smoking Poll. Propane vs. Charcoal what say you and why.

[Hybrid Mode 01]

I don't see a propane hook-up on the wheelbarrow, so I gotta with charcoal

 

     Surely it has a nitrous connection from back in your wheelbarrow racing days, though?

 

[Grass Snake]

 
     Surely it has a nitrous connection from back in your wheelbarrow racing days, though?

 

[t0mato]

Charcoal 4 lyfe.

 
 
Charcoal lends a much better flavor than standard propane when cooking most food.  Plus there is nothing more relaxing than starting a fire and cracking beer while you wait for your coals to turn just the right color before you dump them out and so that you can sear your meat. 

 

[peppamang]

Propane for when you've had a few too many and you want to make a quick dog or hamburger.
Charcoal for when you want that jam packed, smokey, juicy flavor and you can give that meat all the attention it deserves. 

 

[OCD Chilehead]

I voted propane. It's what I use the most. (Hank Hill has a gun at my head) HELP!



I love the taste of a charbroiled burger or steak.
Just don't have the time these days.

 

[karoo]

Sorry , no vote.
Real wood fire and coals.
 

 

 

[Hawaiianero]

Sorry , no vote.
Real wood fire and coals.
 

IMG_0607.JPG
 

 

That pit right there....yeah....that's the one

 

[hogleg]

Hmmmmm, this is a tuffy. I wonder who here grills 4 nights a week on charcoal (I doubt many). That's about how often I use my my propane grill. Do I prefer the taste of a good quality charcoal? Hell yea. But I doubt I would grill 4 nights a week on charcoal. And if came down to "original kingsford" or propane, I would take propane cause og kingsford tastes like shit to me. Furthermore nothing beats locally cut oak reduced to coals, that is by far my favorite grilling fuel. Followed by local manzanita or madrone wood.
 
So how do I vote? What I use 80-90% of the time? Or what I prefer? Or neither, because wood beats em both??

 

[The Hot Pepper]

I would like to know the reason for this poll. Are you in the market for a grill? Or are you really asking if charcoal is better for flavor, because yes. Gas is for convenience.

 

[grantmichaels]

No propane tank here ...
 

 

[The Hot Pepper]

Well Scoville has been known to diss charcoal lol

You're using charcoal to smoke?
 
What the whaaaT?
 
 
 
The 4 stages of solid wood fuel:
 
1.) Wood.
 
2.) Smoke/ heat
 
3.) Charcoal
 
4.) Ash
 
 
[background=#dddddd]The cellulose and lignin structure of wood breaks down at high temperatures (400 to 800F) and boils-off much like the water did when seasoning (drying). Instead of steam, we get smoke - a cornucopia of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulates. Smoke is a gaseous fuel. At 800F, the log has been reduced to its carbon skeleton, which we call charcoal. Charcoal is a solid fuel[/background]

 

[Rajun Gardener]

I have both and both are needed at different times. Gas is so convenient and I also wrap woodchips in foil to get that smokey flavor but it's mostly BBQing on the pit. 

 

[grantmichaels]

I think I prefer electric to gas ...

 

[The Hot Pepper]

NOT AN OPTION! lol!

 

[grantmichaels]

Great way to cook, lol ...

 

[The Hot Pepper]

I agree, Cookshack smokers are awesome. Electric commercial smokers used in many a BBQ joint and have had meat off of.

 

[grantmichaels]

It's clean, inexpensive, eco conscious, endless, and at 240, powerful ...

 

[JmantBBQ]

I use both as well, I am a die hard charcoal cooker but find the time and expense don't always justify the use of it exclusively. I have a high end Summit with the dedicated smoke box burner. Gives me the best of both worlds on fast cooking food.

 

[Rajun Gardener]

I cooked some 2.5 hour pork ribs last night on the Old Smokey but I cheated all the way around.

 

[Hawaiianero]

And then there's this.....