Which barbeque to buy?

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blinkbelle

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Hi everyone.

Im going to buy a barbie next weekend. I'm just wondering if anyone has one could they tell me what its like? are there better makes than others?

Also, someone told me that food off a gas barbeque is rotton..can anyone confirm this??

It will only be used couple of times a year during the summer. I dont want a massive one. just big enough so I or himself :rolleyes: could cook for maybe 5people at any 1 time. I dont want to spent a bomb on it either maybe 200/300 euro.

I have been in woodies, b&q, atlantic homecare. Theres just to many to chose from. I'd rather get some advice first before I buy.
 
Recently got a kettle style charcoal one at B&Q - about €60.

Quite big and easy enough to assemble. Went for this as opposed to gas because:

Don't like using gas - a bit nervous about it
IMHO gas BBQ is not proper barbequeing
Price - a lot cheaper obviously

On the taste issue, I have to say I've never found gas to be 'rotten' but charcoal certainly tastes better - can be good fun too (nurturing and arguing about optimium 'readiness' etc!)

If you do go for charcoal they are all probably much of muchness - just go for one bigger than you need and not the cheapest one as it is likely to be very tinny - bits will probably break sooner than you would like!
 
The difference as I see it - taste is probabbly better from the charcoal but it takes longer to prepare - 20-40mins depending on quantity of charcoal, it needs to be grey before cooking, with gas you can start cooking immediately, ideal for the irish weather. You can compensate the taste with mariades.

I was looking at the gas BBQs in B&Q recently and couldn't see a place for the lava rock, if this is the case then taste may indeed be a lot less than the charcoal bbqs.
 
I also bought a kettle type one recently. Before this had a gas one and the taste from the charcoal one is much better.

Ruam
 
I have a pretty simple charcoal BBQ for 3 years now and used it 6 times a year or so. It was 30 euros and last week I saw it in Lidl for 25. You can't go wrong with that. Last Friday I cooked for 5 people on it.. I have had these kettle BBQs and I did not like them, but that is just my opinion. A gas grill should be called that an not a BBQ.
 
Charcoal bbq is definitely better. If you're thinking of a gas one, just buy a griddle pan and cook on the hob instead, save yourself a fortune! :)
 
Charcoal ones taste a bit better than gas, but the ease of use with gas wins hands down....charcoal is way too messy and cumbersome. We bought our gas one 2 years ago and it's great..press a button and it's on.
 
Hi.

Thanks for the replies. Im not going to buy a gas one now anyway. I'll post back when I purchase my barbie ;)
 
Firefly said:
Charcoal ones taste a bit better than gas, but the ease of use with gas wins hands down....charcoal is way too messy and cumbersome.
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Part of the problem can be that people assume that you can cook immediately on gas BBQs when, in fact, you still need to let the coals heat up first before cooking.
 
We BBQ at least once a week throughout the year (we are overseas where the climate allows it!). Before we left home 3 years ago we bought an Outback BBQ from Woodies and shipped it over. I would definitely recommend this one. We are moving back this year and will leave ours here but plan to buy the same one again. I saw it on the Woodies website for 180 euro a few weeks ago.
 
why not just get a scrap piece of steel about what ever size you want really and make a bbq. It's not hard, you can do it in an afternoon and cheap as... heaps of diy stuff, info out there to tell you how to lay bricks.
Have a go mate,
 
ClubMan said:
Part of the problem can be that people assume that you can cook immediately on gas BBQs when, in fact, you still need to let the coals heat up first before cooking.
Click to expand...

Spot on.

I seriously cannot tell the difference between a gas and charcoal bbq taste on meat when the gas grill has been heated up for 10 mins before cooking. And it cooks more uniformly, although not 100% either!

I've had both and never again would I get a charcoal bbq. For ease of use a gas bbq beats charcoal. I cannot see one single plus to a charcoal bbq over gas, other than price.

My opinion obviously!
 
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Gas all the way.
If worried about flavour, just add soaked woodchip (mesquite being my favourite) to a tinder box or just wrap it in tinfoil, pierce the tinfoil, let it heat for 10 mins and Robert is your mothers brother.
 
Ballyman said:
Spot on.

I cannot see one single plus to a charcoal bbq over gas, other than price.
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1. You don't run out of charcoal unexpectedly when you use a charcoal bbq

2. A bag of charcoal is a lot easier to hump in and out of a car and doesn't wreck your back.

3. A gas barbi is using up a scarce natural resource while charcoal comes from renewable forests.

4. Cooking on a charcoal bbq is more manly and takes more skill (it's less controllable than a gas one).

5. It's quite enjoyable to stand over the BBQ waiting for the flames to die down and the coals to go grey. You can have a few tinnies with the lads and claim that you are too busy to do anything else to help your spouse/partner prepare the rest of the food, as you are getting the bbq ready for cooking.



Murt


(I aslo have a gas one.)
 
I have a Weber 300 gas bbq. It is a small compact size. . It is an all-weather bbq. It won't rust. I have had it since last summer. It doesn't need to be covered - this is a big advantage because one is more likely to use it. Just lift the lid and start it.

This BBQ works by cooking with the lid closed. Also, cleaning it is very easy. I just heat it before I cook and then brush the reside with a steel brush and it's ready to use. In fact, it is recommended not to clean this bbq after use - who could possibly find fault with that?

I use it a lot. No meat smells/smoke in the kitchen any more. I even use it to bbq good quality sausages for breakfast some weekends. In the winter/rain/snow/frost I cook outside, but eat inside.

Who needs skill to bbq the perfect steak when the perfect bbq does the work for you? I guess cooking over a camp fire would be the ultimate in manliness? ;)

Marion
 
I think if you dont make the kill with your own bare hands you definitely lose BBQ Manliness points
 
Murt10 said:
5. It's quite enjoyable to stand over the BBQ waiting for the flames to die down and the coals to go grey. You can have a few tinnies with the lads and claim that you are too busy to do anything else to help your spouse/partner prepare the rest of the food, as you are getting the bbq ready for cooking.
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Would concur with that :). I have a 'none of yer fancy stuff' charcoal BBQ similar to the round one depicted on the [broken link removed] site (maybe slightly bigger, diameter 2', and maybe more sturdy). I think it was €15 in Argos a few years ago and is fine for cooking for 2 through 20+ people.
 
ClubMan said:
Part of the problem can be that people assume that you can cook immediately on gas BBQs when, in fact, you still need to let the coals heat up first before cooking.
Click to expand...

old post I know. This could be a silly question but what coals do you need to use for a gas bbq. I thought you don't use coals? Is there a certain type for gas bbq's? Cheers.
 
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