Conclusion: CONFIRMED.
Summertime, and the grillin’s easy…or so it seems. You’ve marinated the grass-fed beef and sustainably caught fish, skewered the local, organic veggies and have tofu-pups galore. But how to grill them?
Well, when it comes to barbecuing, the answer’s clear: go for the gas.
According to researchers at the Department of Energy, a gas grill releases 5.6 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air each hour, compared to 11 pounds of CO2 per hour for charcoal and 15 pounds for an electric grill.
And get this – a hamburger grilled on a standard charcoal grill will release 105 times more carbon monoxide than if you cook it on a propane grill. Plus, how many times have you grown impatient and generously doused your charcoal briquettes with lighter fluid to get your fires raging and coals smoldering? That toxic fluid releases harmful, volatile organic compounds, causing even more air pollution.
If you and your trusty Weber are joined at the hip, consider purchasing a chimney starter—like this one from World Wide Sourcing— to eliminate your lighter fluid needs, and eco-friendly coals—like these from Greenhearts—to make this grilling season your greenest yet.
Bon appétit!
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Karl H. says:
Thank you for the eco friendly charcoals, To me a gas grill is just an outside stove and isn't really grilling.
Adam W. says:
I dunno - if a gas grill is good enough for Bobby Flay, one of the world premier chefs/pit masters, I think it's good enough or me (http://www.cnn.com/FOOD/news/9905/26/bobby.flay/). Unless you are smoking your meat (in which case you want a smoker, not a grill) or cooking something over a LONG period at low heat, gas really is as good, if not better, than charcoal.
Karl H. says:
I like Bobby Flay but if you watch most grilling competitions Steaks, burgers, ribs etc.. they mostly use charcoal or like stated smokers.
But to be truthful its more about the fact that I grew up watching and learning from my father & uncles and others use charcoal before gas grills became so popular. So to me there is no other way. I've used gas grills a couple of times and turning the flame up or down just takes away from the experience of the right amount of charcoals spread proportionately and just knowing the temp was right by touch. I love the smoke also even when it makes my eyes water.