Gas versus charcoal

 If you leave the door of the grill open while you’re cooking, you’ll always remember to turn off the gas.

I grew up in the era of charcoal and lighter fluid and aprons meant only for men that read: “Sure, I can cook!” It was a kinder, gentler era. So I am very partial to charcoal. Yes, it’s harder to use. It’s messy. And it’s imprecise. But nothing will make your food taste better than being cooked over a charcoal fire. That said, I’m also a realist and gas is easy. It’s precise. It’s clean. In the barbecue world, you get a lot of grief over using gas but I don’t care. When it’s 6 o’clock and you need a quick dinner nothing is more impressive than a grilled pork loin (easy – 10-15 minutes max) and some grilled ’shrooms.

Here’s my tip of the day on using a gas grill. If you’re freaking out about whether you turned the gas off after grilling, leave one of the grill doors open while you’re cooking. That will remind you to turn the gas off when you’re done. I have been grilling for years and I still do this every time I use a gas grill.