Is A Charcoal Grill For You?

You are flipping burgers on the grill. Your wife is setting the table and your little youngsters are eagerly waiting on their seats for you to bring them the most delicious “dad made” burgers in the planet. Now isn't that a pretty picture.

Know what, stop daydreaming and better move on to make that a reality. You have you, your wife and your kids. But alas, when you go out to the backyard, you find that you do not have a grill to flip and cook the burgers on? No fret. The next thing to do is to go grill shopping.

Let us break down the features and attributes of a charcoal grill versus a gas grill so you may be well guided and informed on your purchase before you decide to go to the cashier to pay for it.

* Food flavor. If you want your barbeques to have that distinct smoky tang, then a charcoal grill is best for you. However, because of this characteristic, your grill cooking might be limited to certain meats. A gas grill on the other hand can allow you to cook more delicate foods which may include vegetables, fish, chicken and even some fruits. The original taste and flavor of these foods may change and get less savory when you cook them in a charcoal grill.

* Cooking time. A gas grill like your kitchen stove can start a fire in an instant. You simply turn on the switch and viola! You are all ready to cook and grill. In contrast, a charcoal grill would need you to heat up the charcoal first for a few minutes. You would probably have to wait a good 15 to 30 minutes before you can start your barbecue.

* Cooking safety. The danger that comes with operating a grill is of course, fire. And accidental ones could happen when using either a charcoal or a gas grill. Keep other petroleum products away when you are using the gas grill. If the fire from the grill could reach these gases, it would definitely make a very lethal combination. As for charcoal grills, only use those starter fluids that are meant for charcoal. Do not in any way use gas or kerosene in a charcoal grill as these are unsafe and it will also leave your food with that awful gas smell and taste. It cannot be stressed enough that caution and prudence should always be practiced when operating the grill. And make sure to keep those curious hands of youngsters. These grills can be very hot and touching them can easily cause first to third degree burns.

* Cleanup. As for gas grills, you simply turn them off and wipe the counter when it cools down. As for charcoal grills, you would not only need to clean up the grill, you most importantly need to dispose of its ashes. If you want to do away with the cleaning and collecting of the ashes, choose a charcoal grill that has a built in ash catcher.