The open flame of the grill is what produces the great taste that's associated with BBQ food. The heat of the grate chars the food. And when there are wisps of flame from the dripping fat, it gives the meat that extra special barbecue taste. That BBQ taste is intensified when you use a BBQ grill that uses charcoal or wood to cook the food.
It's a little time consuming to start up a charcoal BBQ grill. The charcoal has to be brought out from the garage or shed. It must be measured out properly into the grill and then set aflame. It needs around 30 minutes of burning before it's hot enough to cook over. If you plan on using the grill for a long time, you have to add fresh charcoal from time to time. After barbecuing, the pile of ashes has to be cleaned up.
As well, remember that with a charcoal grill, you can't have total control over the cooking temperature. Some of the more expensive models have ramps that can be adjusted up or down. As well, moving the coals around can help to heat up or slow down the fire.
Things move slowly with a charcoal grill. A gas grill is great for those times when you need to get dinner on the table quickly and don't have time for the whole charcoal process. Many people like to come home after work and start up the grill; since a charcoal BBQ takes quite a bit of time, it's not often the best choice for this scenario.
However, don't forget that there's a lot of pleasure that comes along with grilling on a charcoal BBQ. For starters, it's always fun to watch a fire, and be in better control of the cooking process as you grill your meat to perfection. And there's no doubt that food prepared on a charcoal grill is much tastier than what you'll get from a gas grill.
In general, a charcoal grill is quite inexpensive. The only thing that you need is a constant supply of charcoal. The cost for this could add up over time, but even with a gas BBQ you need to buy propane. As well, a charcoal BBQ is a simpler piece of equipment with fewer parts, so it's likely to last you a long time.
The final decision of choosing a charcoal BBQ grill over a gas grill is totally yours. The charcoal grill can make some particularly tasty steaks. This can be a truly enjoyable experience. It's a great choice when you're not pressed for time and you get a lot of pleasure out of the authentic BBQ taste of meat cooked over charcoal.
