Hi everyone

Well its getting warmer and finally got my garden sorted and really fancy a nice bbq but wondered if anyone can give advice.

Charchol vs Gas... which ones best (silly question but do gas ones give the same flavour as charcol ones?)

I really fancy a one with a bbq on one side and a flat plate on the other so you can do eggs etc on too.

Anyone got any ideas or suggestions I look foraward to hearing your comments

x  Happy Easter

Gas everytime Less hassle and same output :D

Gas That's cheating :D :D Charcoal every time :D :D

Daisy

Why It is dirty, takes a while to heat up for use and then you have no temperature control :D Cremated snags and burgers or nicely done yummy food now let me think which one I would choose ?? :D :D

Ours is also great as in the summer in the mornings we turn it on sit outside reading the papers as the sausages cook for breakfast

> Cremated snags and burgers

LOL - who does your BBQing ?? :D :D :D Dirty ?? :D :D Who used to clean yours then ???? :D :D :D

I like our BBQ and have NO plans to ever have a gas one :D :D Gas .............    (goes off muttering....... :D :D )

Daisy

who does your BBQing ?? Not me :D
Who used to clean yours then ???? Not me :D

(goes away tutting at Daisy not embracing change and convenience :p :p )

Gas!  I wasn't keen as thought it wouldn't be as good, but it's better in many ways.  Firstly, the cylinders last yonks so you literally have your BBQ on tap whenever you want it and don't have to worry about buying, storing or running out of charcol.  Secondly, it's instant - no need for firelighters and waiting for the coals to reach temperature.  Thirdly, you can turn down the heat if things are getting cooked too quickly.

If you're canny you'll put your gas BBQ in position and end up using it more than the cooker.

Best of all in my opinion is that because traditionally men do the barbecuing, I get out of the cooking :D :D

Charcoal..........not a real bbq without.  Might as well use the cooker indoors :D

Get the charcoal in the bags that you light, never had a problem lighting it that way.

We have a gas one - we use it more, because it is much less hassle - but I would say charcoal gives a better flavour, so will occasionally buy disposable BBQs for the 'proper' taste.

So, depends whether you prefer convenience or authenticity LOL.

M.

Well we did coal for the first few years then bought an insanely priced gas one BUT I thought it just wasn't the same, can't explain why but I love the coal cooked food. SO I have bought a new coal one to sit beside my gas one ;-)  The coal one I just bought is one of the kettle ones and I think it is quite nice.  know it sounds daft but we make use the 2.

getting warmer my heatings been on all day every day !!!! the only BBQ im having , are my toes infront of the fire !! brrrrrr

have had both .
didnt think I would like the gas as much as a previous poster said felt like cheating ;) but definitely prefer the gas easier to clean foods tastes nicer much quicker can cook as much food as you like ...yep gas for me now!

Some good offers on at B&Q this week 20% off all gardening !

I prefere carcoal....food only gets cremated when coals are too high...theres never the need for flames just let the food cook for ages :D yummy theres nothing like a proper BBQ.

I know someone who's already had a BBQ but I'm sure it's still winter????? :D

Ditto, charcoal every time: much better flavour. And we once went to a BBQ in January!!!

bit undivided then haha.  seen some gas ones today...do you have to add the coal look stones to the gas ones?  do they give a same bbq flavour?

Charcoal all the way. Gives the food a nice smokey flavour.

Try making fruit shishkebabs. No meat, just some chunks of pineapple, strawberrys and whatever else you want on there. Pop them over the coals for a minuite or so and eat. Really tasty and a nice healthy desert. :)

Im looking forward to it getting warmer, I have been wanting a good Aussie style BBQ for months now. I guess that means Im getting homesick lol :D

Charcoal every time. :-)

Can't wait for the warm weather to start....was snowing here yesterday! :rolleyes:

getting warmer??? - got about 2 inches of snow here.............. someone better tell the weather what month it is!

Gas every time. The flavor comes from the smoke of the fat unless you use wood charcoal that adds nice flavors. Make sure you get one with something like bars instead of 'soak up the grease' lava rock. Eventually you end up with constant fires in those. Did charcoal for years and if you like smokey flavor you can put wood chips in your gas bar-b. Of course I'm a little biased since I used to barbecue every night in San Diego during the summer as it was too hot to cook indoors! If you do go for charcoal get a chimney to light it. Much, much better than fuel.

well, had my first BBQ yesterday on my new gas BBQ.  It was fantasic quick cooked right and easy to clean.  However I missed the charcole taste.  Is there anything you can get to either season your meat etc or someone mentioned rocks that you put on a gas BBQ that flavours your food...any ideas?

I don't know about the rocks but you can buy wood chips that will give your food a smoky flavour. You just soak the wood in water for about 30 minutes. Poke some small holes in a foil tray, the grease catching trays for BBQ's work well. Put the wood in the tray and place it on the rocks/bars.

A little OT but next door love a BBQ (charcoal).  Only problem for us is that its them (family of 5 - 2 adults and 3 'mature' children) and atleast 5 other people from 6:30/7 in the eve til around 1:30am.  We wouldn't mind so much if they showed a bit more consideration and kept the noise down a bit.  They have rellies kids running around screaming and shouting and the adults like to laugh raucously at everything and anything :rolleyes:  I've got a young son who more often than not sleeps in my bed which is in the back bedroom and our living room is at the back of the house so we hear them all evening/night even though we have double glazing and the windows shut at this time of year.  Its 100x worse in Summer when the windows are open :rolleyes:  Last Summer we had the joy of their bar-b's 4 consecutive Saturday's, a break of a fortnight and then Fri & Sat's for 2 weeks, then every Sat until it got too cold for them despite their perseverance with  wearing duffle coats and buying a 2nd patio heater :rolleyes:  When it rains they put tarpalling up so we don't even get a break from it then.  We don't have air-con in the house and when its baking hot the only thing fans do is blow hot air about so we need the windows open.  Now they're not noisy neighbours or unapproachable or anything like that but they just seem to 'forget' that they have neighbours who are involved in their 'parties' even though they've 'declined the invitation' so to speak.  Anyway, just wanted to rant a bit cos they're having their first one of the 'season' - roll on Novem-burrrrrr ;)

I have had a gas BBQ for 3 years and would never change it. I don't notice a difference in taste, just a difference in cleaning !! We have had very late BBQ parties in the past and cooked sausages next morning for breaky.....can't do that with charcoal !!!! Also you can have spare of moment BBQ's without rushing about looking for charcoal

I always make sure that around this time of year I have enough gas just incase we want a spare of moment BBQ