Gas Grills - Getting Started With Your Gas Grill

Cooking

Birds

Fun Games

Safety

Stay Current

Subscribe To This Site

Gas Grills - A Fast and Convenient Way to Cook Your Food

So you have done your home work and have decided gas grills are the way to go.

This is a great choice!

Of all the grills you could buy I feel that gas is the most convenient to use. Actually I use my gas barbeque quite a lot, especially after work. It is just so much quicker and easier than using charcoal. You can be heated up and ready to go in 15 to 20 minutes.

There are also other advantages to using outdoor gas grills compared to charcoal grills

Besides their convenience, ease of use and speed in heating up, gas grills are cleaner than charcoal grills. You don't have the messy charcoal to deal with nor do you have the ashes to clean up afterward.

In addition to that, barbeque grills are great to use during the winter months. They are so much easier to cook with when it is really cold out because they hold their temperature so much better than charcoal does.

I know because I use mine all the time during the winter. Even in sub-zero weather.

Buying your gas grill

These are things I tend to look for when shopping and remember, you do get what you pay for.

* You really do want a grill with sturdy construction.

* I would suggest that the firebox be thick and made of heavy duty construction. Porcelain enameled would be best. These types are more expensive to buy, but they last so much longer than other types.

* You should have at least 400 sq inches of cooking space. For the serious griller I would recommend 500 sq inches or more. This gives you much more room to work with and gives you much greater flexibility in your cooking.

* Make sure you have a tight fitting lid. This is critical for good heat control.

* Electronic ignition is great to have. They do tend to wear out and break after a year or two, but replacement parts aren't that expensive and they are very convenient to have.

* Having a gas gauge is very good as well. You never want to run out of gas during a meal. It just destroys the overall experience not to mention maybe the meal.

* Make sure you get adjustable controls for your burners. High, medium and low. This gives you much greater flexibility in your cooking.

Note: The high setting should give you a grilling temperature of at least 500 degrees

* If you are going to be a serious chef then I would suggest only looking at gas grills with multiple burners.

Actually I would highly recommend a grill with at least three heating zones. (Burners) As you will see in our grilling recipes section this gives you greater flexibility in what you can do.

* You might also want to get one with a built in thermometer.

* Make sure that your burners are made of heavy gauge steel. Same with the cooking grate. Heavy duty stainless steel or even porcelain. Again these grills are more expensive to buy but they last a long time. I know this from experience. I have had my current Weber grill for 10 years now I have just replaced my burner for the first time. I have yet to replace the cooking grate.

* I have found that a side table can be very helpful. Some folks prefer a side burner as well, but quite frankly if you decide not spend the extra money on that, it really isn't critical to the overall success of your meal.

Note: Just a small added suggestion. When I use gas grills to cook I always have an extra bottle of propane on hand filled and ready to go. There is nothing worse than running out of gas in the middle of cooking and you have to run out to get more. It can ruin the whole meal.

Of course if your gas barbeque is hooked up to the house's natural gas then you don't have to worry about this at all. This is a different type of gas grill and I have used these in the past as well. It is a great way to go.

Starting your outdoor gas grills

Starting gas grills is not that hard. It is actually easier, cleaner and quicker than charcoal. You just need to follow some basic procedures.

Before you start though always make sure your grill is on a level surface and away from all flammable materials

* First open the lid so you don't get a dangerous build up of gas in the grill.

* Be sure your burners are off.

* Open the valve on the gas bottle.

(Yes the valve should be turned off after each use)

* Now you should open one burner. Which ever one the manufacturer suggests, but generally it will be the one that is in front and close to the bottle.

* Hit the auto ignition if you have one until it lights. If this is broken there should be a small hole in the front of the grill for manual ignition with a long handled match. The same kind you would use to start a fire place.

* If the grill does not light in a minute or so turn the burner off for a short while so you don't have a dangerous build up of gas and then try again.

* Once the initial burner lights, open the valves to the other burners. They should light up in a few moments.

* When all the burners are lit close the lid an let your grill preheat for about 15 to 20 minutes.

* Once preheated clean the cooking grate with a wire brush if you didn't do it after the last meal.

* Adjust the heat to the level you want and you are good to go.

One important note. Always follow the manufacture's suggested instructions for starting your grill.

I hope you have found these tips to be helpful and please let me leave you with two final thoughts.

Gas grills come in many shapes and sizes and they can cost anywhere from $500 to thousands of dollars. What you ultimately buy will depend on your needs and budget, but always remember that you do get what you pay for.

Always follow the manufactures advise for maintenance and clean your grill periodically inside and out. This will greatly add to the life of the grill.

You can click here for some additional grilling tips

Return from gas grills to Backyard Barbeque

Return from gas grills to Grandpas Backyard Fun

SBI!