COAL GRILL VERSUS ELECTRIC/GAS GRILL: WHICH IS BETTER?

I have received quite a number of mails on this subject matter and having grilled with both, I must say each has its upsides and downsides. I have a coal grill and an electric/gas grill and having used both over a period of time, I have decided to do this write-up comparing the pros and cons of both.

For those that plan on setting a grill up at home, here a few factors you may want to consider before deciding if you would be going the way of a coal grill or an electric/coal grill

Cost: While an electric/gas grill costs between 10 and 35 thousand Naira (40-150pounds), a coal grill can be set up easily by filling (a little below a quarter)  a metal basin with sand, spreading coal all over it and placing a metal gauze on the basin. Setting it up should cost roughly about a thousand naira (about 4pounds) to set up.

Taste: Quite a good number of people will agree that the smoky taste that comes with coal grilled barbecues is a plus and a huge advantage any day when compared to the final product you get from an electric grill. But is this enough reason to choose a coal grill over an Electric grill especially after considering the fact that you can easily pick up smoke flavored syrups off the shelves of supermarkets? When added to your marinating chicken/fish/beef, the smoke syrup simply gives your barbecue a smoky taste after grilling with an electric/gas grill. But you guys know the saying though “If it’s not like panadol, it’s not the same as panadol”.

Convenience: This is one area I would easily pick an electric/gas grill over a coal grill. It gets really messy putting out the flame on a coal grill and cleaning up afterwards is not really the best experience in the world. Dealing with all that smoke also comes with some level of bravery when grilling with a coal grill.

Cooking Time: With a gas/electric grill, you can easily heat up and be ready to grill in about 10 minutes where as a coal grill takes relatively more time and effort to get it going. The coal grill has no regulator so you have to be patient till you get the appropriate temperature before u start grilling.

In conclusion, the best grill for you is the one that fits your needs, your lifestyle and your budget. Do you want to be able to put together a grilled meal quickly, with very little time? Does flavor matter most? Also, you may want to determine the size of the grilling space you have before getting a grill as this should determine the size of grill you get.