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#1756484 - 11/08/12 06:51 PM Gas vs. Charcoal Grills
MyBrainHurts Offline
Platinum Poster
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 960
Illinois
Let's talk about how men cook.

I was always a charcoal guy, and really like my Weber kettles. About ten years ago, maybe 15, I went to gas. I bought a low end grill that came with a lifetime guaranty, but the company went bankrupt. That grill lasted a long time, but the burners finally rusted out, and I replaced it with a big shiny Weber 4 burner gas grill.

It works just fine, gets hot fast, and I can control the heat.

But sometimes I miss the charcoal. I miss the smokier taste. But most of all, I miss sitting outside drinking 3 or 4 beers waiting for the coals to get hot.
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#1756488 - 11/08/12 06:56 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Matt_B Offline
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Matt_B
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,648
A CU, Where Regs Don't Apply
Wood deck, upstairs in an apartment building. I get gas or nothing so I have gas.

I'll probably stick with it, I'm too lazy to do the work for a charcoal grill, even though I think food cooked on it tastes better.
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#1756489 - 11/08/12 06:56 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Peepers Offline
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Posts: 13,994
Originally Posted By: MyBrainHurts
Let's talk about how men cook.


Hey woman! I'm hungry, make me something!
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#1756494 - 11/08/12 07:00 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Dip Offline
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Dip
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 6,298
San Diego, CA
Um, women cook on grills too! At my house, my hubby does nto touch MY grill.

I have the Weber Spirit 3 burner stainless model with extra side burner. Charcoal tastes good but so does the stuff I cook on cast iron grates. Even managed to perfect my diamond sear pattern laugh

Can't beat gas when it comes to time and cleanup. I just wish the knobs for my grill were mounted on the front rather than on top--I coudl use the surface where they are now to stick trays of food. Oh well.
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#1756496 - 11/08/12 07:06 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Skittles Online
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Skittles
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 13,965
TN
Weber Genesis Natural Gas Grill here - absolutely LOVE it and no propane to worry about.
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#1756500 - 11/08/12 07:19 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Retired DQ Offline
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Retired DQ
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,766
Turnpike Exit 10
Natural Gas, we cannot have propane or charcoal in my development.
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#1756504 - 11/08/12 07:26 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Queen Mum Offline
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Queen Mum
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,920
OK
I have a gas line, but need a new grill. Suggestions? Natural gas ones.

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#1756506 - 11/08/12 07:29 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Skittles Online
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Skittles
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 13,965
TN
Check out Consumer Reports Queen Mum - that's what we usually do and we haven't gone wrong yet buying something that was recommended.
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#1756522 - 11/08/12 08:02 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Snow Bunny Offline
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Snow Bunny
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 14,141
In the Snow :)
We have a Weber at home. Not the same as the charcoal we have charcoal at vacation place. The flavor is better w/charcoal.

Cooking over an open, wood fire is the best though.
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#1756543 - 11/08/12 08:38 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
NotDoneYet Offline
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NotDoneYet
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 482
PA
I bought my husband a fire pit for his birthday, thinking it wouldn't get that much use really. Nothing beats the taste of hot dogs cooked over wood. Thanks to all the windy weather we have had, we had a healthy supply of sticks so we used it every weekend all summer long no matter the temps.

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#1756546 - 11/08/12 08:39 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
tdogz Offline
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tdogz
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 229
I've used a charcoal unit by Char-Griller. I've loved it so far. Then again, my family has never used a grill other then charcoal.
When it's time to replace it, I think I'll go with a combo unit like the one below for the flexibility of using either fuel source. Some recipes just look like they are easier to cook on one or the other.

http://www.chargriller.com/index.php?pag...rt&Itemid=2

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#1756550 - 11/08/12 08:43 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
RR Joker Offline
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Posts: 20,654
The Swamp
The last grill I bought is an infrared gas. But my infrared pan burned through recently. frown

I either have got to order a replacement, or do something else.
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#1756561 - 11/08/12 08:51 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
HappyGilmore Offline
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,844
Pulling people out of the ditc...
charcoal...the only way to go
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#1756568 - 11/08/12 08:56 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
A_G Offline
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Posts: 18,989
Originally Posted By: MyBrainHurts
Let's talk about how men cook.


::screams up the stairs::

Ma! What's for dinner?!?!
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#1756574 - 11/08/12 09:06 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills Retired DQ
MyBrainHurts Offline
Platinum Poster
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 960
Illinois
Originally Posted By: DeeQ
Natural Gas, we cannot have propane or charcoal in my development.


Snooty rich subdivisions.


I'd like to get a smoker. A friend has one called something like a Big Green Egg.

My dad never grilled in his life. He said learning to cook indoors was a mark of civilization thousands of years ago, and he didn't see any reason to regress to the stone age.

However, after a few meals at my house, he learned to at least eat meat cooked over fire.

Dad never liked rock n roll, either. He was not what you'd call an open minded person.
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#1756577 - 11/08/12 09:09 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Bimmer Offline
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Bimmer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,121
Wherever the plane lands
"Taste the meat, not the heat!"--Hank Hill
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#1756578 - 11/08/12 09:11 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Matt_B Offline
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Matt_B
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,648
A CU, Where Regs Don't Apply
Big Green Eggs are freaking awesome. I hear they get hot enough to dispose of a body too...probably just a rumor. I've seen demonstrations done with them.
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#1756593 - 11/08/12 09:24 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
RR Joker Offline
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RR Joker
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Posts: 20,654
The Swamp
It's true!! What ^^^said!
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#1756619 - 11/08/12 11:08 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Bobby Boucher Offline
Power Poster
Bobby Boucher
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,577
Down Yonder
Originally Posted By: MyBrainHurts
Let's talk about how men cook.

I was always a charcoal guy, and really like my Weber kettles. About ten years ago, maybe 15, I went to gas. I bought a low end grill that came with a lifetime guaranty, but the company went bankrupt. That grill lasted a long time, but the burners finally rusted out, and I replaced it with a big shiny Weber 4 burner gas grill.

It works just fine, gets hot fast, and I can control the heat.

But sometimes I miss the charcoal. I miss the smokier taste. But most of all, I miss sitting outside drinking 3 or 4 beers waiting for the coals to get hot.

Solution to missing the smokier taste: Use wood chips on your gas grill. They sell smoker boxes for this purpose, or just wrap some damp wood chips in foil and poke holes in it. Set the chips over one of the burners when you turn the grill on to heat up. Should be smokin' by the time you're up to temp. I'm assuming your gas grill doesn't have a smoke vent, so go easy on the chips and I'd stick with milder woods like apple, peach or cherry.

Solution to missing the beers while waiting on the coals: Go outside and take the cover off the grill. Drink a beer. Turn the grill on. Drink a beer. Scrape the grates, then oil them. Drink a beer. Place meat on the grill. Drink a beer.

Solution to kill (and cook) two birds with one stone: Who says you can only have one grill? Also, there are grills available with gas on one side and charcoal on the other.
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#1756647 - 11/09/12 12:07 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Retired DQ Offline
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Retired DQ
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,766
Turnpike Exit 10
Originally Posted By: MyBrainHurts
Originally Posted By: DeeQ
Natural Gas, we cannot have propane or charcoal in my development.


Snooty rich subdivisions.



shocked














laugh
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Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain

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#1756650 - 11/09/12 01:05 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Big Dog Offline
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Big Dog
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,659
Kennel
Weber grills are the best! I have had mine, natural gas, for 7 years and it stil looks new. Love not dealing with propane tanks!!!

A few suggestions:

Don't be to quick to clean the flavorizing bars under your grilling grates. These are there to gather the droppings and smoke up when cooking.

Cast Iron grilling grates are better

The wood chips are also a great idea. You can get various flavors at your local Weber dealer or online.
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#1756653 - 11/09/12 01:10 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
B_F Offline
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B_F
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,228
Cincinnati, OH
LOVE charcoal, but have gas because I like to cook fast too, and sometimes don't want to wait for the coals to warm.

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#1756666 - 11/09/12 01:48 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Bankbb1, PITA Offline
Junior Member
Bankbb1, PITA
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 38
The Sovereign State Of Oklahom...
I do most of the cooking because we grill about 80% of the time and I like grilling. I use a webber gas grill most of the time, but I also have a charcoal grill and a smoker. The Big Green Egg is Da Bomb!! Its on my wish list.
When I use the charcoal grill, I use a chimney to start it. Do it right and its not that much longer to heat it up than the gas one.
Harder to smoke in the winter because of maintaining a temp. But a buddy recently got an insulated electric smoker and that thing is killer!
Everything (except ice cream) is better on a grill!
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#1756671 - 11/09/12 01:52 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Purple Pride Offline
Member
Purple Pride
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 78
Where I am supposed to be
I typically use charcoal (only natural chunk charcoal, no pressed briquets) but have a small gas grill for picnics.

Oh, and only chimney starters. Lighter fluid leaves a bad taste on the food.

Steven Raichlen (sp?) is my hero when it comes to cooking on a grill.
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#1756679 - 11/09/12 02:03 PM Re: Gas vs. Charcoal Grills MyBrainHurts
Skittles Online
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Skittles
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 13,965
TN
BBB1 - my brother found a used Big Green Egg and LOVES it.
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