Holidays are the best excuse for unleashing your inner barbeque artisan. You can take ample time to set up the space with the hardwood charcoal and light it via a chimney starter. After that, you can cook on the charcoal grill for hours. It makes the process thrilling and lets you enjoy the smoky flavour.
There are days when you have to enter the home by six and need to serve dinner by 7, but a gas barbeque wins the show on these days.
Hence, both processes have their unique charm and advantages. Most users get confused about gas BBQ vs. charcoal BBQ—which one to choose? To end this confusion, we have brought a BBQ guide that will help you choose the ideal one for your home.
Let's start grilling discussion!
The Iconic BBQ Culture in Australia
Before going deeper, let's start with the basics, which are the roots of barbecue. Culinary is not all about the food or taste; it is more about the culture and people of that region. It works as an introductory note for a nation, and the BBQ culture of Australia is not exempt from it. BBQ, or Barbie, is deeply rooted in Australian culture, and it helps to bring indigenous people together.
Historically, the barbeque culture started in Australia 40,000 years ago because of Aboriginal people. They had a habit of cooking their meals outside of their homes, and it became the culture and tradition of the country. However, due to the changing climate of Australia, people were forced to change their habits and started cooking inside the house.
Although the culture is 40,000 years old, the term is not. The term came into Australia in the mid-1800s; before that, it was popular in the US. People used to denote gathering events. Historians say the first significant use of the term was in Australia at the Waverly Bowls Club's Leg o' Mutton Barbecue in 1903.
The culture of barbecue was quite different in the beginning. It was only meant for political campaigns and public feasts. Both places had a large group of invitees, so they used to barbeque a whole animal for group consumption.
However, like the climate, Australian culture also started changing. People started opting for barbeque sets up for friends or individual service. By 1950, people were used to solo or group-serving ideas.
However, by only 1960, gas barbeque was introduced to Australia to increase convenience. Since then, the debate over gas vs. charcoal BBQ has continued. Some say convenience is more important, but others are determined not to compromise on the smoky flavour. Let's explore more to make a decision.
Types of Australian Barbecues
| Types of BBQs | Aspect |
|---|---|
| Gas BBQ | Gas BBQ offers a fast and efficient grilling experience. They use propane or natural gas to heat the grill, allowing for instant ignition and quick preheating |
| Charcoal BBQ | Charcoal BBQ provides a traditional grilling experience with a rich, smoky flavor that many enthusiasts cherish. They utilize charcoal briquettes or lumps, which require time to ignite |
For Aussies, barbeque is not just a food but a way of life. They love to share it with friends and family and experiment with it.
There are two types of barbeque- gas barbeque and charcoal barbeque. A charcoal barbeque is the traditional one, and the main reason for its popularity is its smoky flavour. However, it is time-consuming, and people often get confused about choosing the best charcoal for barbeque. On the other hand, the gas barbeque is much more convenient; however, you will miss the traditional touch anyway. Let's explore both the ways with their mechanism and advantages to choose the best one.
How Charcoal BBQs work?
The charcoal barbecue is the oldest one with the traditional smoky flavour. Its mechanism is much simpler than the gas barbeque one. It has three components: the grill support, charcoal container, and cooking surface.
It means it has a stand to keep it steady on the surface. On top of that, the charcoal container stays and looks like a bowl, and the cooking surface gets attached. It holds the food item. Some updated models have two more components—tiered cooking surfaces and hood covers to cover the food while cooking.
If your search result includes the question' coal BBQ how to use', then here is your answer: place the coals correctly, light up the coals, set the cooking surface on the coals, and distribute the food items evenly. When you light the charcoal, it undergoes a process called combustion (a chemical process when a fuel gets burned in the presence of oxygen and produces light, smoke, and heat). It produces heat, and the food gets cooked.
To control the temperature, one needs to control the supply of oxygen. Although most people use charcoal briquettes or natural lump charcoal as fuel, wood blocks or chips are also sometimes used. However, one must be careful while choosing wood because if it has moisture in it, it will not produce the desired results. Additionally, wood does not discharge as much heat as charcoal; hence, cooking with charcoal is much more convenient if you plan to go for charcoal barbecues.
Advantages of using Charcoal BBQs
| Advantages | Details |
|---|---|
| Smoky Flavor | Adds a rich, authentic smoky taste to food, enhancing flavor |
| High Heat | Can reach higher temperatures, perfect for searing meats |
| Portable | Typically lightweight and easier to transport than gas grills |
| Affordable | Generally less expensive upfront than gas BBQs |
| Traditional Experience | Offers a hands-on, nostalgic grilling experience for BBQ enthusiasts |
Data shows that one-third of Australian households own barbeque grills, most of which are charcoal grills. Some owners have in-house and outside setups to extend their flexibility. Do you think that only traditional touch is behind this popularity? Well, no, there are various conveniences, and the advantages are-
1. Provides Perfect Barbeque Flavour:
Aussies have a special place for barbeque in their heart. However, the place is mainly saved for the smoky flavour of it. Coal barbecue grill helps to make the barbeque irresistible, smoky, rich and juicy. It happens due to the burning of the grease on the coals. Also, if you love sear marks in your barbeque, go for the high-heat coal barbeque. The higher amount of heat will help you get that desired sear mark. In gas barbeque, you won't get this flavour ever.
2. Versatility of Items:
Do you love to have smoky pizzas? Well, you can make it at home now if you have a charcoal barbeque stove. However, you will require a pizza stone and a lid. Moreover, you can experiment with other fuels, such as wood and chunks with charcoal, for different tastes and flavours. Hence, it can be stated that a charcoal barbecue stove is a must-have if you want to extend your barbeque game.
3. Indirect Grilling:
Indirect grilling helps to increase the taste of the food a thousand times, cooks the food evenly, and makes the outer part crisp while keeping the inner part juicy. Food items such as roasts, ribs, etc., are especially ideal for this, and a charcoal barbeque grill is the best for this.
4. Portability:
If you love barbeque during vacations, you must opt for an outdoor charcoal barbecue because of its portability. You can't carry a huge propane cylinder everywhere, whereas a bag of coal will fit in your car easily. Currently, several brands have introduced portable cooking surfaces, too. Hence, they are much more convenient than gas barbeque grills.
5. Easy Maintenance:
Due to the complex mechanism, repairing or replacing a specific part can be hectic when a gas grill has issues. Additionally, you have expert assistance for that. However, charcoal barbeque is the opposite. It has the simplest mechanism; if one part has an issue, replacing it might take only a few minutes.
How Gas BBQs work?
Gas barbeques are among the most common cooking appliances in Australian houses. They are popular because of their convenience and simple handling process.
In the mechanism part, a gas barbeque grill has the following parts-
1. Cooking Grates:
The food is placed on cooking grates for grilling. Usually, these grates are made from high-grade stainless steel, which is durable enough to tolerate high heat.
2. Burners:
The burner holds the gas inside it and controls the heat. It is normally made from stainless steel or cast iron. To have the best experience, always go for heavy-duty burners.
3. Barriers/Radiants:
Barriers/Radiants are the parts that protect the burner and help distribute flare efficiently. They help minimise or maximise the flame according to need.
4. Venturi Tubes:
Venturi tubes transport the gas from the chamber to the burner to produce the flame. Venturi tubes control the flame and ensure a smooth grilling experience by controlling the gas flow.
5. Control Knobs:
Control knobs- the name is stating its usage. They are the grill's outermost part and help control the flame as needed.
6. Igniters:
The igniter or ignition helps sparkle the flame and connect the burner with fuel. Although there are many igniters, piezo starters are the most popular ones.
7. Temperature Gauge:
A temperature gauge helps to measure the temperature during cooking and to set different temperatures depending on the food item. For example, the required temperatures for fish, chicken and vegetables are different. Using this, one can control the temperature and ensure the best cooking.
8. Grease Tray:
Falling out the grease and food particles is common. It makes the whole area dirty enough. A grease tray collects them all to prevent this and keeps the area pristine.
In the working part, the venturi tubes help transport the fuel to the burner, ignite helps sparkle the fuel to connect with the burner, barriers help distribute the flame, and cooking grates help hold the food and perform the task.
It is important to mention that there are two types of fuel for gas barbeque: natural gas and liquid propane. If you use natural gas, the grill machine will be connected to your home's gas line, and you will not be able to carry it outside. However, liquid propane is portable. While choosing fuel, remember that natural gas is clearer and much more affordable than propane.
Advantages of using Gas BBQs
| Advantages | Details |
|---|---|
| Convenience | Quick ignition and easy temperature control with a simple turn of a knob |
| Consistent Heat | Provides steady heat, ideal for precise cooking and longer grilling sessions |
| Less Cleanup | Generally easier to clean than charcoal, with fewer ashes to dispose of |
| Faster Cooking | Preheats quickly, allowing for faster meal preparation |
| Safer | No open flames, reducing the risk of flare-ups and making it safer for use |
In today's hectic life, everyone is forced to chase the clock. Although cooking outside can be fun, it's not ideal for everyday life.
On the other hand, a gas barbecue grill is a ready-to-go setup. A few minutes is enough to start cooking, and this feature makes gas barbeque barbecue so popular. It is convenient, efficient, and ready-in-a-flash. However, is it their only advantage? Well, no, gas barbeque has a long list of conveniences, and they are as follows:
1. Fast and Easy to Use:
One of the biggest advantages of a gas grill is its speed and convenience. You can start cooking within 10 minutes of deciding to do a barbecue. Additionally, a good gas grill oven helps set the right temperature and achieve the perfect texture.
Moreover, the gas grill burners ensure a consistent flow of heat, which helps in getting perfectly cooked barbeques faster. Also, it usually comes with two to three burners, which is enough for a barbeque staple.
2. Easy to Maintain:
Spillage of food particles and grease storage in barbeque grates are regular. It makes the whole space messy and dirty. Therefore, regular cleaning is essential. For this, a gas barbeque grill is quite convenient. Clean the hot brush with a wire brush for optimum cleaning, and voila! It is quirky and clean. Currently, most gas barbeque grills come with a grease tray that collects the dropouts, and emptying it daily is necessary.
3. Affordability:
According to the market study, a 9kg LPG gas bottle refill costs around $25 and gives around 15 hours of cooking time. This means you can do 15 or more barbeques with just a one-time refill, and by this calculation, you are just investing $25 or $1.66 per BBQ. Moreover, if you use your home's natural gas for this, you can handle it at a much lower price. Therefore, it is undoubtedly an affordable idea.
4. Better Control:
What are the must-have criteria for a good barbeque? It is the texture. If it is over or low-cooked, it is a waste, and as Aussies use a wide range of items for barbeque, control over the grill is one of the most important things. Gas Barbeque Grill keeps its users one step ahead in this game. They come with a temperature control gauge that helps to set the temperature for different items such as vegetables, fish or steak. Some grills also offer indirect grilling that ensures a juicy inside texture.
5. Customisation:
When you can customise your gadget, you get a hundred times better control over cooking, and you can quickly get it with a gas barbeque grill. You can choose different styles, configurations, burners, and accessories for a great barbeque experience. For example, if you love to have turkey barbeque but struggle in the winter, you can go for the iGrill application. It is an app-connected thermometer and sends alerts right to the phone about the internal doneness of the turkey.
6. High Heat:
If you love to experiment with your cooking skills and use different items for barbeque, you must know that some items, such as steak, require high heat. Some gas barbeque grills can produce high heat, such as 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, which is challenging in the traditional method.
7. Easy Pre-Heat Process:
Preheating the grill is one of the foremost conditions for getting the sear-marked barbeque. It also enhances the flavour while avoiding any chances of dry spots. Moreover, with preheat, you can get an evenly cooked barbeque, and the gas grills are perfect for this task. A gas grill gets heated instantly, and good quality grates help in the right sear marks.
From the discussed pointers, it is clear that gas barbeque grills are much more convenient for daily use and handling. Moreover, if you have issues like asthma, it is a one-stop solution because it produces less smoke. Also, maximum gas barbeque grills are aesthetically good-looking. They have glass tops, and the finish is really good. Hence, they are gaining rapid popularity among users.
Key Differences between Gas and Charcoal BBQs
Gas grill vs. charcoal grill is one of the most common age-old debate topics in Australia. It has been dividing barbeque lovers since 19030 because this year, Louis McGlaughlin invented the first-ever gas grill for commercial purposes. However, it has become popular in households since 1950. According to the survey reports, both grills have their audiences and are quite popular. Let's focus on the key differences to understand the utility better.
1. Fuel Type:
For a gas grill, an individual must use natural gas or propane. However, for a charcoal grill, one must use BBQ fuel charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal as fuel. It is important to mention that natural gas and propane can be cheaper than charcoal; however, they are not portable. On the other hand, both options have an environmental impact as they are fossil fuels. There is a misconception that only charcoal leaves its footprint on the environment because of the smoke it creates.
2. Temperature Control:
The gas grills come with knobs and temperature gauges, which help you to control the temperature with ease. However, in the case of charcoal grills, you must control oxygen to control the temperature, and it needs practice. Therefore, if you are a novice, temperature control might be difficult.
3. Smoking Type:
Gas grills can't trap smoke. Moreover, as they do not use charcoal, they do not provide that charcoal smoky flavour. On the other hand, charcoal grills trap the charcoal smoke to make the food perfectly smoky, and their indirect grilling helps the food absorb the flavour rightly. Therefore, the taste and flavour of both foods are quite different.
4. Price Point:
Gas grills are expensive compared to charcoal grills. For a gas grill, you need to spend around $500+ (for a great one). However, you can get an excellent charcoal grill at a price point like $139.
5. Convenience:
Regarding time, gas grills are much more convenient than charcoal ones because you don't need to set up the barbecue. On the other hand, charcoal is much more convenient when considering factors like portability and weight. Hence, if you love to have a barbeque on your vacation, go for the charcoal one.
6. Cleaning Process:
Whether they are gas or charcoal, grills must be cleaned to maintain hygiene and an even flame, and this difference is about the cleaning process.
Cleaning the gas grill is easier. There are two steps—emptying the grease tray and cleaning the bars—and you are done. However, to clean the charcoal grill, you must throw out the burned charcoal and ashes. Sometimes, ashes cause environmental issues when disposed of because they have an environmental impact. To avoid adverse results, one must dispose of them as per regulations.
7. Heating Time:
Typically, a charcoal grill takes almost 30 minutes to heat up, and if the quality of the coal or wood is not good enough, it can take more time. Additionally, if the place is windy, it can be an issue. However, a gas grill only takes a minute to heat up. Hence, preheating becomes more accessible with a gas grill.
8. Maintenance Charge:
A gas grill has a complex mechanism and many parts in it. Thus, a higher maintenance charge is required if one part gets ruined and you need to connect with an expert to change the part. However, due to its easy mechanism, maintaining a charcoal grill is cheaper, and you can replace a part at your convenience.
9. Versatility of Items:
Multipurpose items are among the best. They add a lot of convenience to life, and the gas grill wins the game here. A gas grill can make food items such as hot dogs, burgers, chicken, etc., while a charcoal grill is only for grilling. However, in recent days, some brands have come up with updated versions of them, and in those versions, you can make pizzas.
Gas vs. Charcoal BBQ: Things to Consider When Choosing One
As the differences and advantages are apparent, it is high time you choose the right one for your home.
There is no right or wrong when it comes to your taste buds. You can enjoy your food the way you want. However, before buying, one must consider things like price and convenience. The charcoal grill is a cost-saving option, while the gas grill is convenient.
Also, to enjoy the smoky barbeque flavour, you must use a charcoal grill. Certain disadvantages, such as time consumption or preheating issues, exist, but for the right flavour, all of these are manageable.
To increase your convenience, we suggest you have both types of barbeque grill at your home. Thus, you can enjoy the smoky barbeque on weekends while the basic is on hectic days.
Enjoy Grilled Food with Your Grill Friends and More.
Barbeque is closely associated with Australian culture and lifestyle, which is inevitable in every Aussie household. Although a gas grill is fine for a busy life, charcoal is the best because of its rich, traditional, smoky flavour.
However, choosing the right charcoal is crucial to getting the proper flame and ensuring an evenly cooked barbeque. You can visit the MIK COCO site to get your hands on the best quality charcoal.
They are one of the leading barbeque and shisha charcoal wholesaler in Australia. Their speciality is that they only sell charcoal made from 100% coconut shell. These charcoals are eco-friendly and provide high heat without much effort. Get these charcoal now for a perfectly grilling experience.