smoking Poll. Propane vs. Charcoal what say you and why.
- Thread starter Scovie
- Start date
I use both and for different reasons. For faster cooks and weather issues, propane. When I want to hang outside in the nice weather I prefer charcoal or any time I want slow and low or that nice wood flavor.
I actually prefer wood, but charcoal because of taste I think it was a softer touch to the food.
I voted charcoal because I prefer the flavor that burning wood imparts to food. No issue with gas grills though - for time/money and ease of use they can't be beat.
Sizzle Lips
eXtreme
I am all about charcoal when I have time and weather on my side....also depends on what I am cooking....if I am cooking for myself ...I am not going to spend an hour getting charcoal all fired up to cook a couple burgers......when it s 40 below out its gasser time and I cook from the kitchen window.....When I am cooking steak it will always be on charcoal regardless of the weather.......all being said....it has to be pretty crappy out for me to gas it.
This is a good topic. I voted charcoal but it's much more complicated than that.
My overall preference is seasoned mesquite or other local hardwoods but it's getting harder to come by in large amounts, charcoal is next best thing.
I usually get a new propane rig every 3-4 years. The burners last about a year and the cost of replacement burners are not much different than a new grill so then I yank them out and start burning charcoal. Once in a while I get my hands on real wood and will burn that but mesquite burns hot and if/when I'm not careful enough I end up warping and/or melting my grill and eventually need a new setup. Someday I'll just build me a stone grilling pit but that day hasn't come yet.
My overall preference is seasoned mesquite or other local hardwoods but it's getting harder to come by in large amounts, charcoal is next best thing.
I usually get a new propane rig every 3-4 years. The burners last about a year and the cost of replacement burners are not much different than a new grill so then I yank them out and start burning charcoal. Once in a while I get my hands on real wood and will burn that but mesquite burns hot and if/when I'm not careful enough I end up warping and/or melting my grill and eventually need a new setup. Someday I'll just build me a stone grilling pit but that day hasn't come yet.
Lump charcoal for grilling .
I do a lot of winter grilling and winter grilling with propane just sucks. the cold temps mean lowered output pressure from the tank, lower flame/heat. When outside temps are good, even a high output propane burner can't touch the radiant infrared output of lump, unless you get into really high end infrared sear burner units.
I do a lot of winter grilling and winter grilling with propane just sucks. the cold temps mean lowered output pressure from the tank, lower flame/heat. When outside temps are good, even a high output propane burner can't touch the radiant infrared output of lump, unless you get into really high end infrared sear burner units.
As already said by so many on here, charcoal is my preference when i have the time and if the weather is decent. If it is the weekend i try and use charcoal no matter what unless it's terrible weather and during the week it will usually be gas. Like a few others have said though it depends on what it is, burgers and steaks definitely charcoal if possible, chicken and such gas doesn't make much of a difference to me. Smoking will always be charcoal with some flavored wood chunks.
i gota go with charcoal... there is just something so poetic about cooking plants and animals by burning the ancient remains of dead plants and animals.
Charcoal. Unless I don't have time to grill properly. Then I don't grill.
I don't see a propane hook-up on the wheelbarrow, so I gotta with charcoal