Gas Or Charcoal Barbecue For The Summer?
We are all counting down the days to summer and enjoying some much loved alfresco dining again. If this is the summer that you are grilling on a BBQ for the first time then fear not it really isn't as daunting as it may seem.
Firstly decide which type of BBQ you want, people have their advice and personal preference to give but ultimately it’s what you think you would be comfortable to use. Each barbecue has their own pros and cons, here are a few facts to help:
Gas barbecues are typically more expensive than other barbecue alternatives. The more features you would like the more money you will pay. They are quite heavy which can make moving it from one place to another a bit of a challenge. The gas bottles used to operate the barbecue are unsightly and cumbersome, however they can be changed very quickly if it runs out and cooking can carry on in next to no time. As your food is cooked without the smoky fire you get less of a chargrilled taste to your food. This is a blessing to some and not so much others who enjoy the smokiness of barbecue cooking. Gas barbecues don't reach as high a temperature as charcoal barbecues so they are more suited to longer cooking times. However they are easy to light and extremely convenient to use. The temperature is controllable across the whole grill which allows for accurate cooking.
Charcoal Barbecues are great for first time grillers as the standard models are inexpensive, which is a thumbs up if you are just starting out. When you light your charcoal bbq it can take a while to reach the right temperature so often people will light the bbq a minimum of 25 minutes before to get it to the desired cooking temperature. Charcoal bbq's are more practical to move around the garden as they are lightweight and have no bulky attachments. Make no mistake that charcoal bbq’s get very hot so safety precautions around the BBQ are a must. If you have children / pets they need to be supervised and kept at a distance at all times. Cleaning can also be quite the chore, as a result of the heat and ashes. If you have the time, cleaning after every BBQ can help maintain the grill and bbq for longer. Once you have been using the BBQ for a long time you may need a replacement bbq grill which is a money saving option to upgrade your bbq ready for summer.