franceinfo conso. Which barbecue to buy?

It’s a summer must-have! 71% of French people have a barbecue or similar device, such as a plancha. And the figure even climbs to 83% for residents in single-family homes. And the French are getting better and better equipped: on the price side, barbecues range from 30 to 3,000 euros, with models using gas, coal, electricity or even powered by wood pellets (pellets). The choices mainly concern size and weight: it all depends on the space you have and the number of guests envisaged.

Electric models are better suited to small spaces and small tables. They limit the production of odor and smoke. They can be placed without problem on a balcony while gas or coal models are installed in the garden.
Whatever the heat source, one of the major criteria is the size and cooking surface. The more surface you have, the more you can grill everything together and limit the time spent in front of the appliance. Also check the stability of your barbecue, which can be problematic on portable models, accidents are even commonplace.

Charcoal gives that characteristic smoky taste that you can’t find anywhere else. On the other hand, this type of cooking releases harmful compounds whose effects are carcinogenic. Also, the grid must be set at least 10 cm above the embers. The best solution is to opt for a vertical barbecue where the fat or the juices of your meat do not drip on the embers. You can also buy purified carbon – containing more than 80% carbon – which limits the formation of carcinogenic compounds.

Otherwise, the gas models have, for them, the speed, both for the ignition and the rise in temperature; a temperature that can easily be adjusted and therefore cooked. You can delight ten guests with different cooking from one burner to another. On the other hand, the food has a more neutral taste. And the prices for these barbecues are high. But gas, coal, electricity, all will ensure warm moments.