Charcoal or Propane (Page 6): Yep, switched from charcoal to propane years ago...never went back!! :D :D...

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Yep, switched from charcoal to propane years ago...never went back!! :D :D

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

teesquare wrote:

I have been using cherry and pecan lately on pork. I like that combination a lot.

We have restrictions on hardwoods here. We do live in a designated ECO PARK here so conservation is paramount but there's a lot of locals who sell lump charcoal in 20 kilo bags but it's not the specialty woods available there in the USA. Mesquite or fruit wood is not available.

OldEarl Loc: Northeast Kansas

teesquare wrote:

I have been using cherry and pecan lately on pork. I like that combination a lot.

Sounds good. I use mesquite on beef and sometimes chicken. I generally use hickory or pear on pork. I may try cherry on pork--might do well on chicken as well.

u02bnpx Loc: NW PA

Be glad you have a choice on how to build a fire. The poor fellow in Jack London's short story wasn't so fortunate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Build_a_Fire

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

singleviking wrote:

We have lots of local suppliers that sell lump charcoal here and cheap. But 37 pounds would last me 2 cookout sessions.

I saw an episode of Dirty Jobs, showing how they make charcoal. It is even worse than you might expect. The workers get covered with black dust inside and out. No gloves, no respirator.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Propane but I'm sick of replacing my grill every 5 or 6 years. That last one cost me $600 or $800. I can't remember exactly but I know that I paid a lot and got a good one. But the center burner quit working a year ago and I can't fix it. The hardware is rusted up.

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm just curious what most of you use when you grill outside. I've been using a propane grill for years, but the cost of propane - and nostalgia - has me inclined to go back to charcoal. One tank of propane would cost more than a season's worth of charcoal.

teesquare Loc: USA

Only one brand of propane grill - that is not priced in the stratosphere - that I recommend....Weber.

Durable, fantastic tech support ( even on weekends!) And parts are always available - even for the very old ones.

Buy a Weber if you want a gasser - and buy a cover for it. You will have the grill for a very, very long time.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

jerryc41 wrote:

I'm just curious what most of you use when you grill outside. I've been using a propane grill for years, but the cost of propane - and nostalgia - has me inclined to go back to charcoal. One tank of propane would cost more than a season's worth of charcoal.

Propane is healthier. Charcoal has carcinogens. Wood would be a second choice.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

RLSeipleSr wrote:

Natural gas ... used propane for years ... gave up on charcoal because of the mess ...

Bob S

Not everyone has access to natural gas.

teesquare Loc: USA

singleviking wrote:

We have restrictions on hardwoods here. We do live in a designated ECO PARK here so conservation is paramount but there's a lot of locals who sell lump charcoal in 20 kilo bags but it's not the specialty woods available there in the USA. Mesquite or fruit wood is not available.

You may want to look into a "pellet grill" which use compressed sawdust - and a thermostatically controlled auger...fantastic wood fire taste. Temp. range from low and slow smoking - to high temp grilling.
Brands to look at that are quality and great bang for the buck:

Rec-Tec

MAK Grills

They are 2 of my sponsors on www.LetsTalkBBQ.com They are sponsors, not because they flashed money - but because they really offer something unique, better and reasonable for the money spent.

These 2 brands use the finest thermostatic controller available. More accurate that your indoor range. Within 5 degrees of the desired temperature set point. No kidding...

The others are...well - not as well built or warranted, so what few dollars your save - you may well spend in frustration and repair

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

rmalarz wrote:

My vote is for charcoal.
--Bob

Your vote is for a carcinogen. My health means more to me.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

stumbo wrote:

Natural Gas. It's easy, clean, and inexpensive.

:D

Natural gas isn't available to everyone. Go with propane.

BatManPete Loc: Way Up North!

Kingsford MIchigan was the site of a Ford Motor Company factory which built wooden station wagon bodies beginning in 1931. During World War 2, Ford built a glider factory which manufactured more than 4,000 wooden frame Waco gliders for the US military.

Scrap wood from the Ford factory was used to make charcoal. That operation was the foundation of the Kingsford Charcoal company. Remember the WOODIE station wagons.

I quit using any liquid fuel .
------
Pine cones and sticks do wonders . . . plus smell is great from burning wood etc. . . . PLUS U get to know Ur' state forests..... collecting above items. One gunny bag full - - creates many delicious meals.

teesquare Loc: USA

Collie lover wrote:

Your vote is for a carcinogen. My health means more to me.

Your statement is based on research paid for by a gas consortium.:wink: There are unhealthy volatiles in propane and natural gas as well.

The use of charcoal has gone on since the beginning of time, so one would think that if cigarettes are found to be cancer -causing - then surely similar regulation against charcoal would have followed suite- if the threat were real, and of any consequence..But it did not.

And that is because it is not the charcoal - it is the inappropriate use of it. It is also the actual "charring" of the meat surface which produces carcinogens, and organic oxidizing compounds.
:thumbup:

teesquare Loc: USA

BatManPete wrote:

Kingsford MIchigan was the site of a Ford Motor Co... (show quote)

Just be careful to not cook over pine. It contains turpenes - which are refined to produce turpentine. Might give you a powerful belly ache - and a case of the Hershey squirts.....
:lol: