How Do I Use My Gas Grill As A Smoker
While gas grills are wonderful, there are a couple considerations to think about when choosing to smoke meats and vegetables with them. First, a gas grill will have many gaps around where the lid meets the grill, allowing excess smoke and heat to dissipate away from the barbecue. When smoking on the grill, the key is to be able to regulate the same temperature over the course of a long period. That being said, you will also want to make sure you have a steady source of gas for the long grill times.
You wont want to expose your meat to direct flames, so using an indirect cooking method is ideal. This means you will want to turn the gas burners off for one zone on your barbecue, where the meat will cook, and adjust the temperature of the grill using the other zone of the barbecue.
Place a pan with water in your grill between the zone where the open flames are and the cooking zone. The water is not to moisten the meat being smoked but to help absorb and regulate the heat to maintain a consistent temperature.
Do not rely on the built-in thermometer. The built-in thermometer will read the temperatures closest to the lid and tend to be unstable in their reading. For the best readings, invest in a digital thermometer.
Can I Hook Up Natural Gas To My Propane Grill
Short answer: Usually, but not before a few modifications. It is recommended that, unless youre an expert yourself, you do not attempt this conversion without a licensed gas technician to ensure your safety. Barbecues Galore can help you with the conversion. Contact us today to set up an appointment to get your gas grill natural gas ready.
Best Gas Grills To Get Cooking With In 2021
The age-old debate of gas versus charcoal grills presses on even today. As technology has made both machines better over the years, there doesnt seem to be an end in sight. And in recent years, pellet grills have entered into the mix to make backyard grilling disputes even more tenuous.
The fact of the matter is, there should be no shame in your grilling game, no matter what heat source you prefer. If youre a gas man through and through, youve come to the right place.
We dont have to tell you that gas is quicker, offers better temperature control, burns cleaner, and is more environmentally friendly. But, gas doesnt mean just propane. If you have natural gas access in your deck or patio, we found some great options. Theres a staggering amount of gas grill brands out there to choose from, which can make deciding on the best one to buy tough. Thats why weve round up the best gas grills to buy in 2021.
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Enjoy A Beautiful New Grill
Enjoy family barbecues again with the help of a great grill! Energy Gases provides quality grills from top brands such as Twin Eagles, Weber, and King Kooker. In addition, you shouldn’t start your grill without the help of all the right accessories. Find these and more at Energy Gases. Start grilling today.
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What Type Of Gas Should I Use With A Gas Grill
When buying a gas grill, you have a choice as to what gas will fuel your barbecue. You can use a portable propane tank, or attach it to a natural gas line. Some barbecues can even be converted from propane to natural gas. Just contact Barbecues Galore to discuss gas options .
There are a few advantages that natural gas has over propane. First, it has lower ongoing costs. Natural gas can be as low as a third the cost of propane. It also is more energy efficient, although both propane and natural gas burn quite cleanly. The convenience of natural gas is another advantage. Because you can hook your barbecue right into the main natural gas line, you never have to go to the gas station and fill up a tank.
Propane also has its advantages over natural gas. Propane burns hotter than natural gas, so you may not get quite the same sear on a natural gas-fueled grill. For this reason, some barbecue purists say propane is the true grilling experience. If you have a propane barbecue you also have the opportunity to bring it to a remote location, like a cottage, because of the portable tank. With a propane barbecue, you also dont have the up-front cost and hassle of connecting it to the natural gas main line.
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Why Won’t My Gas Grill Get Hot Enough
If your grill wont get hot enough it could be because the grill thinks it has a gas leak due to a safety feature located in the gas regulator that detects gas leaks. The regulator safety feature drops the gas pressure to 10% resulting in a lower flame size.
Sometimes the safety feature can show a false positive resulting in a low flame but no leak. To reset the value:
- Open the lid to your grill and make sure all the knobs on the grill are in the off position.
- Turn the gas on from the tank or gas line first and give it a moment to build gas pressure up in the line. The pressure will build and push the safety feature in the valve back in place.
- After waiting, turn your grill on as normal and use the built-in igniter to light the flame.
- Once the flame ignites, turn the rest of your burners on to high and close the lid. Give your grill about 10 minutes to approach 500° to 550°.
If your grill reaches these temperatures, then the issue has been fixed and youre in the clear to get back to grilling.
Advantages Of Propane Tank Exchange
If you exchange a tank rather than refilling, the process is fast and convenient. It is easier to find an exchange location that is open at odd hours, during nights, or weekends. There are usually far more exchange locations than refill stations. Many are at convenience stores, gas stations, chain stores like Wal-Mart and Home Depot, and grocery stores. In addition, there are services such as Forklift Propane Exchange and Propane Taxi that will deliver exchange tanks to your home or business.
With an exchange, you are assured that the tank is inspected, cleaned, leak-tested, and has up-to-date safety information and instructions printed on the tank. The tank will also have been requalified on its designated schedule. If you receive a tank in exchange that has a leak or problem, you should be able to take up the issue with the vendor.
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How Important Is Btu In Barbecuing
One thing you need to be aware of is that bigger doesnt always mean better. The higher the BTU is, the more gas you grill will use. If you buy a grill that has one giant burner or multiple burners that cant be individually controlled, it will use up gas ridiculously fast, and theres absolutely nothing you can do about it.
Unless youre buying a gas grill for a commercial kitchen that needs high-level BTUs to cook for hundreds of people every day, home-use grills dont require that level of cooking power.
Buy a grill that has just the right number of BTUs you need to get the job done. Additionally, todays grills are more energy-efficient than older models. A high BTU rating is great and all, but not necessary if all you intend to use your grill for is barbecuing meat for your family of five.
Cleaning And Caring For Your Grill
Its not uncommon for portable gas grills to have removable parts, but the best ones dont require much work to scrub clean. Usually, a simple wipe down with a damp cloth will do just fine. Wash the grate well after every use because its been exposed to heat and oil. Also, check out any other removable pieces like plates or wheels to ensure nothing has fallen between them and gotten stuck during the last cookout. If so, clean that area well before using it again.
Models with heavy-duty casters are easier to move around than cheap models with thin plastic wheels. Look for features such as 360-degree swivel points, which allow you more maneuverability when turning corners in tight spots.
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What Is A Gas Regulator For A Bbq
A gas regulator is a small device which connects your gas bottle, via a hose, to your BBQ.
BBQs are generally not supplied with a gas regulator. This is because there are a huge range of different gas bottles on the market, so it would be impossible for BBQ manufacturers to include every type of regulator with their appliances.
Best Gas Grills Of 2021
From backyard burgers to top-notch tailgates, these gas grills can deliver seriously delicious food.
Fall is inching closer, but grilling season is still on — especially with football tailgating just around the corner. If you’re looking for the best grill for cooking outside, there are plenty to choose from. You could get a charcoal grill, electric grill, kamado grill, pellet grill, portable grill or tabletop grill, but most grilling enthusiasts opt for gas grills, which are a great choice if you’re looking to replace an old charcoal or electric grill.
Gas grills are also perfect for grilling newbies because they’re easy to use, heat up quickly and are roomy enough to feed the whole family . And many come equipped with nifty features like a temperature gauge, rotisserie burner, sear burner, different cooking grids and a stainless steel grill grate.
To help you find the best gas grill, we put a bunch of the best-selling models through their paces by cooking up burgers, whole chickens, ribs and more. This list is updated periodically.
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How Much Gas Do I Need For My Bbq
It can be difficult to know how much gas you need for your BBQ. You certainly dont want to be running out half way through cooking for friends and family
How much gas you will need depends on how many burners your BBQ has. If you have an average sized BBQ with between one to three burners, then a 5kg patio gas bottle will be fine.
If, however, youve got a larger BBQ with four or more burners, its recommended that you should buy at least a 13kg bottle. Larger gas BBQs can be quite hungry, especially if youre using them regularly, so it can make sense to have at least one bottle in reserve as well as the one connected to the BBQ.
What Are Some Important Safety Precautions When Using A Portable Gas Grill
Some models come with automatic shutoff features that stop the flow of propane if they sense any malfunctions or issues while its running. This feature isnt really necessary unless youre cooking in cold conditions where moisture can form on metal parts and cause them not to function properly. Make sure all the parts are dry before turning on your unit, including any knobs and dials.
Also, be sure to keep the propane tank at least 20 feet away from your portable gas grill so it doesnt explode if something goes wrong. Keep these appliances clean and free of grease and dirt at all times since they can catch fire very quickly if left unattended. Always wear protective gear such as long pants, a shirt with long sleeves, closed-toe shoes, and safety goggles to protect your skin and eyes.
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Why Does Charcoal Cooked Meat Taste So Good
This might come as a surprise, but most of the difference you taste between gas and charcoal-grilled meats isnt the flavor of the charcoal: it has to do with how charcoal cooks the meat compared to gas grills.
Contrary to what you may have heard, charcoal should not create much smoke. Instead, the smoky aromas come from meat and marinade drippings that hit the coals and turn into smoke and steam. The chemicals created by the drippings exposed to the hot coals cling to the meat and infuse it with intense smokey flavor.
Gas grills do the same thing when drippings hit the metal flame covers or vaporizer plates, but its not as efficient. This flavor isnt nearly as strong as the compounds that the hot coals create on the surface of the meat.
What about the char? Charcoal grills can cook at a much higher temperature some can reach over 700°F , while gas grills typically max out around 500°F . High heat puts a great sear on your steak, crisps up your chicken, and locks in flavor.
Note: A significant downside of this high-heat char is that it creates two chemicals called HCA and PAH, which The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has said may cause cancer in humans.
What Type Of Gas Do I Need For My Bbq
Gas BBQs use a type of gas known as liquefied petroleum gas .
There are two different types of LPG butane and propane. You can instantly tell these two types of gas apart as butane gas is stored in blue cylinders while propane gas is stored in red cylinders. Although propane gas is sometimes sold in small green bottles under the name patio gas.
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Season Your Gas Grill
The most overlooked way to add flavor to your gas grill is smoke seasoning. Using a pellet smoke tray or a metal smoker box is our favorite way to season a gas grill and give a smoky flavor to everything you cook. If you purchase an A-MAZE-N pellet smoke tray, it comes preloaded with pellets to perform one complete burn.
To season your gas grill,
- Remove the grates and set them aside.
- Light your pellet smoke tray with a camping lighter or a kitchen torch.
- Place the pellet smoke tray as low in your gas grill as possible and close to the oil drain to provide airflow.
- Close the lid and insert a long piece of foil in the air vent that is located in the back of most gas grills.
- Allow to smoke until the tray is totally done burning, around eight hours or more.
As the pellet tray burns, smoke should seep out of the edges and rotisserie holes of the lid. When you are done, remove the tray, clean any ashes that have landed in the bottom of your grill, and reinstall the cooking grates.
Another option is to make a charcoal snake on a charcoal grill grate or a cast-iron pan and burn that low and slow. Adding a few wood chips or chunks can add flavor but dont add too much wood because it can flare up and leave a burnt taste in your gas grill.
Best Luxury Gas Grill: Alfresco Alxe 42
If money were no object, this 42-inch grill from Alfresco would be at the top of our list. This grill has too many amazing features to list, but here are some of our favorites. First, the unique pyramid-shaped ceramic briquette grid rests over the burners to eliminate hot spots and maximize flavor as they evenly deliver heat to the cooking surface. The rotisserie system has an 18,500 BTU rear ceramic infrared burner with a chain-driven spit that supplies a whopping 120 pounds of turning torque. The grill has a combined cooking power of 82,500 BTUs and an inferred sear box thats perfect for restaurant-quality steaks or reverse searing. The 5,000 BTU dedicated smoke box lets you infuse your meats with smoke or flavored steam. Finally, the under-the-hood halogen lights and air-cool, LED-lit control panel make it easy to grill into the wee hours of the morning.
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What To Know About Gas Grills
Almost as easy to light as your indoor range, gas grills are super convenient to use, making them great for after work grilling, even in the winter months. They only take about 10 minutes to preheat and you control the heat with the turn of a knob to produce a steak thats crusty on the outside and rare on the inside or chicken quarters burnished to a golden brown yet thoroughly cooked. Gas grill maintenance is minimal. After cooking, the grates need a quick once-over with a brush and the drip pan has to be emptied.
The one thing you do have to do is make sure you have a tank of liquid propane gas hooked up to the grill and check it after cooking so if the gas is running low, you can replace it before your next cookout. If your kitchen range is fueled by a propane tank in your backyard, you can have your grill connected to it, to give you a constant supply of gas. Another option to consider is a model that can that can access the natural gas line to your home.
What Is A Good Btu For A Gas Grill
To get a better idea of what a good BTU is when choosing a gas grill, you need to divide the total BTU of the primary burners by the total cooking area in square-footage in inches. Heres an example to better understand this.
If you come across a gas grill that has four primary burners with a total of 40,000 BTUs and a primary cooking area that measures 450 square feet, to get the total BTU per square inch simply calculate:
40,000 BTU ÷ 450 square inches = 88.89 BTUs per square inch
This is an excellent rating and shows that your gas grill has the potential to be a real force to be reckoned with. The rule of thumb when choosing a gas grill based on the BTU rating is that the above calculation should not yield a figure that’s below 80 BTUs. Anything between 80 and 100 BTUs per square inch is good enough.
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