Battle Of The Barbecues: Gas BBQs Versus Electric BBQs!

What Is A Gas BBQ?

Most gas BBQs run on LPG or liquid propane gas, connected via a hose to a small bottle or tank. The gas fires cast-iron or stainless steel burners under a grill or hot plate, giving the traditional smokey flavour. Gas provides instant heat, powering a wide range of barbecue models from portable to built-in and trolley styles. 

What Is An Electric BBQ?

As the name suggests, an electric BBQ needs electricity. A simple plug-in-and-cook design, electric barbecues feature the usual cooking surface – a grill plate, solid plate or a combination of the two. But given it’s powered by electricity, there is no flame or smoke. A metal heating element does the work of a flame, and you simply turn it on to cook with radiant heat.

Is A Gas BBQ Better Than An Electric BBQ?

While high-tech electric models are getting lots of well-deserved attention, it's certainly hard to beat the portability and model range of popular gas options.

“Your choice of gas or electric barbecue will depend on the kind of cooking you like to do and the space you have at home,” says Scott Bazley, The Good Guys Buyer – Seasonal.

“For a larger family, you might want a big, six-burner gas barbecue, while an electric BBQ is perfect for apartment balconies where space is tight and you don’t want smoke drifting into your or your neighbour’s living room.”

Why Choose A Gas BBQ?

With a gas barbecue, you’ve got a world of options. If you like picnics or camping, you can opt for a compact, portable model (with a lightweight gas bottle) so you can cook anytime, anywhere.

Sleek built-in gas barbecues are designed for a dream outdoor kitchen, while freestanding models on wheels give you more flexibility if you are renting or prefer a mobile cooking station.

Versatile and reliable, gas barbies also offer a large cooking capacity – up to six burners in some models. Look for grill hoods that create an oven effect, which keeps extra moisture in your meats.

And if it’s all about the grill flavour for you, then gas delivers in spades.

Shop Gas BBQs

BeefEater 1200 Series Black 4 Burner Built In BBQ

Weber Family Q 3100N+ LP Midnight Black

BeefEater 1600 Series SS 4 Burner BBQ & Trolley

Why Choose An Electric BBQ?

Go electric and you’ll never run out of gas again! Now if that isn’t reason enough, then consider the high-tech additions that will boost your BBQ game, like a built-in, wireless digital thermometer. The cooking probes link to smartphone apps that let you know when the steak needs flipping or when dinner is ready.

If you live in residential zones with restrictions on fires and barbecues, electric – with no smoke! – is the perfect solution. Electric BBQs tend to be more compact, which is great for a small deck, and only require a single power outlet.

Other pros are the convenience, easy-clean surfaces and even heat distribution you’ll get with electric BBQs. Look no further than the Weber Family Q 3100+ LP Flame Red for all of the above

How To Clean An Electric BBQ And A Gas BBQ

Sorry, no short cuts here – barbecuing requires cleaning, whether you’re cooking with gas or going electric.

First of all, get the right cleaning products for the job! It’s recommended that you clean the grills while they’re still warm, burning off grease and grime then brushing off the carbonised ash. Check out our top tips and tricks for cleaning your barbecue.

The big difference between the gas and electric clean-up is that the element in electric barbecues can’t be washed and the BBQ itself must not be submerged in water.

So, whether you like outdoor cooking with gas or think a modern electric BBQ is the way to go, let us set you up for summer soiree success. Head in-store or online for the biggest barbecue brands and the best prices to pull off an epic BBQ feast.