Anonymous wrote:Currently, I am obsessed with small tabletop hibachi grills that use charcoal for making kababs and small burgers, like this one:

https://yakgrills.com/

I had the cheap style in college. No complaints!

Komodo style - it’s a cooking experience and like pp said you get in the routine of lighting the charcoal then prepping the meal. Our gas grill is just a way to cook in the summer and keep the heat out of the house.
You can get a full-sized one at Costco but there are options in all sizes and price points

What is your budget?

We have charcoal and it’s definitely DH’s preference. But we are now dreaming of a Blackstone griddle.

Currently, I am obsessed with small tabletop hibachi grills that use charcoal for making kababs and small burgers, like this one:

https://yakgrills.com/

I never found charcoal to be more cumbersome. All you do is just start your coals then go back to prepping dinner while you wait for them to light. NBD.

Charcoal absolutely imparts unique flavors propane doesn't give because fat and juice drillings from food hit hot coals and vaporize. The vapor imparts a unique (and pleasant) flavor to food.

When I was single, natural charcoal on a Weber kettle was my thing. Took 30-40 mins before food was on the grill but it was so pure and good.

Married with two kids, had to go to Weber gas grill. No time for all of the charcoal foreplay. The kids need to eat etc. No BBQ joy.

Kids grown, still have the Weber gas grill, thinking about a Komodo or maybe a smoker.

Anonymous wrote:We use our Weber propane often, it’s so convenient. Definitely go with Weber.

Agree. I have the Genesis 2. Easy to use and it gets very hot.

We use our Weber propane often, it’s so convenient. Definitely go with Weber.

We have both, charcoal that dh uses and propane that I mostly grill weekday steaks or burgers or similar for easy weekday dinner. I use it as replacement for stove, makes grilling and clean up so much easier and faster. For occasional weekend treats, dh uses the charcoal grill but lately also started going for the propane for convenience.

So it really depends on why you are getting it and how you will use it.

Classic Weber kettle with a chimney starter.

Whoever told you charcoal is "very difficult and time intensive" is an idiot. Pour the charcoal in the chimney, light some newspaper underneath, 10 minutes later you've got a chimney full of hot charcoal. Dump it into the kettle, cook your food. Couldn't be easier and it not only tastes better than gas, it gets hotter faster which is so much better for steaks.

Convenience - go propane. A small Weber would be fine. Best taste and range of possibilities, I second the person that said kamodo style (e.f. Green Egg). You can use them at high heat to grill, or low heat to smoke, so lots of range. I disagree that has grills end up tasting liked baked food. The propane / flavor bars will still create flames and you will get some smoke flavor from flare when rendered fat comes in contact with flavor bars and you get small flare ups.

Charcoal / wood takes more time to prep, and you will inevitably carry the smoke in your clothes / hair as well as your food. But you can’t beat the flavor.

So it’s a personal preference weighing convenience/time/taste/range

charcoal kamado style grill. nothing beats ceramics for holding heat.

Other than being able to cook outside easily, I've never seen the point to gas grills. The food just doesn't taste as good a charcoal-grilled. Gas-grilled chicken just tastes like oven baked/broiled chicken. I guess maybe gas grilling is healthier. But I really love the grilling process with my charcoal grill. And I only do it on weekends for the most part. If you're planning on grilling daily, gas may be the way to go.

Looking for advice from all the grillmasters out there!

We have a very small back patio, so definitely not a lot of space for anything too large.

I have heard that grilling with charcoal is very difficult and time intensive.

At the same time, I have a semi-irrational fear of a propane grill because I once knew someone who had an accident involving a propane tank.

The above factors are why I have never purchased a grill, however I was just reading a thread on this forum about delicious grilled foods and honestly, I am reconsidering giving it a try.

Any expert tips? TIA!