Charcoal vs Gas

When the weather is glorious, its always nice to have a barbecue in the garden. There's just something so relaxed about cooking and eating outdoors that makes the food taste that much more special, even if the sausage is slightly overdone.

But, with the wide variety of BBQs on the market, how on earth is anyone meant to pick one? The most basic and important decision is 'charcoal or gas?', but even this can be complicated when the pros and cons of each aren't properly explained.

Alfresia has a very extensive range of barbecues (both gas and charcoal) and we feel we should provide the necessary information, so: charcoal or gas?

How convinient are they? A general rule of thumb when answering this question is that the more convinient a barbecue is to use, the less 'authentic' it is going to be. This can extend not just to style but to the taste of the meat. A gas grill obviously doesn't produce as much smoke as a charcoal bbq does and a gas grill is easier to clean (the grills, burners, rotisseries etc. tend to be easier to remove). However, the lack of smoke detracts from that smoky barbecue flavour. A charcoal barbecue might be more difficult to clean, but the food will taste more like barbecued food.
Winner: Draw. This is a matter of preference. What matters most to you? Taste or ease of use?

Which is easier to cook on? As we've said above, gas barbecues are easier to use. They light instantly and heat up quickly. If you're cooking on a charcoal grill it can take a while for the barbecue to be ready to use. With a gas barbecue you can just light the grill and put the meat on.
Winner: gas barbecues are definitely easier to cook on.

Does the taste differ? As we have established above, charcoal barbecues produce an authentic, smokey tasting meat. Meat from gas barbecues tastes like it is just out of the oven - it might taste good, but doesn't this defeat part of the object of barbecuing?
Winner: Charcoal cooked meats. That's not to say the meat from a gas bbq tastes bad, its just that charcoal barbecues create that flavour.

How will you use the barbecue? If you're just cooking for your family or for a small group then it doesn't really matter what size or kind of barbecue you use. Gas BBQs light quicker but, with enough preparation time, there is no great discrepancy in efficiency. However if you're catering for a larger group or party then a gas barbecue might be better option. This is because charcoal BBQs are limited in size. You can however purchase large gas barbecues that serve as outdoor kitchens, with up to 6 burners, a grill, preparation areas and a rotisserie!
Winner: There's not real winner here as which barbecue  you choose tends to depend upon how many people you plan to cook for. Charcoal barbecues are great for small groups, but you can only cater efficiently for a large group with a gas barbecue.

How much do the cost? Its hard to come up with an average price across the entire range, but on the whole gas barbecues will be more expensive than charcoal barbecues. However, charcoal tends to be a slightly more expensive fuel, so this choice won't save you money in the long run.
Winner: draw.

Results

         Gas BBQ: 4
Charcoal BBQ: 4

Ultimately, we can't come to a conclusion as to which breed of barbecue is better. It all comes down to personal preference. That said, we hope we've provided you with enough information to make an informed choice!

Preparing a Diamond Jubilee Party

There's a deluge of high profile cultural events happening in Britain this summer, mostly notably the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee. Whatever you think of her madge and the family, you really should use the celebrations as an excuse to host a garden party (unless you didn't need an excuse in the first place, in which case: go right ahead!).

At Alfresia we intend to celebrate with something as close to a party as working hours allow (now if only the management would let us take the barbecue from the showroom and some deck chairs to the roof - THAT would be celebrating...). June 5th is the official date and there's nothing to stop you preparing now!

We're all hoping for a sunny summer, so the ideal place to hold a summer party is the garden. You'll want to cook and entertain in comfort and buy products which you can use again and again (after all, after the Jubilee it is the Olympics!).

When weighing in the pros and cons of one kind of outdoor cooker against another, there will be several boxes which must be ticked for the product to be even considered. You want an attractive, efficient barbecue which can be used again and again; you want a high quality product for a fair price; you want your monies worth. The range of Toledo Cast Iron Chimeneas tick just those boxes. They look good, are cast in the traditional spanish way and are hard wearing. What's more, they double up as a chimenea and barbecue. This means that you can cook on them whilst the sun is out and then gather round them afterwards.

Once you've served up, you'll need somewhere to eat and you'll want to consider this hardwood garden furniture. Its hard wearing, practical and attractive. You can buy dining sets, recliners and chairs. Anything and everything you need to inhabit your garden without straining your legs.

Enjoy!