BBQ thoughts....

[Clint]

As the coals are red hot I'm cooking the curry.

 

[Leon103]

As the coals are red hot I'm cooking the curry.View attachment 70153

Plus a couple of sausages for starter

 

[damienair]

I’m looking forward to getting my BBQ out tomorrow evening. The menu will be Chicken drumsticks and bratwurst sausages in an onion and beer bath. Yummy

 

[damienair]

BBQ all set and ready to go. Gave it a clean. Looking forward to getting lit at beer o’clock.

 

[damienair]

Beer Brats and Chicken Drumsticks

 

[Cheshire Cat]

was bought this for Father’s Day. Excellent book made two of the recipes already.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Hey guys!

I am also in the business for a new bbq, and struggling to find something that stands out.

I have always been in the charcoal camp, but now seeing all your posts I’m wondering what I’m missing with gas.

Would someone be so kind as to explain the difference and also the best place to buy one? I’m not averse to either type, or indeed a hybrid.

Just want to know what it does and why I’m buying it. Thanks guys.

 

[Clint]

I used gas for 20+ years and just swapped to charcoal. For BBQ I'm converted..I'm still keeping my old gas machine as the side burner works and it's what I cook my curry on.
I'm no expert on BBQ but I'm well impressed with my Weber kettle.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

So in your view there’s no great advantage to gas?

We have always been in the ‘may as well cook it inside’ way of thinking. But I don’t wanna be a one-sided Sharon because knowledge is power lol

 

[Clint]

Gas is instant. I've found charcoal takes a little longer...about 15 to 20 minutes to get the chimney starter going then maybe the same to preheat the grill and bbq and get the grill brushed clean. As I only bbq on days off time isn't an issue plus setting stuff on fire is loads of fun! Taste wise the coal wins.
I think cleaning the Weber is also quite easy with the levers and ash bucket underneath...the grill is simply scratched clean when scorching hot with a wire brush.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

So far I’m still on the coal side then. Always preferred it.

 

[Clint]

Well I've only dabbled with the fire until recently but now I'm wondering what I've missed!

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Perhaps we should ask @Alastair70

 

[Clint]

Yeah I think he might know something about it...

 

[Alastair70]

Perhaps we should ask @Alastair70

Yeah I think he might know something about it...

Well I did have the both Weber and the Kamado on the last night!

The advantage of gas is that its quick and easy to get cooking and temperature adjustments are simple. You can smoke on them, low ‘n’ slow is effortless, and the BBQ flavour comes from rendered fat burning on whatever your heat source is, gas or coal.

Charcoal is an ingredient, and if you fancy playing around with single verital wood varieties then theres a world of extra flavours to explore. I’ve got Big K Marabou and Stagg Hornbeam on the go at the minute. You get more charcoal flavour in on low ‘n’ slow cooks than fast and furious.
The learning curve for temp control is pretty short, I light the chimney a good hour before cook time and do a two zone cook with direct and indirect happening at the same time.

Its horses for courses. I like cracking a beer a good hour before cook time and stinking of smoke for the rest of the night, so it’s charcoal for me. I do have a small gas portable, but I don’t like it and bought a Smokey Joe for the beach instead. One of my mates who BBQs more often than I do has a gas Weber Genesis and swears by it.

Queue an excuse for gratuitous food porn. Here‘s last nights Char Sui pork belly, sous vide in the Grainfather then finished on the Kamado.

 

[Druncan]

OOooo, found this;
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114966314231
with this? ;
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314009129216?var=612685744533

 

[damienair]

Charcoal BBQ is great. Weber are amazing and for the money a good Weber charcoal BBQ will outlive you if looked after it. Taste is incredible, lamb and chicken over coals is amazing.

 

[Dutto]

Charcoal!

Bit of a faff but so what? I don’t rush my brews so why would I want a “fast” BBQ?

The Beer Can Chicken Roaster and Smokeless BBQ discovered by @Druncan got me thinking:

1. “How much?” and you can’t even drink the beer!
2. “Too small if I have friends over.” which is normal.

The method you use to cook will depend on the type of BBQ bought, the type of fuel used, the accessories acquired and the recipe used.

My only comment is “I’ve never wished I had a smaller BBQ!”

Enjoy!
:hat:

 

[Thebiggestal]

Gas is more convenient but mine died and I picked up a Weber kettle a couple of years ago after seeing one of their demos at grillstock.

I fired up the kettle yesterday and had a turkey breast seasoned with meat church lemon pepper and wrapped in streaky bacon. Skirt steak and a few burgers. Used some maple wood for the smoking of the turkey.

 

[Alastair70]

I bought a pair of these beer can roasters on sale in B&Q a few years back, I think they were around £5 each. Two fit nicely on either the kamado or the master touch.