There is no shortage of delicious food to fully enjoy the backyard season. Outdoor grilling is a popular outdoor activity for everyone, and we can easily utilize several different grilling methods to get a delicious meal, from the delicious wood pellet grill, the classic charcoal bbq grill or the convenient gas grill. There has always been a debate about these two methods, with pros and cons between them, and many people have different opinions. After all, the best grill for you is not only about getting the right size, but also the right type. To help you decide which is better for your outdoor kitchen, we've compared the differences between them in five ways so you know whether to buy a gas or charcoal grill.

Assembly and set up
When you first get your grill, you'll need time to set it up properly. If you're looking for fast setup, a charcoal grill will keep things easy, as you don't need to connect propane tanks or a natural gas line. In most cases, a charcoal bbq grill can be up and running in about half an hour. Your gas grill will likely take a couple of hours to set up. However, your setup time will be reduced each time you grill since you won't have to worry about getting your charcoal hot before you cook.

Taste
A bbq charcoal shelf will give your food a smoky flavor, whereas a gas grill will give your food a cleaner flavor. The best reason to cook with charcoal is that it tastes great when grilling thicker meats. Some people prefer a charcoal grill because you get a smoky flavor in the meat you are cooking. For example, a thick piece of meat cooked slowly on the charcoal grill will get a lot of extra flavor from the smoke. This is different to a gas grill because the coals are exposed. You can also use wood chips, healthy charcoal briquettes or other flavored cooking fuels on a charcoal grill to get a flavor that rivals any steakhouse. For this reason, some barbecue enthusiasts swear by charcoal grills for better flavors of steaks and other thick red meats. If you're primarily looking for that delicious, authentic flavor, then a charcoal bbq may be the best choice for you.

Price
Due to the mechanism and complexity, gas grills tend to be more expensive than their charcoal outdoor grill counterparts. A basic bbq charcoal shelf has a fairly primitive set-up with fewer components - usually just a grill grate on a round metal charcoal chamber with legs. So you can find a grill at a very affordable price. At the same time a new gas grill is more complicated to assemble than a bbq charcoal shelf and has more parts to break and replace. As for the cost of fuel, it is difficult to compare the two. Charcoal is often on sale, especially in the spring, and propane fluctuates with the price of oil. If you don't want to spend a lot of money on a grill, then a bbq charcoal shelf is probably best for you.

Health
It is important to pay attention to your overall health and how it relates to your cooking techniques. Many people are curious about the health aspects of gas versus charcoal barbecues. While gas may be a slightly cleaner type of fuel in general, you can mitigate the health effects of charcoal grilling by using natural briquettes. Whichever grilling method you choose, there are steps you can take to reduce the amount of carcinogens in your food. Marinate meat and remove excess fat before cooking. Avoid direct contact of meat with open flames. Keep turning meat while cooking. Do not serve burnt pieces of meat or use them in other dishes such as gravies. Precook meat in the microwave and only use the grill or pan at the end for flavor.

Cleaning and maintenance
In general, cleaning a charcoal grill is similar to a gas grill, however, each has its own steps which can make maintenance challenging. When using a bbq charcoal shelf, you will need to remove and dispose of the ashes after each use. You will also need to clean the grill grates in the same way as you would a gas grill. If you like the smell of charcoal, it is worth the extra few minutes of clean-up time. Both gas and bbq charcoal shelves require routine maintenance, so whichever model you choose, you can't live without it. With a gas grill, you may spend more time on overall maintenance as you will need to check the propane tank or gas line regularly. You will also need to clean the grill grates, drip pans and seasoning sticks after each use. Generally speaking, charcoal grills require less time for regular maintenance as they are a simple appliance with a fully consumable fuel source.

There are pros and cons to both charcoal and gas grills, but only you can decide which is best for your home and lifestyle. If you like to barbecue outdoors, then having a charcoal bbq grill is your best bet.