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
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Charcoal Pros
Itās hotter.Ā Temperatures can reach 500 to 700 degrees. If youāre 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.
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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 Youāre a dial away from your perfect grilling temperature without all the guessing
Cleaner.Ā Thereās hardly any ash with a gas grill, so itās easier to clean in the short run.
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Charcoal Cons
Itās 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
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Gas ConsĀ
Not hot enough.Ā Most gas grills can only get to 450 degrees, which isnāt 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, youāre 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.
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Contact staff writer Dontre Graves at 317-762-7848.