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Friday, March 29, 2024

Gas versus Charcoal: The Real Debate

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Which side of the fence are you on for your summer grilling?

With Memorial Day weekend on the horizon, most families all over America will light up their grills for the first time this year. However, along with the lighting of the grills another debate always sparks up: Which is better? Gas or charcoal grills?Ā 

Grill masters continually debate this age-old discussion based on preference of taste, convenience and accessibility. While there is no right or wrong choice, which is the best option for you and your needs?Ā  Ā 

Ā 

Charcoal Pros

Itā€™s hotter.Ā Temperatures can reach 500 to 700 degrees. If youā€™re a steak-eater, only charcoal gives you that perfect steak with a crispy, caramelized exterior with a pink or red center.

More portable.Ā Want to take your grill to the park, campground, beach or your bathroom? Charcoal grills rule in portability.

Cheaper to purchase.Ā Over time, charcoal is less expensive than gas tanks.

Ā 

Gas Pros

Convenient and fast.Ā Younger generations are always on the go and want to complete their meals and go. Gas grills often cook in less than 20 minutes.

Temperature control.Ā Youā€™re a dial away from your perfect grilling temperature without all the guessing

Cleaner.Ā Thereā€™s hardly any ash with a gas grill, so itā€™s easier to clean in the short run.

Ā 

Charcoal Cons

Itā€™s dirty.Ā No one wants to constantly have to delay their grilling process because you have to scrub the grill multiple times. A charcoal grill is very time consuming ā€” from the prepping stage until the cleaning afterward.

Harder to control theĀ temperature.Ā With no dial controlling how hot the fire burns on the charcoal grill, the unpredictability of how your food will cook becomes an issue.Ā 

Ā 

Gas ConsĀ 

Not hot enough.Ā Most gas grills can only get to 450 degrees, which isnā€™t warm enough for certain meats such as steaks and burgers.

More expensive to purchase and repair.Ā The cost of the actual grill itself and the cost for any repairs are more expensive than charcoal. If you are a natural cheapskate, charcoal sounds best.

More flare-ups.Ā Safety-wise, gas grills actually are more hazardous than charcoal grills in some ways. With charcoal, youā€™re using the hot coals and smoke to cook your food, not flames as a gas grill does. Gas flames have been known to grow larger when exposed to air.

Ultimately the decision comes down to how quickly you want to prepare your food, how you want your food to taste and how much clean up you are willing to deal with.Ā  The best thing you can do is experiment and find out what truly works for you.

Ā 

Contact staff writer Dontre Graves at 317-762-7848.

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