Natural Gas vs Charcoal Grills - Which One Is Right For You?

Barbequing outdoors is a pleasure that anyone can partake in and with so many types of grills available you can practically cook anywhere. One exception to the list is a natural gas grill which needs a permanent hook up. Listed below are some of the main advantages / disadvantages and suggestions for both natural gas and charcoal grills to help decide which one is best for you.

Charcoal Grilling and Benefits

The backyard chef's favorite challenge is to create the perfect fire for grilling to produce that mouthwatering smoky taste! Most popular and with about 80% of all American households owning one, is the barbeque grill. Approximately 47% of these bbq owners are cooking with good old charcoal. With brands such as Weber, clearly the most popular charcoal grill sold, as well as a household name, one might dismiss other quality charcoal grillers. But brands such as Brinkman and Hibachi are sought-after as are lesser known charcoal grillers Arctic, Meco, Aussie, Texas Pit Masters, Uniflame, Capital and Thermos, Fire Magic and others.

If you are looking to find the right barbeque charcoal grill, you are in luck. Why? Charcoal grills can add an extra smoky flavor to your grilling that gas grills can’t! And, these grills are affordable to suit any budget. That said, if you buy a fancy one with deluxe features, the price tag will be higher. However, compared to an outdoor gas grill featuring mechanical parts and a more complicated design, charcoal grillers are just more economical.

Which charcoal barbeque to buy? Begin with a few simple questions. How many people will you be grilling for? Does the bbq need to be a specific grill type such as: portable, stainless steel or cast iron? Are you looking for a particular brand: Weber charcoal grills, Brinkman charcoal grills, Hibachi, Arctic, Patio Life, Meco, Aussie or something else?

With a charcoal grill, if you are going to be cooking for a lot of people or just a few people, size matters. A small charcoal grill is 300 to 500 sq. in. cooking surface; a medium charcoal grill is 500 to 700 sq. in. cooking surface; and a large grill is 700 sq. in. and up. So make sure you are getting the size you that fits your needs. If you need something portable, take a look at the brands Weber and Arctic. You will find these to be lightweight and easy to carry. A lock-lid is a convenient portable barbeques feature for camping and outdoor picnicking. (see: http://www.outdoor-fireplaces-and-patio-heaters.com/charcoal-grills.htm )

Natural gas grilling and benefits

How many times have you wanted to barbeque on a Saturday night but were out of propane gas? With a natural gas grill you will never have to worry about the grilling disaster because you’ll never run out of propane while grilling steaks for friends. If you're in the market shopping for a barbeque that will offer you great convenience and ease, then natural gas is the way to go. Why? Unlike charcoal grills, there is no waiting for the coals to heat up. With a natural gas grill you just push the button, turn the dial and ignite! And, since these barbeques are connected to the gas supply piping of the home, they are always ready for cooking.

How to choose the natural gas grill that’s right for you?

It's never easy deciding, especially when there are so many outdoor grill manufacturers to choose from: Weber, Broilmaster, Lynx, Fire Magic and many more. And besides the brands, you've got to figure out which brand model will suit your grilling needs. Here are some grill features to consider: What size cooking surface do you need? Does the barbeque need side shelves? Do you want a multi-burner system, meaning 2, 4, or 6 burners? Do you want warming shelves, a side burner, a grease catcher? And what about the grill’s appearance? Does it need need to fit into an outdoor kitchen? Or to match the décor of the exterior of your house?

Two great ways to decide are your particular budget and reviews. Read as many gas grill reviews as possible, talk to friends with natural gas grillers, and shop around locally and online. Whatever your needs and whatever you decide, adding a barbeque to your life, be it natural gas or charcoal, will never be something you regret. (see: http://www.outdoor-fireplaces-and-patio-heaters.com/outdoor-gas-grills.htm )

Nicole Martins is a contributing author and publisher to http://www.outdoor-fireplaces-and-patio-heaters.com, an online resource that provides you with information, articles of interest and reviews of the best outdoor fireplace and heaters online.