Differences

• While wood and charcoal grills are very similar and will result in similar cooking experiences, the two are not completely identical in the way the fuel is used to heat the grill. In a charcoal grill, the charcoal briquettes come ready to light. While some will be self-lighting and others will require the application of lighter fluid, no special burn must be performed to prepare the coals for cooking food. With wood-burning grills, the wood being used as a fuel must be pre-burned before food can be cooked, with the wood first being burned down to an ashy form before food is placed on the grill.
  
  

Pros

• Proponents of cooking with a natural burning grill, as opposed to a gas-burning grill, argue that the natural grills provide better-tasting meat. As the heat is provided by burning a carbon substance instead of propane, the natural grills give off smoke as they burn the fuel sources. The smoke flavoring can then permeate throughout the meat, giving the food a richer taste. Additionally, natural grills can be safer to operate as there is no concern about a leaking gas line potentially leading to an explosion.
  
  

Cons

• The primary disadvantage with using a natural grill instead of a gas-burning grill is the increased difficulty of use. Initial lighting of the grill is more difficult compared to a propane grill, which is started by simply opening the gas line and pressing the grill's starter or holding a lighter to the gas emanating from the grill. Maintaining a consistent temperature inside the grill is more difficult with a natural grill as well as it does not provide the luxury of having a steady stream of gas, but rather features the ups and downs of a natural burn.
  
  

Cooking

• To start a fire, the fuel source is used to create a small cone in the center of the grill, and if the fuel source is coal, which is not self-lighting then lighter fluid is also added. The cone is then lit from around the outside and allowed to burn until all the fuel has taken. Only then is the fuel spread across the rest of the grill. Most charcoal or wood grills also feature an adjustable grill rack, which allows the cook to change the height of the food relative to the fire.
  
  

Cleaning

• Cleaning the grill is performed after all the cooking has been completed and the grill has had sufficient time to cool down so as to not be dangerous for the individual cleaning it. The grill is cleaned through scouring with a wire bristled brush, which removes any fat or juices left over from the meat. Ashes and other remnants in the bottom of the grill are then emptied out and disposed of.