecan

[allaire]

The reason I am buying this grill now is that our kitchen is being gutted and I still want the ability to cook.

Remember this line for all the people that say do it my way or not at all.

[Shuffler]

Remember this line for all the people that say do it my way or not at all.

Don't make me have to take that avatar back.

[Banshee7]

Remember this line for all the people that say do it my way or not at all.

So, he can still get a charcoal grill over a gas grill and still be able to cook anything he wants...hell we cooked frozen pizzas on a charcoal grill one day because of a lack of better things to do...and it turned out better than cooking it in the oven!