CAN'T decide whether to go for a gas or a charcoal barbecue? The Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 could provide the solution: this hybrid grill is capable of using both fuels for cooking.
We put this second generation dual-fuel barbecue to the test to see whether it’s any good…
3Pros:
- Super efficient and cooks like a dream
- Easy to start, even on windy days
- Looking impressive and stylish
Cons:
- Takes a while to assemble
- Will need chimney starter if not using gas
Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 Review: Quick Summary
- Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0, £369.99 from Robert Dyas – buy here
American brand Char-Broil was one of the first companies to make charcoal barbecue grills for the home cook.
It’s got a strong reputation for making mid-range barbecues that have premium features but without the hefty price tag that often come with higher end grills.
The Char-Broil Gas2Coal is a design the brand first unveiled in 2016, with the barbecue equipped for both gas and charcoal cooking.
The idea is that you use gas to start the coals, or just use gas on its own – thanks to the built-in gas ignition, it means you never have to fiddle with matches or lighters again.
Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 Review: Full Review
Char-Broil released Gas2Coal 2.0 in time for summer 2021 with a couple of design updates.
Staying put are their stainless steel burners, the porcelain-enamelled cast iron grates, the patented stainless steel charcoal tray and the SureFire electronic ignition system.
As part of the design update, it has introduced a gas bottle gauge and a storage space where a gas bottle of up to 6kg can be secured into place even when you move the barbecue.
There’s also easier access to the gauge so you can see exactly how much gas is left.
And to make switching between gas and charcoal even easier, a grate lifter is supplied.
Features
We tested the two-burner grill, which is the smallest in the Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 range. It measures 116.8cm (H) x 114cm (W) x 62.9cm (L), with a cooking area of 47.8cm x 44.5cm.
If you’re used to basic charcoal grills, this one is definitely a little bit more involved.
The assembly can take a couple of hours depending on how quick you are, although the instructions are very clear and you only need a screwdriver. Plus, you only have to do this once.
The two-burner barbecue features two sturdy shelves on either side of the cooking surface where you can rest any food and tools – on bigger models, one of the shelves is replaced with a standalone gas burner.
- Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0, £369.99 from Robert Dyas – buy here
The main cooking area is a decent size, with enough room to cook for around six to 10 people at the same time depending on what you’re grilling.
Just above it is a warming shelf where you can rest any cooked food and you can lower the lid to cover everything, even when the warming shelf is loaded.
When it comes to fuel, you can use it as a gas-only barbecue – a propane regulator and hose is included in the set up but the grill will work with butane, propane or a mix of the two.
To use it as a charcoal grill, you simply line up your briquettes on the charcoal tray and then turn the gas on high for 15 minutes with the lid down to get the coals burning.
After that you can switch off the gas and let the coal do the work – the full instructions come with the manual.
Cooking
We found the Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 super easy to use and were really impressed by the results.
By having the lid down, the grill reached much higher temperatures very quickly – there’s a temperature gauge in the lid to tell you exactly how hot it is inside – which meant our food cooked really quickly and stayed juicy and there were absolutely no burnt bits.
The lighting process also meant that even on windy days, you can get your barbecue going. The lid will act as a wind blocker when you’re cooking and the wheels make it easy to manoeuvre into position.
We particularly liked the porcelain-enamelled grill plates, which produced restaurant-style grill marks that looked really impressive.
Having the warming shelf and the shelves on either side of the grill was definitely helpful as well as it made the whole operation that much more slick.
There were a couple of downsides though.
If you don’t want to use the gas component, or you’ve simply run out, you’ll need a chimney starter to get your barbecue going as the layout of the charcoal tray means you can only have one layer of coals and you can’t build a mound or use any fire lighters.
And if you’re cooking for a large group, you can’t just add more coals – you’d effectively have to start again or switch to gas.
- Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0, £369.99 from Robert Dyas – buy here
Cleaning
Absolutely no one enjoys cleaning a barbecue the day after and, because of its setup, the Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 does have more components to clean up than your most basic charcoal barbecue.
That said, it’s no more than barbecues of the same size.
We left the removable bits to soak overnight, which meant there was minimal scrubbing involved by the morning.
You do need to wipe down the lid and the interiors as well though, and if you’ve used the warming tray, check if there are any run offs down the back.
We recommend having a good spray on cleaner that can help shift some of the grease if you’ve had a particularly heavy grilling session.
Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 Review: The Verdict
Having always cooked on basic charcoal grills that cost a fraction of the price, we weren't sure this one could deliver results worthy of the extra expense but the Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 surpassed our expectations.
It combined the best features of gas and charcoal barbecues – easy to start and great flavour – into one machine that you can use interchangeably depending on what you fancied.
The porcelain-enamelled cast iron grill also produced superb results without burning the food.
We think it’s a great option if you’re looking for a premium quality product without the hefty price tag.
- Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0, £369.99 from Robert Dyas – buy here
Where to buy Char-Broil grills
The Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 is available online from Robert Dyas, Leekes, Keen Gardener and Amazon, which will deliver it to you.
You can also check on the Char-Broil website for stockists near you.
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