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No—electric BBQs have not made gas or charcoal obsolete. They offer a compact, convenient option when you have a suitable outdoor power outlet, but gas and charcoal retain practical advantages in temperature control, flavour, heat and fuel flexibility. The right choice depends on where you cook, what you want to cook, and how much setup and cleanup you will tolerate.
How the three BBQ types compare
Each fuel type makes different trade-offs. The points below summarize the guidance and testing reported by Which? and CHOICE; they are not a ranking of individual models.
| Factor | Electric | Gas | Charcoal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup and heat-up | Compact and convenient to set up; Which? says its tested electric grills heated quickly. Requires mains power. | Easy to light, according to Which?. Requires fuel and somewhere to store it. | Usually takes longer to heat. CHOICE says lighting charcoal can take up to 40 minutes. |
| Temperature and searing | Which? reports that its tested grills often held a good cooking temperature. CHOICE suggests looking for a solid char-grill plate capable of around 300°C; this is buying guidance, not a promise about every model. | Good adjustable temperature control is a strength, though hot and cold spots or flare-ups can occur. | Can reach higher temperatures, according to Which?. Requires closer attention while cooking. |
| Flavour | May lack the smoky flavour associated with charcoal. Some models add smoking features, but that does not make every electric grill equivalent to a charcoal BBQ. | Does not provide the classic charcoal-smoke profile. | Classic smoky taste is a key advantage. |
| Cleaning | Generally straightforward to clean; follow the appliance maker’s care instructions. | No ash or coal cleanup. | Leaves ash to clean. |
| Space and power or fuel | Compact, but needs a nearby mains outlet and suitable outdoor conditions. | Requires fuel storage and can have ongoing fuel costs. | Needs charcoal and good ventilation because of smoke and cinders, CHOICE advises. |
| Running cost | Regular use can increase electricity bills, but the sources do not establish a comparable cost per cook. | Fuel costs continue, but no comparable cross-market cost ranking is established. | No comparable cross-market cost ranking is established. |
What Which?’s electric BBQ tests found
Which? says it tested the Weber Lumin, Ninja Woodfire Pro XL and Napoleon TravelQ electric BBQs over the past couple of years. It reports that its tested grills heated quickly and often maintained a good cooking temperature. Which? also says the Ninja Woodfire Pro XL has a side smoker box for wood pellets, and that food cooked on the Weber Lumin was charred in its tests. These are findings from Which?’s tests, not a guarantee of results on every model or in every cooking setup. See Which?’s 2026 gas and electric BBQ guide and its electric BBQ discussion.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For a sense of one compact model’s footprint, Which? lists the Weber Lumin Compact Outdoor Barbecue at 12 kg, with a 43 by 28 cm grill area and a 1.8 m cable. Those are listed product specifications, not performance ratings; check the current listing and regional version before buying.
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Which type fits your cooking setup?
Choose electric when convenient setup and compact size matter most
An electric BBQ can suit a small outdoor space where mains power is readily available and you want to avoid managing gas or charcoal. Which? describes electric grills as easy to set up, quick to heat in its testing and generally easy to clean. The trade-offs are dependence on an outlet, possible higher electricity bills with regular use, and less of the smoky taste associated with charcoal. Which? also says electric BBQs are not suitable for wet weather.
Choose gas when adjustable heat and quick lighting are priorities
Which? identifies easy lighting and good adjustable temperature control as gas advantages. Gas avoids ash and coal cleanup, and some models include side burners. In return, you need to store fuel and account for ongoing fuel costs; hot and cold spots or flare-ups are also possible.
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Choose charcoal when smoke and high heat are worth the extra work
Charcoal offers the classic smoky taste and can reach higher temperatures, with a lower purchase cost often cited as an advantage. It takes longer to get ready, needs closer attention during cooking and leaves ash afterward. CHOICE says charcoal lighting can take up to 40 minutes and recommends good ventilation because of smoke and cinders. See CHOICE’s barbecue buying guide.
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There is no reliable, comparable figure in the cited sources for electricity use or cost per electric-BBQ cook. The cost depends on the appliance’s power and how long and often you use it, as well as your local electricity tariff and the prices of competing fuels. The available sources also do not provide a comparable lifecycle-emissions analysis for electric, gas and charcoal, so they do not establish that electric is always the lowest-emissions option.
Rank #3
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The Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water says that “Gas BBQs have been shown to emit nearly 3 times less greenhouse gases than charcoal.” That is a gas-versus-charcoal comparison; it says nothing by itself about electric BBQ emissions or lifecycle impact. The government also advises choosing a BBQ of an appropriate size so you do not heat more cooking space than necessary. See the government’s outdoor-living guidance.
Check power, weather and local rules before you buy
- Outlet access: Confirm there is a nearby outlet that meets the appliance’s requirements. CHOICE recommends checking this before choosing an electric BBQ.
- Outdoor use: Read the maker’s instructions for outdoor placement, electrical setup and weather. Which? says electric BBQs are not suitable for wet weather.
- Balcony permissions: Check building, tenancy and local rules rather than assuming electric cooking is permitted. CHOICE warns against barbecuing on enclosed balconies and advises checking restrictions for gas BBQs; its guidance does not establish one universal rule for electric grills across jurisdictions.
- Cooking surface: CHOICE suggests looking for a solid char-grill plate that can reach around 300°C. Verify the model’s specifications and instructions; that temperature is not guaranteed across products or necessary for every cook.
- Size: Match the grill area to the amount of food you normally cook. An oversized BBQ uses cooking space you may not need to heat.
Keep the cooking surface in good condition
Which? advises cleaning grill grates after use, following the manufacturer’s instructions and choosing tools that will not damage the grate. A proper BBQ brush is one possible option. The appliance’s care guidance should determine what cleaning method is safe for its particular surface.
Rank #4
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Verdict: electric is another option, not the end of the BBQ
Electric BBQs make the most sense when compactness and straightforward setup outweigh the need for charcoal smoke, fuel flexibility or cooking without a power outlet. Gas remains useful for adjustable heat and easy lighting; charcoal remains compelling for smoky flavour and high heat. There is no evidence here that one type is best for every cook, or that electric is universally cheaper, cleaner or more powerful.
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