Charcoal pollutes a lot and can't be used on balconies.

Gas avoids that 'electric' taste you get from broiling or frying.

Natural gas grills could be supplied from your composting toilet (kitchen and bath, special order)

regarding the BBQ- if you're concerned about pollution, it really depends on how often you plan on using it. if you prefer charcoal but grill more than a couple times a week, you may want a gas grill instead. but if you don't grill that often, charcoal it up. it does taste better, even if it takes longer. but grilling isn't just a process of cooking meats, it adds to social atmosphere. there's nothing like a bunch of people standing around arguing over who's grilling techniques are better. no joke- it happens every time. even my boyfriend and i argue over who will cook the better meat. and i'm a vegetarian! charcoal does taste better. but if you go for the gas grill, make sure you're getting good cuts of meat. i mean, don't be afraid to spend some cash on it because you shouldn't HAVE to slather it all up with rubs and sauces and marinades.. those just cover up the taste of the meat. grilling is supposed to enhance the flavor of your meat, so don't mask it by covering it with sugary sauces. rubs are ok because they're just basic seasonings. organic and well-raised meats always taste better.. but i'm biased.

Just for you know :
- Gas is a fossile energy which is adding C02 to the atmosphere.
- Charcoal is a renewable energy which is therefore not adding C02 to the atmosphere. (The wood it came from has teaken its carbon from the atmosphere).

So the choice is a no-brainer : charcoal, obviously.

And please buy local made charcoal and not charcoal brougth to you from the other side of the planet and possibly endangering gorillas !

Get a Traeger wood pellet grill. I own one, and couldn't be happier! Google Traeger and check them out!

jp

Charcoal or Wood Chunks are the only way to cook on a grill. Anything else just isn't "real."

You can always get faux-flavor but you can't unburn a steak.

I vote gas or both, but not charcoal only.

Which comes back to my question I posted at 4:20 am on July 17th (yes I got up especially just to post that comment).

>Ummm what are we cooking?

Doesn't the meat have any input to the cooking equation?

I currently have a charcoal grill, but it uses gas to start the charcoal. It's unbelievably easy. You get the benefits of both worlds; Quick start and great taste. It uses a tiny gas tank take that can easily be refilled for just a couple bucks.

I have the same model Adeel Khan has. It's perfect.

http://www.amazon.com/Weber-847001-Performer-Charcoal-Touch-N-Go/dp/B0 00659KDW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1216332674&sr=8-1

I always think of that episode of King of the Hill where his family is sneaking behind is back and grilling with charcoal because it tastes so much better.

Seriously, get a coal chimney. It makes charcoal grilling so effortless and then you will wonder why you ever had a tasteless gas grill.

Gas grills make it easier to maintain a constant temperature, they cook quicker, and clean easier. There's nothing charcoal can do that gas can't do better.

The only thing charcoal grills have going for them is that they are inexpensive. This can sometimes result in poor construction -- I've used charcoal grills that had plastic handles that melted the first time they were used, or that were so top heavy that they tip easily and spill hot coals all over my friend Kim's wooden porch. I still owe her a paint job on that porch.

Long story short, go gas. You'll pay more for a quality grill, but it will easily pay for itself in time and money saved (charcoal adds up quick) in the long run.

And don't let the "hassle" of charcoal cooking stop you from making a single steak for yourself. You're worth it!

Sure it takes a bit more skill to maintain the desired temp but that's the fun and well.... skill of it. Grilling and BBQing is really easy once you do get the hang of it.

As for the time issue, BBQing is a long process if its done right. Grilling is fast, BBQ is slow because its all about smoking the food, which is low heat. If you cook your ribs like you cook a steak you don't know what you are missing. A slab of ribs should take no less than 4 hours to cook, try it you'll never do it any other way again. Also try to smoke other things, once I learned to smoke a turkey breast on my grill I put my deep fryer away for good. Now my smoked turkey is thanksgiving day staple and I live in NW Ohio so its cold.

As for grilling and the whole marinade issue. Sure marinades can make something taste good but if you cook it right it tastes good without the marinade. Someone upstream mentioned putting coals on one side of the grill and that's spot on. Put the majority of the coals on one side, a few on the other and leave a space with no coals.

_

http://www.amazon.com/Weber-847001-Performer-Charcoal-Touch-N-Go/dp/B0 00659KDW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1216332674&sr=8-1

Probably the best money I've spent on a grill.

Or as some folks here have stated you could go for a gas grill but use some soaked wood chips to give it a smokey flavor. Good luck!

Even here better men then us (I make assumptions here about you, my apologies) have argued about the Traeger being an "authentic" smoker as it takes all the "real work" out of low and slow BBQ. However, as I have previously stated, there are few absolutes. If you use a Traeger and you and your guests are pleased with the results and I use a Weber Virtal Bullet smoker, more power to both of us for enjoying smokey goodness. I have seldom found true backyard BBQ that disappoints. I find it all the time in large corporate so called "BBQ" chains.

Peace!

I use the gas grill for 'grilling' and the smoker for BBQ
If you are going to simply grill things, steaks, fish, chops, tofu... go gas, its fast... not a lot of process,

If you want the 'smoke' flavor on a gs grill soak some hardwood chips and place in a small pan on the grill prior to cooking the meat.

Now if you want to nock your dick in the dirt... BBQ, buy a smoker no a weber... and taste the magic

http://www.chargriller.com/duogrill.html

This company is where I got my charcoal grill and it is heavy duty! The grates are cast iron and really heavy, of they need to be seasoned.

Personally I use charcoal, because well, I like to cook. You have to realize charcoal grills get messy too.

I cook with a gas stove all winter, why would I get a gas grill for outside?

Charcoal isn't hard to use and yes, it tastes better.

It takes more time, but why are you in a rush?

Relax grab a beer and watch those embers burn!