Whether you’re getting ready to upgrade your current grill or making your first purchase, you do have decisions to make. One of those decisions is do I buy gas or charcoal.

First of all however, we should probably get the language correct.

There is a difference between barbeque and grilling. When you barbeque you are cooking your food slowly at much lower temperatures than when grilling. You are using a smoker at temperatures around 225 to 250 degrees and your cooking time is measure in hours not minutes. When using a gas or charcoal grill to cook, you are cooking at much higher temperatures and your cooking time is measured in minutes not hours. That is unless you are using a cooking method called indirect grilling. That does slow the cooking process somewhat.

Having said all that, if your game plan is to get a grill, then you need to decide whether you buy a gas grill or charcoal grill. Both have advantages and disadvantages that I want to share with you.

Advantages to charcoal grills

1)      First of all these grills are relatively inexpensive to buy. If you find yourself on a limited budget this could very well be the way to go.

2)      Charcoal grills do tend to burn hotter than gas, especially if you ventilate them. This is perfect for the grilling experience.

3)      Another advantage is many people feel that you get a better taste with charcoal verse gas.

Disadvantages of a charcoal grill

1)      Charcoal can be very messy to deal with.

2)      Another disadvantage is that these grills take so long to heat up. Generally around 40 minutes or so.

3)      One of the biggest challenges using this grill is the fact that it is harder to hold steady temperatures in the wintertime. This is something that is important to me since I cook all year long.

Advantages to gas grills

1)      I feel the biggest advantage of a gas grill is the fact they light so easy and heat up so quickly. They are heated and ready to go in only 15 to 20 minutes compared to 40 minutes with charcoal.

2)      These grills hold a steady temperature very well in the wintertime. It is very easy to cook all year round with this equipment. I happen to know this from first hand experience.

3)      Of course you don’t have to deal with the mess that charcoal makes.

4)      I also feel gas grills are easier to use when indirect grilling than charcoal grills.

5)      These grills are definitely more expensive to buy, but when it comes right down to it they are just so much more convenient to use.

Disadvantages to a gas grill

1)      First of all they are more expensive to buy. This can be an issue if you are on a limited budget.

2)      The purists in the group would tell you the taste is just not as good as charcoal.

For many years I owned only a charcoal grill, however once I tried a gas grill, I decided that I would always own one going forward. There may be times that I would want charcoal, but I will always have gas as well.

Also as far as grilling tips go, whether you are just learning how to grill or you are an old hand at it, the one other buying tip I can give you is, if you are going to buy a gas grill get one with at least 400 square inches of cooking space (preferably 500 square inches) and get one with three burners. The three burners (cooking zones) give you much greater flexibility when cooking and make it much easier for indirect grilling. Personally I would not have it any other way.

By: Tom Savas
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A barbeque or BBQ that is refereed to as now, is a method of cooking food. It is great for all types of meat and even pizza. BBQ also refers to the cooking paraphernalia itself and all the parties that comes that follow with a BBQ! BBQ is mostly done outdoors but you also have indoor BBQ’s these days.

There are three distinct cooking styles in BBQ. The first is charbroil-grilling which is done directly over a ribbed surface over dry heat usually just for a few minutes. Another type is grilling which is very similar to griddling. Griddling is done over moist heat with a dash of butter or olive oil! Unlike charbroil which is done over a ribbed surface griddling is done on a flat surface. Braising is method that combines moist heat and dry heat on a ribbed surface just like in charbroil-grilling and the food is cooked at different speeds.

Now let’s find out more about BBQ apparatus and the different variants. If you’re looking out for one you need to know the basic of all the BBQ out there. You have wood, electric, charcoal, propane and even solar powered BBQ.

Wood BBQ

A wood BBQ is really interesting as the different types of wood give the meat its distinct flavours. Oak, mesquite, maple, guava, apple are just few of the different types of wood used in a BBQ. Different woods burn at different rates and one has to be careful with its selection. The heat emitted from all is also varies.

Charcoal BBQ

Charcoal BBQ are not as cumbersome as wood BBQ and also a more economical option in the long run. It may not give the food a special flavour like the wood BBQ does make cooking faster and easier. In the charcoal you can either use briquettes or lump charcoal. Lump charcoal is basically wood that has been charred to make charcoal. Charcoal is the pure carbon and cannot be burnt indoors because of the poisonous fumes. BBQ enthusiasts prefer charcoal to its artificial variant.

Electric and Propane BBQ

These are the latest BBQ in the market. They are light and easier to cook on than wood or charcoal BBQ’s. They have a knob to control the temperature which makes a burnt stake an urban legend! They are a little more costly than wood or charcoal BBQ but people still prefer cooking on in because there isn’t much preparation time in an electric, natural gas or propane BBQ.

You also have solar BBQs which use the heat from the sun to make it work. An effort to go green indeed!

Now if you are all fired up to buy your very own BBQ in Sydney or any other place in Australia we recommend Homefires. They have a wide of range on BBQ in different sizes. You can also find gas, wood, charcoal and also BBQ’s from Weber & Beefeater. For more information, please visit www.homefire.com.au

By: Kylie Tennant
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Cooking on charcoal has become more and more popular over recent years, this may be down to the fact that we are now living in warmer climates or may may simply be down to the fact that eating and cooking outside is in our blood. Of course using a Charcoal BBQ or Portable BBQ for those who aren’t familiar with a Charcoal BBQ or Portable BBQ can be awkward and give rise to many issues. Of course making sure you have the right Charcoal BBQ or Portable BBQ can put you on a strong footing.

A huge bulky Charcoal BBQ may look attractive and will no doubt impress your mates, but is it the most practical? would a portable BBQ better suit your needs. Such a charcoal BBQ will not only take up a lot of space in your garden they can be over powering and unless you are used to the speed at which food cooks on a charcoal BBQ or Portable BBQ then you are heading for a lot of burnt and wasted food.

Choosing a charcoal BBQ or portable BBQ that is just big enough for your normal sized BBQ party is the best solution. You don’t necessarily need to cook all the food at once, research shows that people prefer to graze at BBQ’s. After all, its about the whole experience, not who has the largest charcoal BBQ.

regardless of what you decide, a charcoal BBQ or a portable BBQ, you will need to think about where you are going to place it for both cooking and storage. consider the surface you are placing the BBQ on, are you shielded from wind and rain?. Love thy neighbour – make sure smoke and noise are not going to cause your neighbour to be complaining about your BBQ. The idea is to enjoy yourselves and having friends and family around isn’t going to be the quietest of events. Also try to choose a spot that is easy enough for people to access to get food but is not in a the way of any children that may be running around.

The safety of guests, pets and wildlife is paramount, regardless of whether you have a portable BBQ or a Charcoal BBQ. Consider anything that could set on fire or things that could be affected by the smoke. Look at the workmanship of your charcoal BBQ or portable BBQ, make sure they are built sturdy and will not fall over.

By: Robert Deans
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