Nothing says Texas quite like a good family barbecue; and nothing sparks a heated debate as fast as a question about what type of grill is best. If you are an accomplished outdoor chef, you probably already have an opinion about whether gas or charcoal is a superior grilling fuel. However, if you are an amateur and just planning your first outdoor kitchen, you could use some guidance. Let’s take a look at your options:
Charcoal - The Classic Briquette
If you have always loved playing with matches, there is no substitute for a
charcoal grill. The artful piling of the briquettes, the careful application of lighter fluid, and the sudden “whoosh” as it all catches fire is quite a thrill. It can also be somewhat dangerous. Open flames can lick up and catch your shirt cuffs or your oven mitt if you aren’t careful. They can also char your food.
Charcoal grills provide a high cooking temperature of about 5000. It can reach up to 7000 if you have the coals on a raised grate near the meat you are cooking. This allows you to sear the outside of a thick steak while keeping the interior juicy and medium rare. If you want to use wood chips to add a smoky flavor to your food, this is easy to do with an open charcoal fire. On the down side, controlling the level of heat is tricky; you can’t just turn down the temperature.
Getting this type of grill fire started and hot enough for cooking can take almost half an hour. However, using a
chimney starter can decrease this wait time. If you buy a charcoal grill for your outdoor kitchen, the after meal cleanup will include more than doing the dishes. You will also need to dispose of the ashes - that’s quite a messy business.
Propane Gas - The Modern Flame
Although gas grills are more expensive than charcoal, they are very popular for outdoor cooking. This type of appliance heats up very quickly (in less than 15 minutes). You can control the temperature easily. With gas grills that feature multiple cooking areas, you can set each one to a different heat. This makes it simple to cook more sensitive foods like veggies or salmon on one burner while you roast red meats over a hotter section.
All propane grills use radiant heat rather than open flame to cook food. With cheaper models, you won’t be able to achieve the 7000 temperatures available with a standard charcoal grill. However, you can upgrade to an
infrared grill if you need scorching heat.
A gas grill is simple to keep clean - you won’t have to cope with ashes and excessive carbon buildup. However, if something breaks it might not be easy to fix. A typical propane grill has plenty of complex, costly parts that may have to be replaced eventually.
If you can’t decide between these two options, go all out and buy a
hybrid grill. These high-end appliances allow you to cook with charcoal, propane, and wood. For a free consultation on creating your ideal
Dallas outdoor kitchen, contact our office.