Grill Power: Gas vs. Charcoal

Weber's $349 Performer uses charcoal but has a gas starter. (Courtesy Weber)

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By Annie Groer

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 7, 2007

Barbecue season always ignites debates about which type of grill is superior: gas (two-thirds of Americans use grills fueled by liquid propane, according to a 2005 survey by the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association) or charcoal (beloved by food purists for that fat's-in-the-fire flavor). Some prefer hybrids (charcoal-burning with gas starter or dual-fuel models that burn gas and wood or charcoal) or electric grills that plug in outdoors or inside, or pellet grills that burn small bits of wood.

We asked Leslie Wheeler, communications director of HPBA in Arlington, for the pros and cons of each type. There's more information at the group's Web site, http://www.hpba.org.

Gas

Liquid propane or natural gas

Pros

· More convenient, period. Heats up faster, can be regulated easily and turned off instantly. Many models have multiple burners, some even a very high-heat infrared burner.

· It's environmentally cleaner because it releases fewer carbon particles into the air than charcoal or wood chips do, although consumers may not realize it.

· No need to dispose of spent coals -- a messy job and potential fire hazard.

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