BBQ Dangers?

[cabinetman]

We are still searching for that perfect gas BBQ grill. In the mean time we've been using our trusty charcoal grill. One of the stores we visited on our quest, the sales rep talked about how dangerous charcoal cooking can be. The fact that the gases put out with burning charcoal can be carcinogenic both in the air and in permeating the food being cooked. Is there any truth to that?

.

[dbhost]

In the same way that you can die by drinking pure water, sure. Almost anything used in extreme quantities can cause harm.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/...g-cause-cancer

[RAFlorida]

CMan,

here's what I found:
http://cancer.about.com/od/foodguide/a/grillingmeat.htm

But I'm not given up my charcoal grill, they'll have to pry my cold stiff fingers from the fork!

[jackellis]

About the only thing I cook over direct heat these days is steak. We prefer chicken and fish, which get cooked indirectly (coals to the sides, chicken in the middle of the grill).

Besides, I'm gonna die from something. Might as well be grilled food, which we can only enjoy about 5 months of the year up here (nearly snowed on Tuesday!).

[dbhost]

I see. The issue there is direct heat vs. indirect. I don't do a whole lot over direct heat.

[Pappy]

If Kingsford wants me they have to git in line. Busch, Daniels, Wellers, and Reynolds are all ahead of them.......

According to Reader's Digest, the news, and the government I should have been dead 20 years ago.

[Russianwolf]

Why choose????

http://www.tractorsupply.com/char-gr...re-box-4449832

This is my second season with this guy and I love it. If I have something that I need a fix temp on, gas it. If I want flavor, charcoal. If I want more flavor, smoke. Best of all worlds.

The gas burners are stainless steel (watch out for the cast metal ones) and I haven't seen any corrosion on them at all so far. though one of the spark igniters has fitzed out on me.

I have two bags of Kingsford in the garage for the weekend and I'm planning on using it all.

It is big, and well built, but not too bad to move around.

[cabinetman]

Why choose????

http://www.tractorsupply.com/char-gr...re-box-4449832

This is my second season with this guy and I love it. If I have something that I need a fix temp on, gas it. If I want flavor, charcoal. If I want more flavor, smoke. Best of all worlds.

That particular grill is what we are likely going to get. We saw that during web searches and liked the versatility. The price is fair. I agree with you...some meals are better with charcoal.

.

[3thumbs]

If you are going to get a gas grille, don't mess around with the cheap stuff. Get a Weber! A Weber comes almost completely apart for cleaning, and it will last a very long time. We had one, and my wife wanted a shiny stainless grille, so we bought one from Lowes. It is a pile of crap and cost as much as a Weber. I will soon have a new Weber.
DM

[jbrain]

I agree with the Weber. We've had one for years and it just works great.

Also, if you need parts, you can get them.

[sailor55330]

+2 on the Weber.

I had a Charbroil commercial series that finally died after almost 9 years. I thought it was a very well built grill (shell is still perfect) but the burners gave and out and it was almost as much to replace the parts as get a new Charbroil, which means quality on the new grills might be declining. I ended up with a Weber after listening to many freinds & family.

Webers are in a class by themselves. As far as I know, they are one of the only companies out there that only makes grills (I could be wrong). They just cook differently and better. The one I got has a built in smoker box for wood chips with a separate burner control for the smoke and a built in rotisserie. Not cheap, but with a 10yr warranty on the burner and a 25 year warranty on the body, hard to go wrong.

[sparkeyjames]

Why choose????

http://www.tractorsupply.com/char-gr...re-box-4449832

This is my second season with this guy and I love it. If I have something that I need a fix temp on, gas it. If I want flavor, charcoal. If I want more flavor, smoke. Best of all worlds.

The gas burners are stainless steel (watch out for the cast metal ones) and I haven't seen any corrosion on them at all so far. though one of the spark igniters has fitzed out on me.

I have two bags of Kingsford in the garage for the weekend and I'm planning on using it all.

It is big, and well built, but not too bad to move around.

That is one well thought out grill and at $279 it's a steal for it's capabilities. Now I just need to find a spare $300 (shipping costs) to get one. Sigh.

[gsmittle]

+1 on the Weber. I'm a straight-up charcoal guy, but I have been tempted by the Weber gas grills. They look well-made and don't have too many bells and whistles.

My Weber kettle is 23+ years old. I guess sometime in the next decade or so I'll have to decide if I want a gas grill or not.

g.

[Russianwolf]

That is one well thought out grill and at $279 it's a steal for it's capabilities. Now I just need to find a spare $300 (shipping costs) to get one. Sigh.

Either Lowes or HD sell them also. You just have to buy the side box separately.

[Bruce Cohen]

A friend of mine just got tired of spending ridiculously high prices for gas grills, only to replace them every 4-5 years. I'm talking about grills in the $500-$800 range.
What he did was to buy the cheapest grill in Sept. or Oct. every year. Stored the grill in his garage and brought it out in the spring.
This way he started the season out with a new grill every year, and didnt bother cleaning anything but the grate.
The savings was amazing.
Bruce