This is an age-old debate, as chefs and novice cooks alike have been debating over charcoal and gas grills for quite a long time. This battle of flame made us think about the distinctive features of the grills and how they are different from each other.
Charcoal gives a feel of the traditional, typical flavor that comes from wood chips, whereas a propane gas grill imparts a bacon-like taste. Deciding on a grilling option completely depends on your taste buds, but when you are a cooking enthusiast, you should know the definitive differences between both.
Taste: Before we straightway jump to the heated argument of which is better, let us discuss the taste. As mentioned above, charcoal gives a smokier taste. When the meat drippings meet the flame, they become vaporized, and a portion penetrates the food. But a propane gas grill has ceramic or metal slabs covering the flame. Any food drippings or spices hit this surface and do not touch the meat. An advantage of a gas grill is that it produces more steam than its charcoal counterpart, giving the meat more moisture.
Cooking Time: A charcoal grill takes more time to preheat. This may delay your serving time and have a negative effect on your party. In contrast, a propane gas grill heats up easily; sometimes just 10 minutes are enough to preheat it, and it holds that temperature. But with a charcoal grill, you must monitor the temperature constantly.
Control: You can control the temperature of a gas grill. Once you are familiar with the instrument, it is easier to monitor, and you can decide when a lower or higher temperature is needed. In addition, you can use a gas grill on a rainy day. What more benefits can we foodies can ask for?
Cleanup: Cleaning a gas grill is more convenient than cleaning a charcoal grill. Charcoal grills are dirty to handle, and the ashes are sometimes quite stubborn. But the gas grills have an ashtray that is easily removable.
Accessories: A propane gas grill often comes with a few accessories like side burners, lighting fixtures, storage racks and even a bottle opener. These distinctive characteristics might make this type of grill the winner.
Safety: Cooking with a charcoal grill can be quite a risk. The pieces of hot charcoal can burn your hand, and the charcoal can ignite when the wind blows. Using a charcoal grill improperly can even invite a harmful accident. But gas grills are not susceptible to the wind and remain on the safer side than their competitors.
Cost: Due to the mechanisms and complexity, gas grills are more expensive than charcoal grills. If you do not want to spend a lot on a grill, then a charcoal one may be best for you, but if you want to go for the most benefits and optimal safety, a gas grill is surely the winner.
