Monday 28 May 2012

Gas Barbecue Grills – Which Do You Prefer: Gas Barbecues or Charcoal BBQs?

With summer just around the corner, now is the time to think about investing in a barbecue and gas barbecue grills are a great way to cook up a feast. We all love the great outdoors and with gas barbecue grills you can really make the most out of your garden when the sun shines. Gas barbecue grills are made for entertaining and with the barbecue season upon us, get ready to enjoy al fresco dining.

Big K sell a host of summer living products including gas barbecue grills and charcoal BBQs in various styles including stone BBQs, brick BBQs and masonry BBQs. We also sell a range of summer fuels, barbecues and tools so you can spend more time outdoors from spring through to autumn.

When the sun goes down and it turns a bit chilly, you can still sit out in the open with powerful electric garden patio heaters that will keep everyone cosy and comfortable well into the evening. In addition to our gas barbecue grills and charcoal BBQs, our summer living range also includes wood burning stoves (also known as pizza ovens or outdoor ovens) so you can show the best of your cooking skills.

Big K has been operating in the UK for four decades and as the home BBQ market grew we naturally expanded in this area with the sale of gas barbecue grills and other products. In addition to our summer fuel products we also have a winter range which includes coal, kindling wood and hardwood logs.

When it comes to barbecues, people usually have a firm favourite - either gas barbecue grills or charcoal BBQs. To help make your decision easier here we will look at the pros and cons of each, starting with gas barbecue grills.

Gas Barbecue Grills -  click here to see our complete range

Gas Barbecue Grills

Gas barbecue grills are the speediest and most convenient way to cook up a barbecue, as they provide instant heat in a matter of seconds. All you have to do is push a button to start and you can control the temperature with a dial - which means no more burnt sausages and burgers!

With gas barbecue grills you can arrange spontaneous barbecues - unlike charcoal barbecues, where you have to light the coals well in advance of cooking.

Gas barbecue grills also offer a far cleaner method of cooking as you don’t have to get your hands dirty with messy charcoals and there is no fear of your flames dying out with the wind.

We have gas barbecue grills made from stainless steel to suit all sizes of gardens. Our gas barbecue grills are suitable for a range of cooking options including grilling, rotisserie and roasts. Another benefit of gas barbecue grills is that they can be cleaned easily and are very economical as they use propane/butane gas bottles.

The main drawback to gas barbecue grills is that food does not have the same taste as when cooked on a charcoal barbecue, although you can use wood to get a smoky flavour. 

Big K Gas Barbecue Grills

Our gas barbecue grills are mainly pre-assembled. They need only basic assembly and you are ready to go. They can also be left out in the open all year round if they are covered either with a tarpaulin sheet or a special BBQ cover to protect them from the elements.

Metal Barbecue Dragon - This is a stainless steel rectangular barbecue with a wooden base rack. Its stainless steel grill is adjustable to four height levels via wooden burn-proof grips. The BBQ is on wheels so it can be easily moved and it benefits from a removable ash collection draw for easy cleaning. It has ventilation intake on the brazier.

Metal Barbecue Master - This is a stone and plate combination gas barbecue mounted on a robust portable wooden trolley with two side shelves for ease of use. The barbecue benefits from four burners, a lava grill, cast iron steak grill, fat collection tray and a gas tank rack.  It also has piezoelectric ignition which is often used on camping stoves. This means that electricity is produced using a spring loaded hammer which, when a button is pressed, hits a crystal to ignite the gas.

Metal Barbecue Party
- This is our largest barbecue grill and has four stainless steel burners and a side hot plate. Features include a cast iron steal grill, warming grid, fat collection tray, a retractable side shelf and a thermometer.  It is neat in design with a cupboard under the grill for the gas bottle storage and, as it is on four wheels, it is easy to manoeuvre.


Charcoal Barbecues

Although gas barbecue grills are cleaner than charcoal barbecues, and are easier to start, nothing beats a charcoal barbecue for flavour.  Charcoal barbecues also produce a much hotter grill and smell divine so they really get your appetite working.

With charcoal barbecues cooking is more of a hands-on experience and everyone can chip in. There is also something very sociable about charcoal barbecues and the time it takes to heat up is time spent getting the beers in and chatting with friends.

The drawbacks are that it takes longer to heat up, there is no temperature control and the wind can blow out the flame. It is also a messier option than gas barbecue grills and they are harder to clean - but the cooking flavours make it all worthwhile!

Big K Charcoal Barbecues

Masonry Barbecues

We have a wide range of masonry barbecues for sizes of gardens and patio areas and these make a great focal point. Masonry barbecues use charcoal to produce heat and give your food a superb natural flavour. And once everyone has been served it can double up as a patio heater for evening get-togethers.

Masonry barbecues are also known as chimney barbecues and are popular in the Mediterranean. The body of the barbecue is made from reinforced concrete and the table is made from reconstituted coloured stone. The barbecue is then painted using special artex paint which we supply with your order.

Our models provide a spacious cooking area and benefit from heat retaining fire bricks to make it easier and more economical to use. They come with various cooking heights and some have side tables to ensure everything is within easy reach of the chef. Choose from white or terracotta barbecues.

Stone Barbecues

You can cook on stone barbecues using either charcoal or wood and the heat retaining firebricks make it simpler and more economical to use. Our stone barbecues also incorporate an easy-fire aluminium alloy plate for trouble-free lighting.

Big K stone barbecues do not need painting as they are made from pre-coloured reconstituted stone. We sell a wide range of BBQ accessories including fish grills, barbecue baskets, rotisserie spits and more.

Brick BBQ’s

Big K’s top-of-the range brick built BBQs create a fantastic focal point in the garden. They are made from reconstituted stone and have brickwork on the side which complements the English brick built house style. Some of our models also come with a chimney hood made from black stainless steel.

Our brick barbecues have various cooking heights to make it easier to use and most of our models have two stainless steel grills, a multi-level holder and a charcoal brazier. Some also have either built in cupboards or shelves.

Kamado Joe

Kamado comes from the Japanese word for ‘stove’ and is also used for this style of cooker which has a ceramic grill. A Kamado Joe is very versatile and can act as an oven or grill so you can smoke, bake, sear and roast with minimal airflow adjustments.

Our Kamado Joes are fuelled with charcoal and have superb heat retention to enable the chef to cook at high temperatures.

Charcoal BBQs - click here to view our range of full range of products