Who sells charcoal?

You mean charcoal? Pretty much any hardware stores or groceries stores will have them.

Charcoal = Big Box Stores
(Hardware / DIY - Walmart - Super Groceries etc )

Got my first propane BBQ Grill in the early 1980s
NEVER would I go back to charcoal
EVERYTHING about propane is better
Including the costs, time it takes to cook, control over heat, taste of the food etc

These days I buy my propane at Costco
Cheapest place in Canada
Costs about $ 10 for a fill up vs $ 20 - $ 35 elsewhere

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Charcoal = Big Box Stores
(Hardware / DIY - Walmart - Super Groceries etc )

Got my first propane BBQ Grill in the early 1980s
NEVER would I go back to charcoal
EVERYTHING about propane is better
Including the costs, time it takes to cook, control over heat, taste of the food etc

These days I buy my propane at Costco
Cheapest place in Canada
Costs about $ 10 for a fill up vs $ 20 - $ 35 elsewhere

IMO Charcoal cooking taste way better than propane. But I agree with every other point.

I have both charcoal grill and propane. I typically use propane but when I have more time I would use charcoal. Charcoal takes too long to get it ready for cooking.

I prefer lump charcoal, tastes so much better than other options, and it's available most places including Costco.

Charcoal for the flavor hands down. Propane over natural gas for me because I don't want my BBQ tethered to the house. And a gas line on the deck that I can trip over when I have to move the bbq around because of the wind. Gas grill for convienence and controlled cooking temps. As mentioned, propane is cheap at Costco and mine only charges for the amount required to fill the tank. It's not a flat rate charge.

Charcoal is much better, but you have to wait until the fire's out and it's just heat by embers. The heat is radiated while heat from gas is usually convected (my grill has a layer of lava rocks which you are supposed to heat until they radiate heat, but that consumes a lot of gas).

There's charcoal (wood burnt in the absence of oxygen) and BBQ briquettes which are bits of charcoal with other additives and binders. Both are probably carcinogenic (not that I wouldn't eat charcoal-cooked food) but briquettes probably have more even-worse-for-you inorganic stuff.

https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen ... -binchotan

Food cooked on a Charcoal BBQ tastes WAY WAY WAY BETTER!

But I use a propane BBQ ... too lazy to start up the charcoal in my backyard and then worry about putting it out. Only use charcoal with firewood when camping.

Will be changing over to a natural gas BBQ later this summer once I can trust having someone come inside to do the re-locating of my gas line in the basement.

Food cooked over lump charcoal tastes much better.
A Kamado or Weber Kettle BBQ are best for charcoal cooking.
I use a propane roofer's torch to light my charcoal - it's hot and ready to cook in less than 10 minutes (not much longer than a gas BBQ).

Costco Basque lump charcoal (green and white bag) is good value.
The best charcoal I have used is Kamado Joe Big Block charcoal from Lowes (they had a buy 2 get 1 free sale last year) - it's pricey at $30 a bag.

A great charcoal review site:
http://www.nakedwhiz.com/lumpindexpage.htm?bag

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Charcoal = Big Box Stores
(Hardware / DIY - Walmart - Super Groceries etc )

Got my first propane BBQ Grill in the early 1980s
NEVER would I go back to charcoal
EVERYTHING about propane is better
Including the costs, time it takes to cook, control over heat, taste of the food etc

These days I buy my propane at Costco
Cheapest place in Canada
Costs about $ 10 for a fill up vs $ 20 - $ 35 elsewhere

Your identity has been revealed!


I use charcoal almost exclusively. Costco is where I get mine from.

raymondly wrote: ↑ Your identity has been revealed!


I use charcoal almost exclusively. Costco is where I get mine from.

Lol, thanks for the chuckle
(Humour has been greatly lacking here on RFD since Covid)

Forgot about Hank Hill ... decent guy
Got to wonder what Hank would think about the times we live in now

My steaks only go on propane BBQ. All smoking and kebabs only using Weber briquettes on a Weber Kettle.

How do u guys clean your grill grates?

Just got a weber with enamel cast iron grates

Stainless steel brush will leave wires and is dangerous (have a kid dont want to risk)

Cedar wood doesnt clean that well

Stone leaves a mess will also leave stuff on the grates

Tinfoil doesnt clean that well

Can someone help? Dont know what to do

Thanks!

redflagjj wrote: ↑ How do u guys clean your grill grates?

Just got a weber with enamel cast iron grates

Stainless steel brush will leave wires and is dangerous (have a kid dont want to risk)

Cedar wood doesnt clean that well

Stone leaves a mess will also leave stuff on the grates

Tinfoil doesnt clean that well

Can someone help? Dont know what to do

Thanks!

Clean them after each use with Cedar and finish with a damp cloth. All done while the grill is still warm.

blexann wrote: ↑ Clean them after each use with Cedar and finish with a damp cloth. All done while the grill is still warm.

Thank you so much!

Should i use dishsoap with the damp cloth? Or just plain water?

blexann wrote: ↑ Clean them after each use with Cedar and finish with a damp cloth. All done while the grill is still warm.

This

We gave up on the wire brush a few years ago ...
when a strand / needle showed up in SO’s steak
These things are truly dangerous
Can see where people have been seriously injured / died

We now use a wooden scraper
Once you get the hang of it
It works very well

Also of note ... there’s another RFD thread going on annual deep cleaning too
Worth a look
bbq-cleaning-found-great-inexpensive-cleaner-2376418/

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ This

We gave up on the wire brush a few years ago ...
when a strand / needle showed up in SO’s steak
These things are truly dangerous
Can see where people have been seriously injured / died

We now use a wooden scraper
Once you get the hang of it
It works very well

Also of note ... there’s another RFD thread going on annual deep cleaning too
Worth a look
bbq-cleaning-found-great-inexpensive-cleaner-2376418/

I use this brush to clean my grates (it's fantastic), and then I follow with the wooden scraper. I have never found a steel bristle, but I follow with the wood just in case.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00TPA ... UTF8&psc=1

marksmithy69 wrote: ↑ I use this brush to clean my grates (it's fantastic), and then I follow with the wooden scraper. I have never found a steel bristle, but I follow with the wood just in case.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00TPA ... UTF8&psc=1

I wouldn't chance it. Wasn't even aware they were still selling these

blexann wrote: ↑ I wouldn't chance it. Wasn't even aware they were still selling these

I think the brush that is problematic is the plastic handled ones with wire bristles. If you use those on a hot grill the plastic can melt a bit and release the bristles. I use the Triangle grill brush to clean stuff and then wipe it down with a rag to get black burnt grease off and then oil grates with greased paper towel - the rag and paper towel will knock off anything if anything ever got released.

https://www.lowes.ca/product/bbq-brushe ... lsrc=aw.ds

Considering the number of times ppl grill, the probability of a wire bristle coming off and it getting into your food is extremely low risk IMO. You cannot eliminate all risks, so I don't believe fearing a wire brush is justified. Like anything there's some caution that must be exercised.