Grilling Over Gas Is Objectively, Scientifically Better Than Grilling Over Charcoal (2024)

FAQs

Is it healthier to grill with gas or charcoal? ›

When it comes to your health and the planet's health, however, propane is the clear winner. It all boils down to carcinogens that end up in your food and the fact that charcoal tends to be dirtier, and that propane's carbon footprint is much smaller carbon.

Pros of a Gas Grill

Offers precise temperature control, allowing you to cook a variety of dishes with ease. Easier to clean, as there are no ashes to deal with after grilling. More environmentally friendly, as they produce fewer emissions than charcoal grills.

And that is a big plus, because research has shown that grilling with gas is thought to be safer than grilling over charcoal, according to Healthline. There is less smoke and heat with gas grilling – two things that can spur the creation of those cancer-causing compounds.

Propane is colorless, odorless and nontoxic. It's one of the cleanest burning of all fossil fuels. Temperature Control: With a propane service grill, you get better heat consistency, and temperature control is a cinch. You just adjust the heat control with a dial based on what foods you're preparing.

Gas or electric grills may pose a lower risk of introducing carcinogens in foods than charcoal grills. Charcoal itself is not a carcinogen, but cooking with charcoal has been linked to two types of cancer risks.

Grilling, roasting, baking, broiling, steaming, press cooking and slow cooking are some of the healthiest ways to cook meat. And yes, you should avoid deep-frying it. “Avoid marinades and sauces that are high in sugar and sodium,” she adds.

The negatives of a gas barbecue

However you'll still struggle with heat retention and find it difficult to build flavourful crusts on larger cuts. Further, gas burns cooler than charcoal, restricting the efficiency of the heat. You will be limited when it comes to indirect cooking and/or smoking.

Pros– Gas grills are cleaner to handle, take less time to warm up, require less babysitting, and are less prone to flare-ups. In the broadest terms, gas grills are faster and easier to cook with. Even more importantly, two-burner gas grills allow for easy two-zone grilling.

Additionally, wood grilling is considered healthier than charcoal grilling because no chemicals or additives are necessary to start the fire. Another advantage of wood grilling is that it produces less ash than charcoal grilling.

How to grill without carcinogens? ›

10 ways to make healthier BBQ choices

Pick leaner meats to begin with — chicken, fish, or lean beef rather than brats or ribs. Pre-cook or marinate your meats to reduce HCA and PAH. Wrap chicken or fish with vegetables in a foil packet and cook it on the grill.

Charcoal allows for a hotter and longer-cooking fire without having to add more fuel. The flavor imparted by charcoal grilling is more well-rounded than gas but less so than wood. As your food cooks, juice drips on the charcoal, creating steam that will add more flavor to your food.

Propane delivers more reliable, predictable, and controllable heat that helps chefs cook meals evenly, quickly, and at scale. With higher BTUs than electric or natural gas, propane also creates much more powerful heat, so you can use less energy to get the same result.

While it is fairly obvious that charcoal puts out more particulate matter when burning, it also gives off about two times more carbon dioxide emissions than propane gas.

The smoke produced by the burning charcoal contains a variety of compounds that can add depth and richness to the taste of food. In addition, the high heat of charcoal BBQ can promote the Maillard reaction, which is a chemical process that causes browning and caramelization of proteins and sugars in food.

Propane Cylinders are Safe and Easy to Use - Each year propane cylinder exchange companies recycle millions of propane cylinders through state-of-the-art production processes that include multiple steps to insure a safe backyard grilling experience.

Bottom Line

There is NO performance difference between propane and natural gas unless you're grilling in the arctic. The only significant difference is the convenience of natural gas and never running out of fuel. Your choice ultimately boils down to which fuel sources you have access to and the costs in your area.