Categories: Blog, Kitchen

Pros and Cons of BBQ Grills and Gas Grills for Backyard Cooking

🕑 Reading Time: 5 minutes
Published On: 05/06/2025By Sirisha Bobbe
BBQ Grills and Gas Grills

Table of Contents

    Both barbecue and gas grills can elevate your backyard cooking – but only when chosen with your lifestyle, space, and frequency in mind. Think beyond first impressions and consider the setup, effort, and rhythm each one demands. The right choice is not the fanciest one, but the one you will use often, enjoy fully, and maintain with ease.

    You have seen it in films – someone flipping burgers in the golden hour sun, smoky aromas in the air, kids running across the lawn, and a table set with lemonade. It looks like a scene out of a dream: effortless, warm, and irresistibly delicious.

    But when you try to recreate that magic in your own space, you realise that many factors can make or break the experience – food, setup, time, weather, grill, and everything in between. This blog goes beyond the showroom gloss and explores what these grills truly offer, when you are out there, apron on, sleeves rolled up, and the backyard becomes your kitchen.

    Understanding What Sets Them Apart

    From how they light up to how they flavour your food, BBQ and gas grills function very differently; and knowing those differences changes how you cook outdoors. 

    Aspect

    BBQ Grills (Charcoal)

    Gas Grills (LPG / Propane)

    Setup & Infrastructure

    Place in fully open spaces such as tiled backyards or terraces with at least 3 feet of clearance on all sides. The surface must be fire-resistant; avoid placing the grill on wood, artificial grass, or composite decking.

    Install in semi-covered patios, ventilated balconies, or outdoor kitchens with stable, level floor. Ensure access to LPG cylinder or piped gas connection, with enough space behind for hose clearance and airflow.

    Accessories & Tools

    Requires chimney starter (₹2000), lump charcoal or hardwood (₹300-₹600 per use), metal coal bin, grill brush, fireproof gloves, long tongs, and ash tray. Optional: pizza stone, smoker box, cast iron grate.

    Needs gas cylinder (₹1200-₹1800), regulator, leak detector spray, grill brush, long tongs, and fitted cover. Optional: side burner, rotisserie kit, smoker box.

    Varieties

    Kettle / Kamado / Barrel / Portable Charcoal Grill

    Freestanding / Built-in / Infrared / Portable Grill

    What They Are Best For

    Flavour-rich dishes like tandoori chicken, grilled corn, smoked paneer, slow-roasted meats, and BBQ veggies

    Quick grills such as paneer tikka, chicken breast, fish fillet, vegetables, or weekday meals

    Cost 

    Basic charcoal grill models start at ₹7000-₹10,000. Mid-range and larger ceramic or steel grills range between ₹20,000 and ₹80,000, depending on size and build quality.

    Entry-level gas grill prices are ₹20,000-₹25,000. Multi-burner grills for gas stove models with additional features can cost up to ₹80,000 or more.

    Maintenance 

    To prevent rust and ensure proper airflow, clean the charcoal barbecue grates and vents with wire brush and food-safe degreaser after every 2-3 uses; reapply light oil.

    To ensure even flame and prevent blockages, clean burner holes and grills for gas stove monthly, with a pin or brush.

    BBQ Grills

    This option delivers bold, smoky taste and creates a hands-on, immersive cooking environment. But it also requires open space, patience, and consistent effort during and after use. 

    Pros

    Cons

    Barbeque grills create naturally smoky and layered flavour, through the combustion of charcoal and wood. This enhances the taste of items like tandoori chicken, slow-cooked ribs, corn on the cob, and even smoked paneer.

    Unlike gas, BBQ grilling takes time. Even after preheating, thicker cuts of meat or smoky veg skewers can take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to cook fully.

    You can set up direct and indirect heat zones by banking coal to one side. This lets you sear food on one side and finish it slowly on the other.

    Heat intensity varies across different sections of the grill. One side might char, while the other lags.

    The grill becomes a focal point – guests gather around, you cook in batches, and food is served fresh off the grate.

    Charcoal grill becomes restrictive if your menu includes multiple small-portion items or frequent serving cycles (e.g., 6-7 dishes in a short span).

    Gas Grills

    With quick ignition, even heat, and low smoke output, this format is ideal for frequent cooking. However, it trades off smokiness for simplicity and needs regular mechanical maintenance. 

    Pros

    Cons

    Grill for gas stove can heat up in 5-7 minutes and maintain stable temperatures across the surface. This makes it ideal for quick evening meals or serving grilled dishes one after another.

    Even with grill marks, gas-cooked food lacks that wood-smoke flavour that defines barbecue. Also, gas grill price can be in the higher side.

    Multiple burners allow precise temperature zoning – high heat on one side for searing, medium heat on another for veggies, and low on the third for warming naan or foil-wrapped potatoes.

    Low-and-slow cooking techniques like smoked ribs or briskets are harder to replicate. The heat stays drier and cleaner, which reduces the development of bark or crust.

    Since there is no need to pause for refuelling or heat adjustments, you can cook and serve continuously during get-togethers.

    While cooking fatty foods like chicken with skin or sausages, grease can drip onto flame tamers and cause sudden flare-ups in the charcoal barbecue.

    Conclusion

    You have seen the differences – how each grill performs, what it needs, and where it shines or falls short. The decision now rests on how you cook, how often you entertain, and how much control or creativity you want at the flame. Choose the grill that works not just for the occasional weekend, but also for the kind of outdoor cooking you want to return to – time and again.

    FAQs

    1. Which grill type offers better flavour – BBQ or gas?

    BBQ grill offers deeper, smokier flavour due to natural charcoal combustion.

    2. Are gas grills easier to use than traditional BBQ ones?

    Yes, gas grills are easier to use than traditional BBQ grills. They ignite quickly, offer precise heat control, and require less hands-on attention.

    3. What maintenance is required for BBQ grills versus gas ones?

    The maintenance required for BBQ grills is ash disposal, grate scrubbing, and vent clearing after use. Gas grills require burner cleaning, grease tray emptying, and periodic leak checks.

    4. How do the cooking times compare between BBQ grills and gas ones?

    Gas grills preheat in under 10 minutes and cook faster overall. BBQ grills take 25-30 minutes to reach cooking temperature, and are better suited for slow grilling.