Charcoal VS Gas Grill: Which Is Better?

Outdoor grilling is an exciting part of American culture that happens every summer season. Few things bring people together like the idea of cooking steaks and burgers over an open fire. Add a few frosty cold brews, and you’ve got yourself an ideal summer escape leaving the comfort of your backyard.

If you’re looking to upgrade your grill this season or just want to explore the options that are available to you, take a close look at charcoal and gas grills. Each has its advantages and drawbacks, and it is essential to know what to look for before you make your decision to buy.

Charcoal and gas grills are two of the most popular options for grilling. The simplicity of charring meat over these readily-available fuel types is appealing for several different reasons. They’re both extremely cost-effective, both in up-front costs, and for maintenance, they’re convenient to set up and use, and they’re readily available in most stores.

Gas grills generally offer a terrific beginner crash-course in grilling. They work much like a gas stove as they provide easy-to-adjust knobs that control the grilling surface’s temperature. They offer incredibly high heat cooking, so using a gas grill makes it easy to get up to the temperature you need to sear meat, giving you the appealing criss-cross pattern grill marks that every pitmaster loves. 

With a few DIY tutorials and minor adjustments, you can also smoke meat and fish on a  gas grill. Since smoking requires lower temperatures, it’s crucial to find a gas grill that’s good at retaining heat. Most gas grills don’t excel at lower temperatures, so using a gas grill to simmer your food requires patience and creativity, but it’s completely achievable.

Charcoal grills differ from gas in many ways. The fuel is just as easy to find, but getting your flames started can be difficult. Where gas grills often have a push-button starter, charcoal grills require a more lengthy setup, including starting the fire manually and bringing the charcoal briquettes up to the right heat for cooking. You have to stack and plan your briquettes’ placement to optimize the heat in key areas of your grill space. These grills can achieve higher temperatures, but it takes more time to get there, often 15 to 20 minutes.

The only thing that charcoal has over gas is taste. Food that comes off of a grill fueled by charcoal consistently has that smoky barbecue taste that every summer carnivore looks for in their hotdogs and burgers.

Charcoal grills have some significant advantages over other fuel types. If built correctly, they retain heat exceptionally well and provide incredible flavors that other grills just can’t offer. 

Another considerable advantage of charcoal grills is that they are generally much less expensive than other models due to their straightforward construction and operation. You don’t have any moving parts with a charcoal grill to assist with flame control or ignition. They simply work by lighting your fuel, letting it burn for a while to get the grill to the right temperature, and then searing your meats over one area to transfer them to another section of the cooking surface to finish their cooking process.

One of the best selling points for gas grills is their value for money. They are typically the most affordable grills and offer outstanding versatility for cooking a variety of dishes. They’re fuel-efficient, tanks are easy to find, and you can get around 20 hours of grill time off just one tank. As long as your tank is filled and you have the temperature right on your cooking surface, your meal should be done quickly and with minimal issues.

It may take some time to get to know your gas grill. Once you know how to work the burners and knobs, you’ll be on your way to delicious dinners.

Gas and charcoal grills are both excellent options for new grillmasters. They’re easy to find, relatively inexpensive to buy, their fuel is cheaper than most other options, and they excel at cooking with higher temperatures. Despite their similarities, they have some critical differences in their cooking methods to consider when grilling poolside or on your patio.

Ease of Use

Gas and charcoal grills are the most well-loved grill types because they are simple to set up and easy to use. Gas grills use a push-button ignition to start right up, almost on their own. Charcoal requires a bit more patience. You may need to incorporate lighter fluid and matches, which requires more equipment than you’d need with a gas grill.

Clean-up for gas and charcoal grills are also relatively easy for both models. Gas grills use a clean-burning fuel, meaning no ash to empty or clean up following meal prep. That reduces clean up for the cooking surfaces and removing any drippings that may fall from the meat onto the grill burners. However, drippings need to be scrubbed to prevent any build-up that could affect the grill’s function.

It’s essential to clean the ash from the dish or box under the kettle with charcoal grills after each use. You’ll want to ensure any grill plates are thoroughly scrubbed before and after every use to prevent a build-up of soot or ash, which could taint the meat.

Temperature Range and Control

Controlling the temperature of your cooking surface is extremely important with outdoor cooking. Higher-end gas grills can hit a searing temperature of 700°F without much effort. Once ignited, the flames can reach cooking temps in approximately 10 to 15 minutes faster than their charcoal counterparts. 

Unlike gas grills, charcoal grills are primarily outdoor ovens that can flame broil. Controlling the temperature is best left for knowledgeable pitmasters who know how to divide charcoal to increase heat for searing on one side of the grill while reducing the number of briquettes on the other side of the temperature. These grills must stay closed unless your meat is being flame-seared. Leaving a charcoal grill open invites heat loss, which will directly affect how quickly and how thoroughly your food is cooked.

Add-ons and Extras

When you buy a gas grill, you may find yourself merely purchasing the centerpiece to turn into an outdoor kitchen. Many gas grills are straightforward appliances but can feature additional side burners, rotisseries, and storage options purchased to turn them into dazzling outdoor galleys. Some higher-end gas grills will feature illuminated knobs or internal lights so you can quickly cook into the evening.

Charcoal grills, by contrast, are most often structured like large boxes or drums. They are simple and lack the visual appeal of a gas grill. However, this simplicity is part of a charcoal grill’s charm for many barbeque enthusiasts as they have few moving parts to clean or potentially repair. 

Affordability 

While both grill types are less expensive than most other grills, due to the simplicity of the design and the lack of additional features, charcoal grills are typically more affordable than gas grills. However, when it comes to fuel sources, gas grills are cheaper to operate long-term. A propane tank may cost more initially, but gas is up to three times less expensive than charcoal briquettes in cost per grilling session.