Char-Broil Gas2Coal 440 Review: Gas and Charcoal in One BBQ

What Is the Char-Broil Gas2Coal 440?

The Char-Broil Gas2Coal 440 is a hybrid barbecue that operates as both a 4-burner gas grill and a charcoal grill without any compromise in either mode. Conversion between fuels takes approximately 60 seconds: slide the charcoal tray insert under the cast iron grates, light with the gas burners as a fire-starter, or remove the insert and cook on gas only. No tools, no reconfiguration. At £449 (from £699.99) and 4.4 stars from 462 buyers, it addresses the compromise most barbecue buyers make between gas convenience and charcoal flavour.

Gas Mode Performance

Four burners with a combined 40,000 BTU output reach searing temperature in 10–12 minutes. The Quantum infrared burner system distributes heat evenly across the primary cooking surface, eliminating the cold spots between traditional tube burners that produce unevenly cooked food. Electronic ignition lights all four burners independently. For weekday cooking where speed and cleanup are priorities, gas mode performs on par with a dedicated gas barbecue at this price.

Charcoal Mode

The charcoal tray slides under the porcelain cast iron grates, bringing the charcoal within the optimal distance of the cooking surface. Use the gas burners as a charcoal lighter — no chimney starter required. Once the coals are established (approximately 20 minutes), remove the gas connection and cook over charcoal. The high-heat searing and smoky flavour transfer that charcoal produces is genuine and noticeably different from gas-only results on fatty proteins like ribeye and chicken thighs.

Verdict

The Gas2Coal 440 is the correct choice for households who want gas convenience for weekday grilling and charcoal capability for weekend sessions. The hybrid functionality costs nothing extra versus a comparable dedicated gas grill, and the 60-second conversion makes switching genuinely practical rather than a theoretical feature.

Rating: 4.4/5 — The hybrid barbecue that genuinely delivers both fuel types.