Charcoal grilling does not offer the level of convenience as gas, but it creates a more “natural” atmosphere and the higher, dry heat more readily creates the smoky flavour in meats. Charcoal BBQ’s have certain benefits over gas or wood. Charcoal produces more infrared heat that quickly sears meat and creates the caramelized crust and smoky taste that is so popular with meat lovers. It ignites more easily than wood and the coals required for cooking are already formed.

Because Charcoal makes more smoke than gas, it produces a tasty flavour. Where gas is a simple molecule that burns up completely during combustion, charcoal burns complex organic molecules that can influence the taste of the food, particularly if aromatic wood chips are added. Charcoal BBQ’s do take longer to heat than gas, but a chimney with side vents can cut down significantly on the amount of time it takes to get your charcoal or briquettes up to cooking temperature. Charcoal BBQ’s are also great to double up as outdoor heaters and they are available in different models, with or without lids to expand their versatility for direct radiant heating, or convection grilling.