Finally upgraded to a new gas grill

[Eleazar]

I think electric grills are great. I want to taste the meat, not the gas or chemicals resulting from the fuel burning below it. People like charcoal because they are accustomed to it but you would think a flavor purist would not want to taste carbon monoxide, all the chemicals added to charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid, etc. Empty heat is more natural isnt it?

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by Cochise

I think electric grills are great. I want to taste the meat, not the gas or chemicals resulting from the fuel burning below it. People like charcoal because they are accustomed to it but you would think a flavor purist would not want to taste carbon monoxide, all the chemicals added to charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid, etc. Empty heat is more natural isnt it?

Natural? No. Natural fire burning from wood flavors whatever it's cooking. Pure beef (or chicken or pork or whatever) flavor, sure. But the smokiness that comes from grilling is a natural accompaniment to meat.

That said, I don't know many serious grillers that use briquettes. Most use natural lump charcoal. That doesn't have fillers, and you get a better, natural flavor.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

Natural? No. Natural fire burning from wood flavors whatever it's cooking. Pure beef (or chicken or pork or whatever) flavor, sure. But the smokiness that comes from grilling is a natural accompaniment to meat.

That said, I don't know many serious grillers that use briquettes. Most use natural lump charcoal. That doesn't have fillers, and you get a better, natural flavor.

Natural to me means the taste of the food and not the fuel material.

Charcoal always contains chemical additives like nitrates, starches, lime, even coal. Lump charcoal may not contain the binders to give it the shape, but even in the event you have pure charcoal with no chemicals added in manufacture, you are still taking it on faith that the wood used by whatever corporation made it was not chemically treated or from some other dubious waste/scrap wood source like discarded stained hardwood flooring.

This is hair splitting, which is what any good gas vs charcoal debate amounts to. I just opined that natural to me is the taste of the food and not a campfire