Cooking foods with a gas grill has exploded in popularity over the years. 60%-80% of all grilling is done over a gas grill. This is due in part because there are so many advantages in cooking with a gas grill over using a charcoal grill. Let's take a closer look at why the gas grill is so popular with the backyard chef.

1. Gas grills are very convenient to use. Most all of them use propane to heat with and they are very simple to start. It's as easy as turning on the propane and pushing the starter button on the grill. This is probably the single biggest convenience of all in cooking with a gas grill.

With charcoal grilling you have to dump in a bag of charcoal, pour lighter fluid all over it and then light them. You will need to constantly check to see if they are burning and it will take 20-30 minutes before the grill is even ready to begin cooking.

2. Gas grills have built in thermometers to assist you in cooking your foods properly. You will know exactly how hot your flame is. Most all charcoal grills lack this important feature.

3. With a gas grill you can cook several different types of food at various temperatures, all at the same time. This is because most every gas grill has separate burner controls so one side of the grill can be hotter than the other side. That makes cooking meats and vegetables so convenient. Some gas grills even have a pot warmer that you can use to heat foods in a pan, such as baked beans, or soup.

4. Another huge advantage of cooking with a gas grill is the weather. You can literally cook with a gas grill year round, even in cold weather climates with snow outside.

5. Gas grills are also much easier to clean than charcoal grills. There are no messy charcoal ashes to dispose of. A gas grill will cool off much faster than charcoal. It will allow you to be able to clean after you are finished eating your meal. You can simply remove a grill section after cooking and scrub it down. It's very quick and easy, with very little mess.

6. One big safety point to keep in mind is that propane is highly flammable. You must follow all the safety instructions when handling propane tanks. Be sure to always inspect the fuel lines and look for any cracks, or leaks. A cracked line or leak could possibly lead to a fire, or even an explosion.

Gas grills are very safe to use as long as you use common sense and follow the precautions. If you see any potential problems, check them out and get them fixed. Be sure to only use propane tanks that are approved for grilling use. Never try to use a homemade tank.

Barbecuing with a gas grill is fun and easy. It's so convenient and the foods that are cooked on a gas grill taste great! It's no wonder they are so popular with homeowners everywhere.