Gas vs charcoal grills - my neighbor's deck fire has me rethinking everything

I've been a charcoal guy for years. Love the flavor, the ritual, all of it. But last Saturday, my neighbor two houses down used too much lighter fluid on his Weber kettle and next thing I know flames were licking up the side of his wooden deck. He got it under control fast, but it scared me pretty good. Now I'm wondering if a propane setup is the safer call for backyard cooking. I know gas gives off less of that smoky taste, but you don't have to deal with flare ups like that. For those of you who've switched from one to the other, do you feel like the safety trade off is worth losing the charcoal flavor? Or am I overthinking one bad day?

2 comments

2 Comments

troyc175d ago

I sold my charcoal grill after a similar scare about five years back, and I've noticed a bigger pattern where people trade a bit of that classic flavor for peace of mind with gas. You see it in all kinds of gear these days, like people choosing electric leaf blowers over gas ones because they don't want the smell and noise bothering the neighbors. It really comes down to whether that smoky taste matters more to you than the quiet confidence of turning a knob instead of lighting a fire.

emma_lee225d ago

Read a safety report saying gas grills cause fewer fires than charcoal ones, @troyc17.

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