The act of Barbequing or Grilling has been around as long as humans. Cavemen quickly realized that food tasted good after it was cooked over an open fire. Barbequing has become a standard American tradition for families. The reasons as clear as to why, not only does the food that comes from barbequing have a taste that is unmatched by other cooking methods, but it also gives a family a reason to gather outdoors. Today, over 90% of families in the united states hold or attend barbeque at least once a year. About 70% of all of the barbeques are held on a gas grill.
Gas grills work by a spark igniting the gas within the grill. Gas grills typically have a knob or button in which you push, which in turn activates a small hammer. The hammer hits the top of an ignition crystal. Then the burner mixes the gas with oxygen and spreads it all over the cooking surface. This makes the gas grill one of the easiest, and fastest grills to use.
Gas grills come in all shapes and sizes, which makes then ideal for just about any type of barbequing party. Smaller gas grills give you the portability needed to plan barbeque parties away from home. Larger gas grills are handy and efficient for cooking larger amounts of food quickly, and without the mess of other types of grills.
So after deciding that you indeed are in the market for a barbeque grill, there are several factors that you must consider when you purchase your first gas grill.
Weight
Gas grills literally come in all shapes and sizes. The type of grill you get should really depend on what you plan on using the grill for. If you foresee camping trips, barbeques at the beach, or tailgate parties, you may want to consider getting a smaller gas grill. Smaller gas grills can range from anywhere from 10 to 40 pounds. Portable gas containers are also available for these types of grills.
If your plans are move focused on home cooking, then larger grills should suit you fine.
Cooking Surfaces
Gas grills, unlike some of the other grills types, have the ability to come with many different types of cooking surfaces. These different cooking surfaces include a BBQ surface, a flat grill, and a ribbed grill. Some grills even offer these types of surfaces as none stick, which allow you to cook a whole array of foods that you would not be able to cook on a grill otherwise. You will be able to cook your whole meal, including side dishes if you plan correctly.
Some gas grills even contain a Wok type surface for cooking pasta and rise dishes, or a full rotisserie set that allows you to cook rotisserie chicken.
Surface Area
Similar to weight, you should consider the amount of cooking surface area you will need, depending on the situations you will be in. If you will only be cooking for yourself or you and one other, you will want a gas grill with a smaller surface area, as it will be easier to clean. If you plan on holding parties or cooking for a larger family, then you will want to consider a gas grill with a larger surface area.
This surface area may also include different types of cooking surfaces. Look for the type that suits you best, or is interchangeable.
Cost
Gas grills are typically on the higher end of the cost scale, as they require more mechanical parts then other grills. You can expect to spend anywhere from $50 for a smaller grill up to $400+ for a large stationary grill.
You also have to remember that you must also purchase the gas for your grill. Propane can be purchased at your local grocery store, superstore, or from a dealer. Bottoms come in all sizes, including miniature versions for portable gas grills.
As most barbeque lovers know there is an ongoing debate over which the best type of grill to own is; a charcoal grill or a barbeque gas grill. For many people nothing beats the smoky flavor of their favorite foods cooked over hot coals. And while it can be hard to dispute the charm and additional flavor of cooking over charcoal, there are some good reasons why using a gas grill is a better choice.
There are people who like to barbeque all year round, even in the dead of winter. For those who are located more southerly this may not present as much of a problem because it remains relatively warm. But there are people farther north who think nothing of digging their grill out of the snow and firing it up on the coldest of days. This is where the gas barbeque grill comes in handy. No messing around with messy charcoal bags and waiting for the coals to get ready. With the automatic igniters on most gas grills these hardy souls can be grilling in no time.
One of the big draw backs of a charcoal grill are they can be messy to operate and maintain. If you use your charcoal barbeque grill a lot you know that the ash builds up and getting rid of those ashes is a messy hassle. Those ashes can also present a fire hazard, particularly if left on a wood deck in an ash bucket. There is also the potential fire hazard that comes with using charcoal and the lighter fluid needed to get the coals going.
There is no grill out there that can beat the ease and manageability of a barbeque gas grill. They can be used anytime of the year and the worry of lighting the charcoal and waiting for the coals to get ready is a thing of the past. And while a gas barbeque grill does need maintenance there is not the messy ash to deal with. No more scooping the ashes out of the bottom of the barbeque and trying to find a place to dump them.
Probably the greatest asset of the barbeque gas grill is how quickly you can fire it up and be ready to grill. If you have propane in the tank enjoying some tasty barbeque is just the push of the igniter away. If you have natural gas service to your house you can even hook your grill up to that and never have to worry about running out of propane or charcoal again. You can convert a propane grill to natural gas with a conversion kit you can buy at any home improvement store.
Although some people will disagree there is not much difference between the food cooked on a charcoal grill and on a barbeque gas grill. It my take a little getting used to the way a gas grill barbeques your food, but the ease of use will get you cooking your favorite barbeque recipes in no time.
Both John Salmon & Andrew Bicknell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
John Salmon has sinced written about articles on various topics from Soccer, Football and Auto Insurance. Find tips about and. John Salmon's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
Andrew Bicknell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mortgage Insurance, Dieting and Medical Condition. Andrew Bicknell is a barbeque aficionado with a website about barbequing. For more information about visit his web site. Andrew Bicknell's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.