Is charcoal or gas better for my barbecued sausages?

The charcoal/gas barbecue debate has been rumbling on for years. While both gas and charcoal have their own distinct advantages, charcoal has always been seen as being the only provider of that authentic barbeque taste. But with advances in technology meaning that gas barbecues can now rival charcoal barbequing flavour, we've taken a look at the pros and cons of both to help you decide which is best for your barbecue!

Charcoal - Positives

Initial cost - Gas barbecues tend to be a good deal more expensive than charcoal models, with inexpensive single use charcoal barbecues now on sale for as little as £2 per tray.

Wood smoking - The natural smoky flavour and smoked meat texture that comes from natural wood smoking is unmistakable, and some would argue that gas barbecues just can't beat it.

Flavour - When we think of barbecues, we think of that unique and traditional grilled meat flavour that comes from burning charcoal. Again, some argue that gas barbecues just can't give your sausages that unique charcoal barbecued flavour.

Charcoal - Negatives

Delay - It takes at least 30 minutes to get a charcoal barbecue up and running, as the coals need to reach their maximum temperature before it is safe to cook your food on the grill.

No control - One of the biggest drawbacks with charcoal is the lack of control you have over the temperature. Food must only be cooked when the coals are at their hottest, giving you only a small window in which to cook your food. If you don't watch your coals carefully, then your food could burn too quickly, or could be undercooked, which can be lead to food poisoning.

Charcoal cost - Charcoal is relatively inexpensive, but if you do a lot of barbecuing you might find that you'll get more value for money from gas.

Gas - Positives

Instant heat - With a gas barbecue, the flames are lit at the touch of a button, so there's no need to wait for coals to heat to the right temperature.

Constancy and control - The temperature in a gas barbecue remains constant, allowing for safer cooking, and you can cook for as long as you like. You can also adjust the temperature to suit the kinds of foods that you are cooking, so gas provides a kind of flexibility not available from charcoal barbecuing.

Flavour - New gas barbecues come equipped with 'flavouriser' bars. These bars sit above the gas burners and heat up and act in the same way as charcoal, ensuring that you get that same great BBQ flavour.

Wood smoking - Smoker boxes are now available that can be added to your gas barbecue to achieve wood smoking that is as easy for gas barbecues as for charcoal.

Gas - Negatives

Initial cost - Charcoal barbecues tend to be cheaper than gas barbecues as gas models need more parts, although prices are coming down.

Extra costs - With a charcoal barbecue all you need is some charcoal, some fire lighters and you're on your way. If you want to achieve the same great taste with gas, you may have to pay more for flavouriser bars or smoker boxes.

Whether you choose charcoal or gas to barbecue your sausages this summer, just make sure that you take the right safety precautions. From setting up and maintaining your barbeque, to food safety issues, you can find safe barbecue tips on the British Gas safety website at britishgassafety.co.uk, and for information on gas safe fires, ovens, hobs and barbecues take a look at the main British Gas site.