Gas barbeques - hood or no hood ?

[Butty]

We've had a gas Barbeque with a hood for the last 7 years but now the burners have rusted and we're going to get a new one.

Were thinking of getting one of the Aussie style flat bed ones - part grill/part griddle.

However they don't come with a hood and we were wondering if there are any drawbacks to this - such as loss of heat?

We'd never think of cooking on the old BBQ without the hood down so wonder if you've any thoughts?

[jg96]

I have a flat bed with a hood 2 thirds grill 1 third griddle its an Outback Titanium although I tend to use it mostly with the hood up no major problems

[RATTER15]

Gas barbeque!! wheres the fun in that, give me a charcoal one any day!! if you are going to cook with gas, you just as well do it in the kitchen!!

[Butty]

Thanks for your advice - still can't decide what type to get.

We love our gas BBQ because we eat out on the patio a lot.
The advantage of a gas one is that it is ready to cook straight away so we can just start it up when we get back from work and don't have to wait - as with charcoal.

Also it keeps an even temperature for the duration of cooking - great when we do parties and need to cook for quite a while - to include fruit etc at the end of the meal.

Finally you do get a more authentic taste than on the oven. How can you bulk cook on the oven grill and with the BBQ you get the flare ups etc to give it flavour.