Dual-fuel barbecues: are they really worth it?

With the sunny weather being sporadic so far this year, you might have held off buying a barbecue. But with summer sales round the corner, now could be a great time to pick up a bargain.

If you like the convenience of using gas but want the smoky taste of charcoal, a dual-fuel or hybrid barbecue could be the best choice. 

We've rounded up a few of the more popular dual-fuel models we've reviewed, as well as some of the pros and cons of these types, to help you make a more informed decision.

See our round-up of the best barbecues for our top gas, charcoal, dual-fuel and electric barbecue recommendations

Pros and cons of dual-fuel barbecues

Barbecue manufacturers often claim that dual-fuel barbecues are the best of both worlds, allowing you to reap the benefits of both gas and charcoal models without having to commit to one type. 

But there are other things to consider. 

Pros of dual-fuel barbecues

• Most models will be hot enough to cook on in just a few minutes thanks to the fast-lighting gas mechanism.
• You can achieve that trademark smoky flavour with charcoal but can switch to gas if you're short on time.
• It saves a lot of space compared with having a gas barbecue and a separate charcoal barbecue.
• Models with two grilling areas allow you to use both cooking methods at the same time.

Cons of dual-fuel barbecues

• Some models only have one grill area, so you're limited to either charcoal or gas at one time.
• Our tests often show that a dual-fuel barbecue will cook better on one over the other. Usually, charcoal out-performs gas.
• It can be hard to control the heat if it's a gas to charcoal model, as most of them don't have air vents.
• There aren't that many on the market in the UK right now, so your choices will be fairly limited.

If you want to compare all the dual-fuel models we've tested head to our barbecue reviews and filter by type

Do dual-fuel barbecues cook better food?

There's no way of saying with certainty that dual-fuel barbecues can produce better-tasting food than other models, mainly because a lot of the time it will depend on the different grilling methods people use.

Our lab tests show that charcoal barbecues tend to score higher in terms of flavour, appearance and succulence in our cooking tests compared to gas or electric models. So you might be in luck if you mainly plan on using your dual-fuel model for charcoal cooking.

However, that isn't to say that gas barbecues don't produce delicious food either. They often do, and they're much quicker than their charcoal counterparts, but it's very rare to get any kind of smoky barbecue taste when your food is cooked on gas.

Read our expert advice on how to cook on your barbecue, whether charcoal or gas, to get the best out of it

Popular tested dual-fuel barbecues

Throughout our tests, we've encountered a handful of dual-fuel or hybrid barbecues as they're rarer and typically more expensive compared to other types. 

Here's some of the most popular we've reviewed:

John Lewis Grillstream 4 Burner Hybrid Barbecue

If you often play host, this John Lewis hybrid may appeal as it has four burners for cooking up a feast, plus an additional side burner that's handy for heating up sauces or other accompaniments to go alongside. There's a cover for the side burner, too. When not in use it can double up as a second shelf for holding items such as condiments and utensils.

There are three cast-iron cooking grids, one of which can be swapped out for a griddle (supplied) depending on how you want to grill, so it's a versatile barbecue.

It can grill using either gas, charcoal or both combined.

Find out whether this barbecue delivered on taste when we put it through our rigorous lab tests. Read our full John Lewis Grillstream 4 Burner Hybrid review.  

Outback Magnum 3 Burner Hybrid Barbecue

This versatile Outback hybrid barbecue has three stainless steel burners, a side burner for sauces, and a separate hybrid charcoal basket designed to give your food a delicious smoky flavour.

The cooking area measures 63 x 43cm, and you can swap out the standard grill in the centre for accessories like a pizza stone, griddle, paella dish and more. These don't come in the box, so you'll have to purchase them separately.

It has a stainless steel roasting hood with a built-in temperature gauge so you can make sure the grill is never too hot or cold. There's a warming rack too, meaning you can serve all your food at once without leaving half of it to sit out and go cold.

It certainly sounds like the full package, but did this hybrid model impress in our rigorous lab tests? Read our full Outback Magnum 3 Burner Hybrid review to find out.

Argos Home Premium Combination Barbecue 206/6004

This reasonably priced Argos barbecue has two separate burners: one gas and one charcoal. It's suitable for both propane and butane gas, but if you want to use butane you'll need to buy a separate regulator.

Each burner has its own hood with a built-in temperature gauge, allowing you to ensure your food isn't burning without having to open and close the lid every two minutes. There's a handy chopping board to the left of the gas grill, as well as tea towel hooks and storage for herbs and spices underneath.

It's not the largest barbecue we've seen but it is on the bulky side. There are two wheels on the base to help you move it around your garden though.

You can buy it directly from Argos for £265.

Take a look at our full Argos Premium Combination Barbecue review to see how it fared in our labs, including how easy it is to use.

Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0

For those who want flexibility, this hybrid barbecue converts from a gas grill into a charcoal grill in less than a minute, you can use both cooking methods at the same time if you want.

There's a built-in side burner that's perfect for warming up side dishes and sauces to serve alongside your barbecue creations, plus a side shelf that you can use as a little bit of extra workspace while you cook. There's space under the grill for a gas tank too, accessed through a hatch.

The stainless steel burner tent is designed to protect the burners from any dripping juices and helps to disperse heat evenly across the grill, too. Char-Broil offers a five-year warranty on the stainless steel burners and all other parts are covered for two years.

Find out if this barbecue produces delicious, smoky food in our full Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 review.

Where to buy a dual-fuel barbecue

There are lots of retailers to choose from, including specialist barbecue brands, such as Outback and Char-broil, supermarkets like Aldi, and general homeware stores including Argos and John Lewis. Whether you're shopping online or in-store, make sure you pay attention to the shop's returns policy.

Popular online retailers that stock dual-fuel barbecues include:

• Argos has a small range of barbecues, including the model listed above. Prices start at £265. 
• Robert Dyas stocks a wide selection of models from brands such as Char-Broil, Grillstream and Outback. Prices range from £400 to over £1,000.
• Appliances Direct have a slightly smaller selection and you'll find models from brands including Boss Grill, Char-Broil and also Outback. Prices are from £240 up to £500.
• BBQ World also has a good selection of models from similar brands such as Char-Broil and Outback and you'll find prices ranging from £280 to £1,700.
• John Lewis sells a handful of dual-fuel models, including three own-brand options that we haven't tested yet. Prices start at £429. 

Find out which retailers are rated highly by thousands of Which? members in our guide to the best and worst shops