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Barbecue/coals vs propane
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Question
We recently bought a propane BBQ grill. It does not taste the
same as when we had the coal grill. We spent a lot of money on
this grill and the flavor is not as good as charcoal.
any hints how to get the wonderful flavor back?
thanks, Penni
I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you can't fully duplicate the taste of charcoal on a gas grill. Charcoal burns hotter, the chemical profile of the gases it gives off while burning is very different from that of propane or natural gas.
That said, you can enhance the flavor of your gas grill somewhat by tossing a handfull of wood chunks (hickory, maple, oak, mesquite, etc.) on the lave rocks. The smoke will partially emulate the charcoal grill.
But if you really want the charcoal flavor back, get a good quality charcoal grill. They're not very expensive -- generally under $150.
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Answers by Expert:
Whitestag
Expertise
I can answer questions having to do with grilling or barbecuing meat (but not pork), poultry, fish, and vegetables over charcoal or wood. I also have some expertise in marinades and spice mixes. I cook only with charcoal and wood, so please do not ask me any questions about gas or electric grills.
Experience
I've been cooking with fire and smoke for 25 years, using charcoal and wood almost exclusively. While I do not usually cook with gas, I'm willing to try to answer cooking questions in this area. I cook meat, poultry, fish, and vegetables, and I've experimented with a lot of different recipes and techniques. I am not able to answer questions about grilling or barbecuing pork. Most recently I've been using slow-cooking (indirect heat) techniques, and have been very successful at it.
Education/Credentials
Not applicable to this area of expertise.
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