Real important stuff here.....

[bilgerat]

OK, so which is it -

Charcoal or gas ?

I'm a charcoal guy. I have a Weber kettle grill for quick burger/ dog meals and I have a New Braunfels smoker grill for bigger meals or smoking. It's got the offset firebox for slow indirect cooking, but you can set it up for coals directly under the cooking grates for direct heat.

I figure the gas guys outnumber the fire guys. I know gas is quicker, more convenient, etc. I still like lighting the fire, cracking open a cold one and watching the heat shimmer away.......

Mmmmmmmmmm I love me some Barbeque

[preach4bass]

I've always been a charcoal guy, but have been thinking about going gas.  The main reason is that charcoal is getting so expensive and it takes such a long time to get things going.  Gas just seems quicker and cheaper.  Of course, this could just be a case of "grass is greener" syndrome.

[Micro]

Charcoal.  I used gas for years.  You'll never get as  good a taste with gas as you will with charcoal.  

[Muddy]

Charcoal, Elaine has a big and expensive gas grill :-X

anyways we have been talking about getting a charcoal grill with a side smoking compartment ;D

[Long Mike]

If I'm going to cook steaks, I use charcoal.  If I'm going to slow cook something like ribs, or cook for a group, I use gas.  If I'm going to smoke something like a roast or turkey, I use my smoker.  Three pits on one 12'x12' patio.  

[cart7t]

I have a side box smoker I just got and I have my 3 burner gas grill.  My gas grill has the advantage of being able to use charcoal, chunk wood charcoal or wood chips while you slow cook meat.  I save the side box for real smoking.  

[Eddie Munster]

I use gas (nice Jenair stainless jobbie) but prefer food cooked over charcoal. It's just sooo much quicker with gas and cleanup is quick.

[flechero]

Charcoal.  I'm also a weber kettle man.  

Three pits on one 12'x12' patio.

Don't feel bad, I have 3 weber kettles and my patio is smaller than that!  The wife make2 me keep 2 of them behind the garage with the smoker until they are needed.  ...lol  She refers to the sideyard as the weber showroom.  ...lol

[1inStripes]

OK, so which is it -

Charcoal or gas ?

I'm a charcoal guy. I have a Weber kettle grill for quick burger/ dog meals and I have a New Braunfels smoker grill for bigger meals or smoking. It's got the offset firebox for slow indirect cooking, but you can set it up for coals directly under the cooking grates for direct heat.

I figure the gas guys outnumber the fire guys. I know gas is quicker, more convenient, etc. I still like lighting the fire, cracking open a cold one and watching the heat shimmer away.......

Mmmmmmmmmm I love me some Barbeque

Just a note, using a charcoal grill does not constitute  BARBEQUE.  jk

I use gas for convienence.  Taste the meat, not the heat.   I also have a smoker for ribs and butts and such.

[fourbizz]

I have the biggest, baddest, private use grill on this forum.

[Dan:]

Taste the meat, not the heat.

lol, that's exactly what I was thinking as I read through this thread.

I don't like the smell of lighter fluid and charcoal when the coals are getting hot but I really don't have a preference for taste.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I have the biggest, baddest, private use grill on this forum.

huh???

[old bassman]

I use charcoal, nothing tastes better than charcoal grilled stakes with some flavored wood chips!!! My grill takes 3 cold ones to get warmed up along with my favorite blues tunes, then I am ready to go!!!

[roadwarrior]

Definitions:

BBQ equipment:

Grill, smoker, pit.

Direct heat (grill) or indirect heat (smoker);

pits are hybrid

Fuel: Pure charcoal, briquettes, various woods

for flavoring, primarily white oak for fire.

Gas "Grill": Outdoor oven; illegal south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

:

[flechero]

Taste the meat, not the heat.

If that was your true belief, you would cook in a skillet on an electric range. ;D So do you use any seasonings or spices? I mean, you are a purist, right? : even gas grills season after a couple uses.

Some would argue that natural wood coals/or even briquettes bring out the best flavor the meat has to offer. I think if God had wanted you to use gas, he would have created a propane tree, but that's just me.  

[burleytog]

Charcoal sucks.

[Palomar]

Charcoal, and never start charcoal with lighter fluid ever again

[Siebert Outdoors]

Gas is nice for the speed but in no way will it ever beat charcoal.  Charcoal will never beat the smoker.  Just the way it is.  

Some things like brats and hotdogs.  Fish on a cedar plank for gas.  but when it comes to ribs or real meat your wasting them if you gas them.

[Skunked in DR]

I use both.  Gas for its convenience (sausages, boneless chicken breast, fish fillets).  Pure hardwood (maple and oak are my favourites) charcoal for everything else.  

I'm working on getting a charcoal grill big enough to start doing turkeys.

Last comes the smoker.  Can't wait to start experimenting

[wagn]

Charcoal for me

[moby bass]

I have to replace the burners in my gas grill and seeing as they cost as much as a charcoal grill (a nice one) I'm thinking of going to charcoal.I never really liked the gas grill since they went just to the burner covers and did away with the lava rock.  I liked being able to soak hickory wood in water and put it on top of the lava rock. Gave the meat a much better flavor. JMHO

[CWB]

Charcoal. No question steaks taste better. Gas is quick and heats up faster but to a commonsewer like myself, there is no comparison in flavor. Old School baby!

[dave]

Charcoal. If you let it burn in properly...no fluid smell. It seems when people jump the gun and try to cook too soon, you get the smell and taste of the fluid.

[bilgerat]

Charcoal. If you let it burn in properly...no fluid smell. It seems when people jump the gun and try to cook too soon, you get the smell and taste of the fluid.

Thank you. When ALL of the coals are ashed over, it's time to cook. Not a minute before.

[Dan:]

Charcoal. If you let it burn in properly...no fluid smell. It seems when people jump the gun and try to cook too soon, you get the smell and taste of the fluid.

Thank you. When ALL of the coals are ashed over, it's time to cook. Not a minute before.

Yeah but it still smells before you start cooking. I just can't stand that smell.