What Type of BBQ is Best for You? (A Comparison of Fuel Types)

When it comes time to buy a new BBQ, we don't always know which type to choose.

There are plenty of purists who swear by charcoal BBQ, but that doesn't mean it's what you need or that it's what's going to make you trip the most. It's like... if someone comes to me and tells me that tofu changed their life. Good for them, but me... I don't touch that. 😂 So you're better off doing your own research and deciding for yourselves what you want and... that's why I'm here. 😎

You know, I love to give you all my tips and secrets, so I'm going to help you choose your next racing BBQ; a BBQ that will blow your mind so much that you'll want to add it to your family photos. 😏 I'm joking, but those who have ditched their microwave for a BBQ know it; there's no going back. BBQ is life. 👌

Before you can set up your future war machine on your property, however, you have to start with the basics. What should you look for when buying a BBQ?

Honestly, there are quite a few things to consider. In no particular order, I would say you need to think about:

• the space you have (if you only have a mini balcony, say, a small gas BBQ [like a Napoleon Rogue with 2-3 burners or a Capt'n Cook from OvenPlus ] is ideal);
• the number of people you want to cook for;
• the number of times per week you plan to use your BBQ (if you don't plan to light your appliance often, a charcoal BBQ is probably a better investment for you than a gas BBQ, for example, which is more practical for frequent use);
• the features you are looking for in your device (an infrared burner for the ultimate typing experience, a WiFi connection, etc.);
• the reputation of the different grill brands that interest you (attention!: if we sell these BBQs, it's because they are among the best on the market 😉); and
• the budget you have available.

Once you have the answer to these questions, you need to think about another important aspect: what are the advantages of each type of fuel?

Quickly, I would tell you that:

• Charcoal stands out for its performance and taste;
• Hardwood gives off a lot of heat, generates a lot of smoke and is very tasty (wood-fired BBQs are often very large, however);
• Gas is simplicity and speed;
• Pellets are easy to use, versatile and create a friendly atmosphere;
• Electricity provides the means to meet needs (because, let's be honest, it's not the most ideal type of BBQ there is); and
• The briquette has a uniform shape from piece to piece, which evens out its burn time from one time to the next and makes it "easier" to use than charcoal.

Otherwise, I have also prepared a table for you that compares fuels in more detail. Namely, the more "x" there are in a column, the higher the intensity.

	IGNITION TIME	BURNING TIME	HEAT INTENSITY	PERCEPTIBLE TASTE	EASE OF HANDLING	PRICE
COAL	xx	xx	xx	xx	xx	x
BRIQUETTE	xx	x	x	x	xx	x
HARDWOOD	xxx	x	xxx	xxx	xxx	xxx
GRANULES	xx	xxx	xx	xx	x	xx
GAS	x	xxx	xxx	x	x	xx
ELECTRIC	xx	xxx	x	x	x	xx

On this subject, I would like to make a few clarifications.

• Coal and charcoal are the same thing. Sometimes we use one term instead of the other, but you should know that they are indeed the same fuel. Coal is actually pre-burned wood. So there are fewer wood fibers in it, which generates less flame and smoke, and, ultimately, heats less than a log.
• A briquette is made with compacted charcoal dust and a bunch of other stuff, like starch or chemicals. The briquette is therefore less good in taste and for your health than charcoal, which is what we recommend at BBQ Québec, because it is purer. (The Weber briquette that we sell, however, is the best on the market and allows people to make “less toxic” BBQ, because it is made only with compacted charcoal dust.) If you have not followed our BBQ 101 Course , the briquette is the easy way to work, because the energy can be quantified (if you put 12 briquettes in your BBQ, your device will heat for 12 briquettes). It is a little better controlled than charcoal, but it heats less than the latter.
• There is virtually no difference between natural gas and propane. I would say that natural gas is about 10% hotter than propane, but it is not very noticeable. The advantage of natural gas is more the fact that if you can get some at home, you can "plug" your BBQ into it and never have to refill its tank.

Once you've considered all of that, you also want to think about what type of person you are. Is there a type of BBQ that's best for a beginner? Someone who wants to compete in BBQ competitions?

The answer to both questions is: yes. If you are new to the wonderful world of grilling (hi! 👋), I would say that the ideal is to start with a Weber Kettle or a Napoleon Rogue or Prestige , depending on your budget. Why? Because for their quality/price ratio, these beautiful, high-performance and durable machines are great choices. It is not for nothing that we recommend them to beginners, these models are among our best sellers: they are inexpensive, well designed, easy to control and bring a lot of happiness. The experience you will have with them will be exceptional and you will have peace forever.

If you really don't want to bother, pellet grills are also good options to start with. It's like an oven and it's easy to control and lasts a long time.

In fact, what's important when you're getting started in something is to equip yourself well. First, to save money in the long run and, second, to have fun (and you're sure to have fun with a barbecue 😜). And, that's good, because by shopping at BBQ Québec, you'll have both. 💯

The advantage of "getting equipped like everyone else" is that if you buy a "cheap" BBQ and you don't like it, you won't be able to do anything with it. A quality BBQ, on the other hand, whether you like it or not, you'll be able to resell it. And... since I know you're a good person, I know you'll like it, so you might as well opt for quality straight away. 😉

Otherwise, if you're already pretty hot on the BBQ front and want to get into the competitive world, pellet or wood-burning BBQs are the types of machines I recommend, both for their easy control and for the distinct taste their fuel gives to food. These are also the two types of BBQs I prefer for cooking large cuts of meat (which is very handy in competitions); there's tons of space in these beautiful machines.

Perhaps you are also someone who prefers to cook “hot and fast” ?

If cooking something "on the side" quickly is something that appeals to you, I would say that gas or charcoal BBQs are generally the ones that will suit you best. The reason is simple, they are grills that light up quickly and can maintain a large source of energy consistently when it comes time to grill something.

Would you rather take it “low and slow” ?

If you are someone who likes to take their time, wood or pellet BBQs are the ones I recommend the most. Wood BBQs work with logs, so it gives a little "camping" effect. We have fun cooking around the fire and we "enjoy" the moment.

Pellet BBQs, on the other hand, are "automatic" and heat a little less than a gas or charcoal BBQ. Cooking with this type of appliance is therefore done slowly but surely and practically by itself.

Attention! Although I mention my recommendations, both “hot and fast” and “low and slow” cooking can be done on all types of BBQ.

Finally, you are potentially also a person who loves to explore the four corners of the world. If this is you, you are looking to know what types of BBQ you can take on an adventure with you .

Well, there are several models of portable BBQs. As for charcoal BBQs, Weber makes some excellent ones: the Go Anywhere , the Smokey Joe and the Jumbo Joe , for example.

Otherwise, in pellet BBQs, the Camp Chef Pursuit 20 is incredible. It has all the advantages of pellet BBQs: you can cook, grill and smoke food with it (and don't underestimate its size, there's even room to cook two small "briskets" in there! 😳👌) and, in addition, "fold" it and take it everywhere, like a suitcase.

My favorite portable grill, the Capt'n Cook , can also do the job very well. It's super versatile: you can sear steaks like in a restaurant or grill a lasagna to perfection with it.

Now that all that is said, you have probably managed to find the answer to what you were looking for during this reading. I hope I was able to help you make a good choice and, if you are even more confused than you were (it's not easy, there are so many incredible BBQs!), I invite you to chat with one of our in-store advisors or a member of our team on our website or our social media pages. In any case, we will help you make a good choice and... I repeat, it's certain that you can't go wrong with any of the BBQs we sell at BBQ Québec, because we test them all beforehand to make sure they are bombs. 🔥

Happy BBQ to all!