The Charcoal vs Gas Grill Debate Comes Home to Roost

This Weber grill won out in the charcoal vs gas grill debate.

Never thought I would be the person who jumps into the charcoal vs gas grill debate. Because somehow, don’t ask me how, I’ve managed to live through 65 years of my life without a gas grill. Charcoal always seemed simple and easy. Especially if you use a charcoal chimney to start the briquettes. Not to mention, charcoal grills don’t really have a lot of parts that need to be replaced.

Although we did replace a charcoal grill and bought a slightly larger model with the insurance money we received after a freak storm battered our former residence in Minneapolis. I was astonished that State Farm reimbursed us for the grill simply because hail dented the cover. Well, State Farm gave us a brand new roof, too. And new siding. Yet, all these years later, we still have the same charcoal grill at home in Land Park, Sacramento.

I paid no attention when others got into hearted discussions about the charcoal vs gas grill debate. What did I care? I had a perfectly good charcoal grill. Even though maybe it produces a bit more carcinogens than a gas grill. Plus, there is also that part where I could blow myself up with the propane thing. One misstep and bam, you’re dead.

However, now that we have our house in Hawaii, I decided we needed to buy a gas grill. Maybe because the previous sellers had such a grill out on the lanai. But more because when my husband is not at the house with me, it means I have to cook for myself. It’s a lot of work to cook on an electric stove with a grill pan. Scrubbing the pan every morning wrecks my nails. Seasoning cast iron on the stove consumes so much extra time.

Seemed so much easier when considering the charcoal vs gas grill debate to choose a gas grill. Just turn on the propane, turn on the knob and cook. The weather is perfect year-round to grill. Almost everybody I know in Hawaii has a gas grill for this purpose.

Couple things you should know if you’re in the same boat as me. First, Consumer Reports is a good source for the reliability and performance of various gas grills. We chose a Weber. Second, if the clerks at Lowes tell you they will deliver and assemble the grill, they don’t. Although I hear you can have it assembled at Lowes prior to delivery. But they do deliver. It takes about an hour to put it together. Also, Lowes has an exchange program for the propane. You buy the tank, bring it back, and they’ll give you a new full tank for only the price of the propane.

And last, the Weber grill packaging is enormous waste. We filled up the back of our SUV with the discarded materials and drove it to the recycling site in Kailua-Kona at Kealakehe Transfer Station.

Last night, dinner took 5 minutes to prepare and cleanup was a breeze. I wish we had bought a gas grill years ago now. So, in the charcoal vs gas grill debate, I vote for gas. Even though my sister smirkingly muttered, “How suburban.” Margie, hey, I’m talking to you; it’s not my fault you live in a frozen tundra.