Disadvantages of a Barbecue Gas Grill

Backyard barbeque chefs during the past few years have shifted from the charcoal grill, to the barbecue gas grill. Usually it is because of the speed and convenience of gas grills, along with the variety of tools and equipment with which you can customize them. But there are disadvantages of gas grills you will want to know about if you are comparing them with charcoal grills.

Adding Flavor

One big reason barbequers love charcoal is the flavor it gives the food. You don't get that smokey flavor with gas. You sacrifice flavor for speed. Getting the briquettes hot does take a bit longer, but if you like the wood smoke flavor, briquettes are the way to go. You can even toss in a few soaked wood chips to enhance the flavor. With gas, you can't do that without paying extra.

Direct vs. Indirect Heat  

There's nothing like a potato wrapped in foil and tossed into a hot bed of coals. Even if the potato comes out charred, kids go crazy over them. Just try that with a gas grill.

Juicy vs. Dry

Food cooked on a gas grill, especially steaks, have a tendency to dry out. With charcoal, you have less movement of air through the grill, which can steal the moisture from around your steak. This air movement is created, on the other hand, by the flames of the gas grill. When grilling other cuts of meat, such as hot dogs or hamburgers, this loss of moisture is usually not as evident. But with barbequed steaks and chicken, almost everyone prefers them on the juicy side.

Grill Costs

You might not mind paying the big bucks for a gas grill, but there are a lot of backyard chefs who are deterred by the price. Even the most expensive charcoal grills cost less than the average gas grill—even before you add the cost of the gas. But when you compare gas and charcoal grills, you'll typically find that a gas grill is at least twice the cost of charcoal. Then, when you add the cost of propane tank refills and grill replacement parts such as replaced burners, gas grill costs are considerably higher than charcoal.

Safety

Although propane tank safety factors have improved over the years, you still have a potentially explosive tank to be concerned about when you cook with gas. You have to be concerned with fuel lines and their connections. And what about storage considerations? You probably wouldn't be at all concerned about storing a bag of briquettes in your basement or garage, but would you have that same casual attitude about storing a propane tank in your home or garage?

When all is said and done, the only real advantage of barbequing with a gas grill is speed. It heats faster. But when comparing a gas burner's speed with a juicy, smoke-flavored steak, overall barbequing costs, and safety, the gas grill doesn't stand a chance.