Is Higher Btu Betterfor Grilling
Higher BTUs are often associated with better performance. However, much of the information youll find can be misleading, giving the impression that grills with higher BTU ratings will be hotter. How well the grill disperses heat for even cooking is not a factor of BTUs. Although BTU rating influences temperature, its far from the only factor that determines how hot your grill will get.
Beware of BTU ratings that are either extremely high or low. Grills with extremely high BTU ratings may be calculated in a deceptive manner or have inferior design and construction. Remember, BTU rating indicates the amount of fuel used per hour. A grill with a high BTU rating will require more fuel than a grill with a lower rating. Grills with BTU ranges that are lower than standard recommendations will likely be slow to preheat and slow to get back up to cooking temperatures after opening the lid to check on your food.
A side burner usually has between 10,000 and 13,000 BTUs. The side burner uses less fuel per hour in comparison to the main or primary burners because it heats a smaller cooking area.
Q: Can I Hook Up Natural Gas To My Propane Grill
You can hook up a natural gas grill to a propane grill, but youll need to purchase a conversion kit to do so. Since natural gas burns cooler than propane, natural gas grill burners have larger holes to allow the grill to reach high enough temperatures for grilling. This design difference means that its dangerous to hook up a propane tank to a natural gas grill.
Rule #6 Heat Distribution
A uniform and effective heat distribution is the secret to juicy and delicious meat. If the heat distribution is not done well and uniformly, we may encounter a problem known that meat on the left side of the grill has not warmed yet, while the meat on the right side of the grill has long been burned
Another problem with grilles that have not been properly designed is that the front third of the grill does not heat. why is it happening? Because the gas is circulated in the tubes, run until the end of the burner and return. When the design is bad to the pressure in the tube is not accurate the gas usually only gets back two thirds of the way, so the front part will not heat!
Here too, as in the burners, there are several methods of doing this in an optimal manner:
1. In the past, lava stones were used to disperse the heat, . The problem with the stones was that each stone would heat on its own, and it would also disperse the heat according to its strength. This would lead to uneven heat, waste of gas and inefficiency and a 30% reduction in output. In Addition, the stones absorb fat, which could lead to an outbreak of flares and unnecessary burning of the meat
2 Cast iron. It is known that iron absorbs heat, stores heat and eventually emits heat. This makes the heat dissipation much more efficient, much faster and most important for us much more uniform. That is to say, if the grate we want to purchase is made of cast iron this is a good sign.
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What Does Btu Meanfor A Gas Grill
In the grilling industry, BTUs are a measurement of how much heat a gas grill generates at its maximum output. Think of BTU as a fuel efficiency rating not how hot your grill will get. Like your cars fuel efficiency or MPG , BTUs measure your grills fuel efficiency or OPB . It can be listed on a per burner basis or as the total number of BTUs for all burners combined. Since the number of BTUs for all burners combined is a bigger, more impressive number, this number is often used to sell grills. Sometimes, the BTU of the side burners may be included for an even bigger number. Look closely at the numbers to be sure you know exactly what the BTU rating represents.
Modifying The Gas Flow To Get Low Temps
Some gas grill owners find it hard to dial the temperature down to 225°F, a temperature which I recommend for a lot of low and slow cooking. So they go looking for solutions. Some want to reduce the amount of gas, a method that can work, but it must be done properly and is potentially dangerous. I do not recommend this technique, but I publish it here just to give the you an idea of what is involved and with the hopes of discouraging a common mistake or two. Remember, fiddling with the gas supply system could create an explosion or fire resulting in death and destruction of your home. I strongly recommend that you use a professional if you wish to modify the factory setup. Your local LP gas company will be glad to help for a fee.
This regulator is specifically matched with your grill, so if something is wrong with it or the hose, dont fiddle with it, just get the numbers off it and buy a new one of the exact same kind. No substitutions. It must match. The regulator is tuned for the pressure of the tank or natural gas supply, the needs of the grill. Experts tell me that the popular adjustable red regulator people buy on the internet is designed for high pressure gas sources and should not be used. If you use a high pressure regulator on a low pressure burner it can blow the seals from the valves and possibly explode. A low pressure regulator on a high pressure burner will produce a flame about the size of a kitchen match.
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Napoleon Prestige 500 Propane Gas Grill *top Pick*
- Rating: 4.9 / 5 stars
- Price: $$$
Besides the fact that this grill has a near perfect customer rating so far, we think this grill offers FANTASTIC bang for your buck, especially if you regularly are cooking for a larger group.
The Napoleon Prestige 500 4-burner grill is quite simply, an excellent propane gas grill. With this grill, Napoleon focused on making a product that does the basics of grilling REALLY well, and then adds on some fancy extras, the infrared side and rear burners.
The Prestige is made of high quality materials, and has a great design thatll make your grilling experience really enjoyable. Some of our favorite features are:
This Napoleon is an excellent, high quality gas grill, designed handle any outside kitchen cooking you want to throw at it, but especially, to grill your food. We think youll be more than satisfied with this grill if youre looking for an mid-level model that fits nicely on a smaller patio.
Bull Outdoor Products Bbq 44001 Angus 75000 Btu Grill With Cart
- Company: Bull Outdoor Products
- Gas Type: Natural Gas or Liquid Propane
- Rating: 4.8 / 5 stars
- Price: $$$$$
This is one of the top high end natural gas grills on the market. You CAN find even bigger, pricier models, but this amazing grill by Bull Outdoor Products is an awesome option for you if youre a serious back patio griller who want some of the fancy extras and a grill that cooks food thatll knock the socks off your guests.
Jumping right to the many features that make this Angus grill one you need to take a look at:
- 16 gauge, 304 stainless steel construction throughout! This is the SERIOUS quality stainless steel the thickest used in the grill industry making it extremely resistant to corrosion and rust.
- The cooking area is an impressive 810 sq inches, with an additional 210 sq inch warming rack you can cook up a huge feast all at once!
- 4 wheels with locking castors to let you move it fairly easily
- Dual-lined single-piece roll-top hood with seamless welded edges
- Fun extras on the hood: a full length stainless steel handle, twin interior lights for better visibility, thermometer
- Piezo igniters on each burner, with the spark area protected against food or grease drips with stainless steel housing
- A rotisserie grill and 15,000 BTU infrared back burner
- Lifetime warranty on the grates and firebox, and 20 year warranty on the 4 cast stainless steel burners!
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Pro Tip: The Btu Rating Should Apply To The Grilling Surface
Its important to make sure that the BTU rating listed on the grill applies to the grilling surface. Some manufacturers try to boost the BTU rating by including the output for side burners, or accessory heating elements.
To find your grilling surface BTUs, follow this formula:
total BTUs for the main burner
__________________________________________________________
the primary cooking area in square inches
While this might bring the total BTU to within the optimal range, 75-100 BTUs, it could lead to under heating of the primary cooking surface that lacks the ability to meet your demands. A quality grill will give you years of trouble-free use, and use the right amount of propane to meet your grilling needs.
What Does Btu Mean
As mentioned earlier, BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. It measures the amount of heat your burners can produce if you fully blast them up.
The numbers are a reflection of what the primary burners can produce. Some manufacturers also go a step further to include the BTU of the side burners and rotisserie. The figures may make you think a grill is powerful, so you should be very careful with it.
Remember, different foods like chicken and turkey require different heat amounts, and thats why BTU is a vital factor in grilling.
If your grills burners offer low BTU, you can expect to take longer than expected to cook than with a grill with a high BTU with the cooking area kept constant.
Overall, BTU is only important after you know your grills cooking area.
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How Many Btus Should A Single Burner Element Have
This can vary by the grill size and type, as well as the type of grill grates it has. As a general rule of thumb, you want each burner element to be rated around 10,000 to 12,000 BTUs. Though for some smaller grills or grills with heat-absorbing grill grates you might still be able to get a sufficient amount of heat from a burner that only produces up to 8,500 BTUs.
On the other end of the spectrum, you might want to be wary of a grill that has burner elements producing over 15,000 BTUs per hour. While it might sound impressive on paper, these overly high BTU ratings are usually a sign that the manufacturer is trying to compensate for engineering flaws in thermal efficiency by pumping up the BTU rating. Then later you find out that all that promised heat is being lost to drafts in the primary cooking chamber or other issues.
About That So Called Thermometer
Even top end manufacturers buy cheapo heat indicators from the lowest bidder. These junky dials have ruined more meals and caused more tummy aches than flies on the potato salad. You absolutely cannot rely on them because they are often off by 50°F or more and the most important thing a good cook needs is a relaible thermometer. Please please please read and heed my Thermometer Buying Guide.
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How Do The Best Gas Grills Work
How many burners do I need?The number of burners on a gas grill determines the amount of food you can grill at a time. A six-burner gas grill is the better choice if you plan on having a lot of large gatherings. However, for the most part, a three or four-burner stove will accommodate your grilling needs on a regular basis.
Are infrared burners a good thing?Most gas grills use convection heating to cook food, which basically exposes food directly to fire. The problem with this type of energy is that it can dry out meats. Infrared burners, on the other hand, are designed to help meats retain their moisture, resulting in a juicier dish. This is because they use radiation heat versus convection heat. Essentially, the fire heats ceramic or metal plates which then transfers heat evenly to the food.
What does BTU mean?BTU stands for British Thermal Units. Its simply a way to measure the energy output of a grill. In theory, the higher the BTU rating, the better — right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. The BTU rating should be relative to the surface size of the grill. This means, that a quality grill should have at least 75 to 100 BTUs per square inch of the grill surface. This doesnt quite apply to infrared burners in the same way, which makes this all the more confusing. Just remember that BTUs arent the end all, be all for gas grilling. There are many other factors to consider.
Can Grate Materials Compensate For A Lower Btu Rating
Grill grates can sometimes improve thermal efficiency for smaller gas grills. Porcelain-coated cast iron grill grates in particular can help improve the thermal performance of a gas grill. When properly preheated the cast iron will hold onto more thermal energy, which will be transferred to the meat. It also helps produce a powerful sear, and visually attractive grill marks. A similar thing can be said for thick gauge stainless steel grill grates of 7 mm or more.
Though thinner grill grates, like 5 mm stainless steel, chrome-plated grill grates, and expanded metal dont hold onto as much thermal energy. They can still make some nice grill marks on the meat, but they just dont have enough thermal mass to make up for a gas burner element with a BTU rating of less than 10,000 BTUs per hour.
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You Need A Sear Burner
I dont care what the BTU rating is, most gas grills cannot properly sear a steak or burger. A proper sear is edge to edge dark brown, no grill marks, no tan in between the grill marks. . To get a proper sear on a steak you need a special burner that puts out extremely high energy. Sometimes they have a single burner that does the job, or a zone for the task. Here is the sear burner on the Napoleon 500, my favorite sear burner. It is on the left shelf so it can be used as a sauce warmer on low. Alas, sear burners usually only show up on more expensive grills.
If your grill doesnt have a sear burner, when the meat is just below your target temperature, toss it in a hot pan or griddle heated on the grill. Hot metal transmits much more heat than hot air. Another option is a $30 charcoal hibachi where the meat can sit right above hot coals.
Higher Isnt Always Better
On the surface, a grill offering a very high BTU output might seem like it will heat up faster and maintain a more consistent cooking temperature. However, the opposite is often true.
Very high BTU output is often a sign of a poorly constructed grill whose design and manufacture is fuel-inefficient. The wasted heat lost through badly fitted parts or thin lids means the grill needs to draw more fuel to heat up.
Since BTUs measure fuel used per hour, these grills can often offer seemingly impressive heat output but, in reality, have disappointingly poor performance.
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How Many Btus Do You Need
In homeware and hardware stores all over the world, BTUs are leveraged by salespeople to upsell. If you ask, What is a good BTU for a gas grill? the common answer insinuates that the bigger the BTU, the better. This is problematic for a few key reasons.
The number of BTUs should be comparable with the size of the cooking surface. If the burners on the grill cant disperse heat effectively to the cooking area, the BTUs on the appliance are being oversold.
Additionally, the higher the number of BTUs a burner has, the faster it burns fuel. After estimating your fuel consumption, If you dont require a high number of BTUs for your usual grilling habits, there is no need to have such a powerful unit.
Grill manufacturers often market their products as having a higher number of BTUs than they actually have. They include the BTU of side-burners in their advertisements, which have no effect on the primary cooking surface.
For general use, the number of BTUs needed for a grill is somewhere between 75 and 100 BTUs per in2 of cooking surface. If a grill has an output lower than 75 BTUs, it may be very slow to cook. If the output is above 100 BTUs, it may char your food without cooking it through.
While a standard BTU output may be suitable for a 5-person family of barbecue enthusiasts, it may not be enough for a commercial kitchen. Measure the size of your desired cooking space, then calculate how much BTUs you need to provide adequate heat output for it.
What Is The Cfm Of Weber 32 36
Enjoy the brand new Weber carburetor! With a progressive secondary throttle, the 32/36 DGV can easily pass through and has excellent drivability during throttle. It can be adjusted to work well with everything from a genuine 1200cc street engine to a modified 2 liter racing engine. Evaluated with 240 CFM flow.
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The 12 Best Gas Grills You Can Buy In 2021
From Weber to Napoleon, we’ve tested gas grills that cost less than $100 up to grills that cost more than a used car.
This definitive guide to the best gas grills of 2021 explores everything you need to know to find a gas grill best suited to your needs, including features to look for, materials, looks and price. Gas grill not for you? Check out our guides to charcoal and pellet grills.
