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June, 2025

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Propane vs charcoal grill

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roddy116
Posts: 10662 - Karma: 7,805
im gonna buy my own grill and i want to know which one do you guys like, and why.
13 years ago
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Joebin
Posts: 1664 - Karma: 867
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13 years ago
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BIll.Lumbergh
Posts: 128 - Karma: 12
charcoal. nothing beats the taste. propane is just more convenient
13 years ago
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proZach
Posts: 7163 - Karma: 919
Propane definitely. Charcoal you do get a nice smokey flavor, but it's so much easier to buy and replace propane tanks. They heat up faster in my experience and cool down faster. Plus they're easier to travel with
13 years ago
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Flying~Squirrel
Posts: 6494 - Karma: 190
at my house we have an infrared propane grill. its where the flame heats a metal plate under the grill which radiates heat at the grill without direct contact with the flames. the nice thing about that is that it is as easy to get going as a propane grill, but doesnt have the subtle propane flavor you sometimes get. however, in terms of flavor, nothing compares to charcoal.
13 years ago
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Bread_Fish
Posts: 760 - Karma: 71
Depends, propane is easy as hell but charcoal tastes way better. Charcoal is just all around way harder but in my opinion charcoal is the best, it clearly makes meats taste better when their charcoal grilled. Also just take chicken soak it in BBQ sauce and put it on the grill if you get charcoal. Id say charcoal its also cheaper.
13 years ago
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
i have a standard charcoal grill but i wish i had a propane one.

sometimes, you're fucking hungry and don't wanna wait for the damn coals to warm up
13 years ago
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easiestEC
Posts: 2471 - Karma: 489
im with you 100% on this one
13 years ago
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
I like propane simply for the ease of use, and decreased time needed.
13 years ago
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GANDALF
Posts: 6315 - Karma: 6,708
just get a charcoal weber grill for like 50 bucks. cant go wrong.
13 years ago
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Montville57
Posts: 1364 - Karma: 18
Yea... Charcoal
13 years ago
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Flying~Squirrel
Posts: 6494 - Karma: 190
i should add, though, that when its time for real grilling (i.e. when we are on vacation at the lake house) there is no substitute for charcoal. there is something very relaxing about getting one started up.
13 years ago
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Funnel
Posts: 7820 - Karma: 1,593
Propane for sure.
13 years ago
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TimRiley
Posts: 1873 - Karma: 1,327

basically this, depends on what you want. taste or convenience

13 years ago
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maximiliaan
Posts: 7711 - Karma: 2,857
charcoal fosho
13 years ago
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ShredMasterPlus
Posts: 1159 - Karma: 807

13 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31079 - Karma: 29,671
buy a NICE propane grill, and grab a charcoal one for free from the side of the road for summer BBQ's and relaxin.

But really, I need to emphasize the word NICE. Don't get a shitty department store one, as they always break very fast and have parts that are impossible to come by. Get something like a simple 2 burner Webber, it may cost as much as a 4-burner-hot-plate-deep-fryer-deluxe, but it will pay for itself for yearrrsssssss.
13 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
You have only one option sir. Real man use charcoal.

Click for larger image

See this, this is the Barbecook Major, this is the best fucking charcoal BBQ there is. It will but hair on your eyeballs and testes on your chest.

Most people are going to say that charcoal grills are slow, well not this one, due to their patented quick start system this beacon of fire will be really for a juicy steak within fifteen minutes. You can regulate the airflow and the height of the grill.

And because you want to stay safe, just fill the base with water, this will make it stable and even if you cock up and push it over the water in the base will extinguish it.

Also it will last, this thing is rustproof and un-fucking-breakable. Mine has been standing outside continuously for the past 15-years and it still looks brand new.

Now go out and buy it!




13 years ago
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GANDALF
Posts: 6315 - Karma: 6,708
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13 years ago
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49566738265
Posts: 0 - Karma: 7,705
I've been using charcoal for years, and my dad has owned the same $65 Weber grill since I was born. It's much more convenient to use propane, and if you don't have the skills or patience to learn to build a proper charcoal fire that convenience is greatly magnified. I love the flavor though, and frankly with how many years I had learning from my dad I've gotten pretty awesome with charcoal. Propane grilling doesn't make much sense if you are grilling for flavor. It tastes the same as oven baked.
13 years ago
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
i dunno about you, but just lighting it is half the fun imho....
propane is just a push of the button and its on while lighting a charcoal grill brings up the caveman inside of me :)


13 years ago
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,948
Real men use charcoal. If you want better taste and overall a greater progression of skills, use charcoal. You'll be better your meat because of it...
13 years ago
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GANDALF
Posts: 6315 - Karma: 6,708
half the fun of a charcoal grill is drinkin a beer while you wait for the coals to heat up
13 years ago
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theline
Posts: 1507 - Karma: 92
charcoal certainly has the best flavor. which is worth it if you're cooking steak or chicken. if we're just talking burgers and dogs though, it doesn't really matter.
13 years ago
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
*2-3 beers
13 years ago
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49566738265
Posts: 0 - Karma: 7,705
I'm pretty sure charcoal is the reason beer was invented.
13 years ago
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
and look on craigslist
13 years ago
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,948
Wow, great wording. My bad, here we go:

"You'r meat will be better because of it."

In other words,

"Your hot dog will thank you."

13 years ago
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-Mugatu
Posts: 2579 - Karma: 86
Rather than throwing out opinions and getting a BBQ that is not suited for you, you have to ask yourself what will you mostly be cooking and for what crowd/#? If you are just going to be doing the steaks and chicken breasts and hot dogs for yourself + 1, stick with a propane, easier and more convenient. If you are going to be doing that plus your nice homemade burgers, rib racks, salmon fillets etc. and more for entertaining guests, then go with a charcoal. Sure it takes longer, but good things come to those who wait. My personal preference for charcoal are the Kamado Joes or the Big Green Eggs. Those are sort of pricey but they are just unparalleled. And yes, you can get almost the same taste/flavor with a charcoal bbq that costs 150$.
13 years ago
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the.cheat
Posts: 2859 - Karma: 171
charcoal all the way. with propane you may as well just cook it on your stove.
13 years ago
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
Real men build themselves a fucking pit and make their own coals. just sayin.
13 years ago
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FLBP
Posts: 1794 - Karma: 310

Propane is easy, quick, no real clean up except for food scraps that got onto your grill.  A little pricey to fill up if you grill a lot.

Charcoal is more time consuming, you smell like charcoal when you finish grilling, and takes a bit more skill and set up.  Building the right flame to distribute the heat better is a bit of a learned craft, it's easy but you gotta do it a few times to know where everything needs to be.  It's more of an archaeic feeling, I love getting drunk and feeling like a caveman heatin up my steaks outside my dorms.  they usually have charcoal grills at parks, apartment complexes, and dorms, so when you get the skills down it's pretty easy to take girls out and show off your grilling prowess.

13 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31079 - Karma: 29,671
Anything big like ribs, salmon, duck, pork and whatnot, we just throw in our smoker :D

(Yes it's charcoal powered and fucking awesome)
13 years ago
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
charcoal is much more expensive than propane
13 years ago
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richard.
Posts: 873 - Karma: 55
this.
13 years ago
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bigbromskier
Posts: 1175 - Karma: 330
in terms of price/efficiency, propane is the way to go. charcoal tastes better, but takes longer to heat up/cool down; and in terms of material used/heat energy expended charcoal uses far more because it keeps burning for far longer than is needed for most grilling occasions.
propane's good cause it's like a stovetop that turns on and off when you're done with it.

I'd say any summer grilling is better than stovetop/oven cooking cause you get to be outside chillin' rather than in the kitchen. and the open flame does bring distinct flavors that are better than stove/oven no matter what produces the flame.

can't go wrong with an old bowlshape charcoal grill on the side of the road fasho.
13 years ago
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 225
smoker should be wood not charcoal.



and for home use I would recommend something that is propane on half and charcoal on the other. that way when you want to grill something in a hurry you can use the propane but if you want to use charcoal you can use that side.


but for most things I use a cast Iron griddle on the grill now, especially burgers and steaks since it cooks in its juices and really gets great flavor through the cast iron.
13 years ago
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 443
Plus you can get the temperature you want much easier then with charcoal, or cook things at different temps etc.
13 years ago
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geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
charcoal for me. i don't mind waiting. if i'm just cooking for myself i usually cook a lot of food at a time so i will have left overs to eat for later.
13 years ago
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roddy116
Posts: 10662 - Karma: 7,805
yah i have cooked on a big green egg, there like the coolest things ever. but yah their pricey :(
13 years ago
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lukemeahan.
Posts: 1689 - Karma: 330
Propane for me. But using a charcoal makes your food taste better I think.
13 years ago
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 443
best first post that could have happened in this thread.
13 years ago
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THURSTY
Posts: 393 - Karma: 174
charcoal taste better but is a hassle. keep in mind that there are models out there that do both I have a napoline one that can do propane as well as charcoal , woodchips and otherthings!
13 years ago
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montanan
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 1,346
this is true, ive had expeirence with all three, charcoal, propane , and hybrid. what i can say from experience is that charcoal taste the best if you have time etc. harder to get going, heated up, and much harder to clean move, that being said , a small Weber charocoal grill can last you a lifetime. personally i preffer propane.. plain and simple. its just easy to start, cook, clean , and move from house to house for parties, or up in the woods for dependable predictable cooking heat. the hybrid ones are great, but require alot more maintenece if you are burining charocoal , propane, and wood chips, they are great, but expensive, pain to move and clean, and really meant for 40 + yr old dudes who have nothing better to do. my advice would be either a small Weber ( charocoal, and make sure it a weber, itll last you forev ) , or a decently priced, sized , propane grill. just boils down to taste and convienience for me, and ill usually take propane for convienience reasons, but i have both, and do love the taste of charcoal burgs on a nice hot summer day. but for year round, propane just soooooooo much easiser. good luck ! a grill may seem like a small item but youll have it until you break it or lose it, so get a nicer one :)
13 years ago
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,847
My dad has 2 Weber original charcoals and the food tastes soo good off them. They get really hot unlike a lot of propanes, this makes it good for steaks. The problem is I cant just go outside and in 10 minutes make myself a burger or dog or something quick, It takes a long tune to start it and get it ready.
13 years ago
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
yeah, webers are so chill!
+ when you're done you can take off the grill and throw some wood on it and start a nice little fire to sit around while drinking some beers ....
13 years ago
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,847
This. Sitting in the backyard with a beer waiting for the BBQ is awesome. And to I AM MOD, that's a good idea. I have a chininea that we have fires in ad it's cool too
13 years ago
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,494
I have 1 charcoal 1 propane. If i have time ill do charcoal for the better taste. Short on time, ill do propane. All depends on what youre gonna use it for.
13 years ago
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Kajex
Posts: 1069 - Karma: 178
Yep same set up here. I love charcoal, but sometimes I get home from work and I want a cheeseburger... Not gonna fire up a stack of charcoal for a 1/3lb patty. That being said, all of my planned cookouts are on the charcoal.
13 years ago
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,018
propane is just really convenient, makes burgers in 10 minutes
13 years ago
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Charcoal no doubt is superior in the flavor department, but it loses considerably on the convenience front.

As a result of the convenience, I have a Weber 2-burner propane on the back deck.
13 years ago
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