News vintner Mike Davidson is grilling with gas after having a hardship with charcoal:
I'm a big fan of grilling with dragon's-breath-in-a-can¹. It's fast, it's clean, and who doesn't like a device that comes with it's own fuel supply. If you do the science a good grill is only a few parts shy of a being Titan missile and that's too damn cool not to have one.
Later, in his comments, Mike explains the cause of the "unappetizing experience":
Say waaa? Uh...er, yeah, huh?
Ah, I think I see the problem here. Mike used "directions". Hell, if man had used directions human civilization would still be a family of four running around Eden naked, eating twigs, and taking unlimited piggy-back rides on dolphins and sasquatch.
Charcoal grilling requires a lot of fuel, a few matches, and if you're safety conscious, some type of anti-fire technology like a water hose (you get a 1-up if it's actually hooked-up to the spigot). It's imperative for you to know that the purpose of charcoal in this process is to serve as a soaking agent for fuel. Other agents can, or may, include stacks of dry wood and old warehouses down by the docks.
Like a good steak, charcoal has to be seared to produce the best taste (this helps to contain the gassy-fuel fumes inside the brick, I think) and that can only be done by soaking the bricks in lighter fluid.
This is done by simply by pouring an entire can, sometimes two, all over the bricks — think Splash Dance. If fuel begins to drip out of the bottom of the grill it's time to make fire with said matchstick. Don't worry about the left over fuel because you can later squirt it into the fire producing these magnificent Sammy-Hagar-Cabo-Wabo-style fire plumes.
Repeat this step as necessary and remember, if at first you torch the bricks into instant ash don't fret. Like the classic bag of hot dog buns to package hot dogs ratio there are always more bricks in a bag of charcoal than you can safely fit into a grill. It's like a two-fer in every bag. That said, after years of using a gas grill I don't think I'd go back to charcoal
In closing my lawyer has advised me to add that engaging in this ritual should be done at safe distance from children, pets, your abode, and Jehovah's Witness.
Join the fray by reading through and commenting at the end.
Now, now.
Any good rustic "REI" yuppie knows that the only way to grill food is using chunk charcoal (the real deal holyfield) and a charcoal chimmney.
Anything else (including gas grills, AKA upside-down-broiling) is an abomination.
Two words: Liquid. Oxygen.
Ryan is right on... No lighter fluid is necessary! All you need is a good charcoal chimney and and either a good chunk charcoal or a nice hardwood for some good smoked flavor that is nice for fish and a good ribeye.
The charcoal chimney's real genius is that by the time the flame gets to the top, your charcoal has reached perfect hotness for searing... wait a little longer and you have a good BBQ... There is a difference between BBQ and grilling!
I predict this charcoal vs. gas will be the next PC vs Mac...
I am such a charcoal fanboy.
I have gas. ;)
Yeah, what kind of "serious" griller uses ligher fluid?? Charcoal chimneys make a mockery of any other lighting techniques.
I consider fuel amount efficient where, upon light and drop, I no longer own eyebrows. Now that's a tasty burger. Never once read the directions either. Now where'd I put that flamethrower...
I have a gas-light charcoal grill. Best of both worlds
Here, here! Hardwood charcoal and a chimney is the only way to go. Who wants to eat food that tastes like gasoline?
hm, i might be speaking about something else, but i've always lit my fire with old newspaper, some matches and some charcoal.
Serious griller be dammed, half the reason for man inventing the charcoal bricket was to assist in making fire. Fire good! Ug, ug.
Charcoal never hurt a guy. Sometimes. Gas is alright but it doesn't have the same... Oomph.
Another vote for the charcoal chimney starter. These things can be had at Home Despot for ~$10. Last forever. In fact, they are recommended by one of the foremost BBQ chefs anywhere - Bobby Flay. Alton Brown also has a great recipe for tuna seared on top of the chimney.
I'm from Rhode Island, eh well I was.
I know what you mean Greg, the directions need to be conservative because if they proclaim to support the bonfire in a grill method as you proclaim above. They would then open themselves up to lawsuits from the legions of eyebrow less remedial Americans.
Alton Brown also has a great recipe for tuna seared on top of the chimney.
Dale, I think it might be time for some intervention. If you see a black van approaching with the side door open do fight it, just let us pick you up and we'll take you A-Team camp.
Anyone here use a "Big Green Egg"? We got one because we are not allowed to have gas grills in our development.
I don't think I could go back to gas, now.
I was going to join in the fray and talk about the merits of good old gasoline over lighter fluid but God only knows who reads airbag. So I'll keep my comments to myself.
Do NOT under any circumstances use gasoline to start your brickets! OK?! Read that again if you didn't get it the first time. Do - Not - Use - Gas ! Even if it is better... resist the temptation. Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time (couple hours atta be good) to get the brickets going and make sure... make absolutely doubley sure you have several boxes of wooden matches on hand. Oh... and be prepared to swear allot.
Then enjoy grillin' yer dinner.
I've always had great results with Charcoal, and have never had a gas grill I wasn't afraid was going to go into orbit. Duraflame has some great new bag-lightable charcoal called "quick coals" that I'm into for quick grilling. They get white hot in 5 minutes and use no nasty fuel to get them started. Just light the bag and watch it burn.
I've used both and will stay with my charcoal grills. Using gas is like cooking it in on the stove - why bother with a gas grill in that case.
Charcoal isn;t hard to light if you take your time and use some common sense - no explove liquids required *grin*.
These comments remind me of a comedy routine made famous by a local troupe part of which goes (with apologies to the Cape Breton Summertime Revue):
Wifey: "Honey, we need you to light the fire."
Hubby: "Did ya use the self-starting logs from the store like I told ya?"
Wifey: "Yep"
Hubby: "And didn't ya soak it all down good wit gasoline like I told ya?"
Wifey: "Yep"
Hubby: "Then what's the problem? WHy do you need me?"
Wifey: "No one else is stupid enough to put a match to it!"
Happy BBQ! :-)