Natural Gas Grill Advantages
Weber Q1: Best Portable Gas Grill
If youre on the move a lot, youll be grateful for the Weber Q1200 Gas Grill. Its super-compact yet performs like a champ. In fact, we think its the best portable propane barbecue you can buy, both in terms of build quality and overall performance.
Despite being small enough to easily take in your car or RV, this packs in 189 square inches of grill space, a stainless steel burner ring for 8,500 BTU of power, and a lid that does a great job of blocking any wind.;
The result is consistent heat for your food, but Weber has also put usability in mind when coming up with its design; youre even given side tables so you don’t feel cramped while cooking up a storm on the road.;
Realistically, this is also pretty great for a couple or family that want to save space in a small garden; theres enough space for a good meal, and its easy to tuck away in a garage. It’s not the cheapest but does have a decent warranty and is easy to clean too.
What Size Barbecue Should You Buy
- Standard barbecues – If youre catering for a group of four to six people, a two-burner gas or a charcoal barbecue with a grill area of around 40x45cm should suffice. These barbecues are the most common and are usually the cheapest option, but are limiting if you plan on hosting bigger parties.
- Large barbecues – If youre cooking for more people, youll need a three-burner or four-burner gas grill or a larger charcoal barbecue type, such as an oil drum or half barrel, to meet the demands of eight guests or more. These barbecues tend to be more pricey and have high fuel requirements, so you should choose carefully before buying.
- Portable barbecues – If youre keen to pack up your grill and take it camping or to the beach, a portable barbecue can be a handy and versatile solution that lets you take your grilling experience anywhere. A small cooking area comes with the territory, so dont expect to cook for more than three or four people in one go, and prices vary greatly from as little as £25 to more than £350.
How easy barbecues are to manoeuvre is an extra-important factor when we calculate the test score of portable barbecues. Head to ourhow we test barbecues guideto learn more about what makes up our test scores.
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What’s The Difference Between Gas And Charcoal Grills
It seems like most people start out with a charcoal grill, but many eventually make the switch to gas. Both have a lot of pros and cons, though, and which one you get often comes down to your needs and grilling style. Charcoal grills are generally cheaperhence theyre good starter modelsand theyre often more portable.
Thats because charcoal grills are far simpler than gas alternatives; you need a bed for the charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid to help get them started. Gas grills, in contrast, need a fuel source like a tank of propane as well as fuel lines, valves and burners to deliver a carefully-controlled flame to the grilling surface. And most gas grills also include a starter mechanism to light the gas.
Barbecuing Utensils & Extras
Whatever you end up getting just make sure to set some funds aside to purchase any accessories and cleaning tools you might need. Think along the lines of cooking utensils and skillets. But also dont forget to invest into everything youll need to properly maintain your grill this is metal brushes, cleaning sprays, stainless steel waxes, and grill covers.
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The Best Gas Grills: An Expert’s View
Top Ten Reviews acquires as many products as possible for side-by-side testing. During each test on gas grills, we record our personal experience, what we liked and disliked about the gas grill, as well as noting each models strengths and weaknesses. In other words, our conclusions are based on real-life testing.
Our evaluation team included four members with years of experience using and reviewing gas grills. On top of that, we reached out to grilling experts and others who use gas grills regularly, asking what they look for when they buy a new grill.;
Antonio Lexerot, Salt Lake City, is a member of a Utah outdoors club. He has catered their bi-annual summer camp for more than a decade grilling food for dozens of people at a time. He owns several different types of grills, including charcoal, smokers, gas and infrared models.
If youre doing something quick, charcoal is fine, but if you are doing a larger project you need the indirect heat that gas grills provide
Antonio Lexerot
Speaking about gas versus charcoal grills, Lexerot noted that gas grills give you even, long-lasting heat, whereas charcoal grills get hot quickly then peter out over time. His advice: If youre doing something quick, charcoal is fine, but if you are doing a larger project you need the indirect heat gas grills provide.
Barbecue Features To Look Out For
Theres a lot more to barbecuing than just grilling some models can fry, sauté, boil, bake and roast a whole range of food.
Our barbecue reviews list all the handy features each barbecue has, so you can make sure you have everything you need from the grill you buy. They include:
- Hood retains heat and lets you roast, grill and bake your food.
- Warming rack keeps cooked food warm and away from direct heat.
- Adjustable grill height raising or lowering will adjust the heat level of a charcoal barbecue.
- Air vents opening or closing will adjust the heat level in a charcoal barbecue and affect how quickly the coals burn.
- Temperature gauge assists with cooking where precise temperatures are required.
- Griddle gas barbecue feature used to fry, stir fry, sauté and braise food.
- Side burner gas-barbecue feature often used for boiling or heating up sauces.
- Fat drip tray collects fat drips to reduce flare-ups and make cleaning your gas barbecue easier.
- Ash collector collects ash to make cleaning your charcoal barbecue easier.
- Storage shelves keeps other items, such as dishes, bottles and utensils, handy.
- Tool hooks let you swap between tools, such as your tongs and spatula, without letting them touch surfaces between use.
- Lava rocks and vapouriser good gas barbecues will have lava rocks or vapouriser bars to help create that smoky barbecue taste.;
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How Long Do Gas Grills Last For
Though you’re probably making your gas grill investment with this summer in mind, it’s worthwhile to think about how much use you can get out of it for years to come. Given the high temperatures used in grilling, it’s no surprise that wear and tear will have an effect on the quality of your model over time.;
Rather than immediately thinking about replacing your gas grill when it loses its shine, it’s best to consider any repairs that can be done to save it. That might include fixing up its regulator or lighting system, so you can get back to flipping burgers, rather than searching for a whole new grill.
Check out the warranty of each potential gas grill model before you buy too. Even though most grills are said to last around 5-15 years, it’s always best to have a guarantee you can fall back on should anything go wrong.;
Who This Is For
It would be easier to list who our list of the best outdoor grills isnt for. Cooking over an open flame is a human tradition thats as old as our species as we know it. It brings people together, facilitates sharing, and gets conversations going. Or, practiced alone, barbequing can be a rewarding investment in your personal well-being. Whatever the case, it gives us a vital connection to our food.
We selected and tested a wide range of grills for this guide, trying to give everybody a place at the table.;
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How We Picked The Best Gas Grill
We had three firm criteria that our main contenders had to meet:
Finally, we restricted our search to grills that burn propane from refillable tanks, the most common fuel by far, but you should note that most grills can also run on natural gasthough converting to natural gas isnt cheap or simple.1
We didnt fret much over two other factors that grill-makers spend a lot of time talking about: total Btu count and the grates material. First, the total Btu count on three-burner grills tends to vary between 30,000 and 40,000, and the industry is making a strong push toward more is better. But our research and reporting convinced us that at least as important as the total output was whether those Btus were applied efficiently, steadily, and evenly across the grates. We decided to reserve judgment until our tests.
We knew we would be looking at intangibles, too, such as how well the grills were packed, if the instructions were clear, and if assembly was reasonably straightforward. And, of course, we would consider the biggest intangible of all: the grills ability to perform in our tests.
But those judgments would have to wait until we got our hands on the contenders. So after weeks of research, reporting, and discussion, we settled on four gas grills to test in our main $400 to $700 category, and two grills around the $200 mark to test as budget options.
Kamado Grills: Factors To Consider
AirflowJust like regular charcoal grills, kamado grills rely on airflow to regulate heat. More air moving over the coals lets a fire burn hotter, while limiting the flow keeps coals just lit, for low-and-slow cooking. Look for a model with a tight-fitting lid and solid dampers or vents. Many kamado grills have a gasket on the lid, and even locking latches, to create the tightest seal possible. Some kamado grills also have multiple dampers, which makes it easier to fine-tune the temperature youre shooting for.MaterialWe divide kamado grills into two categories: ceramic and nonceramic. Ceramic grills tend to be heavier, with inch-thick walls all the way around. Nonceramic models are made of metal. They tend to weigh less and to be more maneuverable.;
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Types Of Bbqs And Grills
There are many options to consider when choosing the perfect BBQ. Gas or charcoal? Propane or wood? How about a Kamado? What is a BTU? Well help you choose the best grill for your space and help you understand the differences between each, including their features and benefits, so you can make an informed decision before buying.
Q: What Type Of Gas Should I Use
A: Hank Hill answers: Only clean-burning, economic propane should be utilized for grilling procedures. Ysee, if you equip your gas grill with an inspected propane tank, filled and certified by a professional, you can grill safely and taste the meat not the heat.
Thats compelling advice from a barbeque legend, one of the most consistent and best BBQ cookers out there. But you can choose to ignore it and connect your gas grill to your houses natural gas line . There are those who say natural gas burns even cleaner than propane . But it does not burn as hot.
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Royal Gourmet Cd1824e 23
Best barrel charcoal grill
Reasons to avoid
If you want to do more than sling hot dogs and burgers on your charcoal grill, the Royal Gourmet is ideal. It has a crank that lets you raise and lower the charcoal pan to help control the heat. When you want to quickly grill brats, move the coals right below them. To slowly smoke a side of salmon without flare-ups, lower them.;
Theres even a door underneath the grates that makes it easy to keep adding charcoal as the hungry crowd thickens. Plus youll find you need a lot of charcoal to keep the Royal Gourmet burning, so make sure you stock up before the party starts.;
Unlike on a kettle-style grill, this model has side tables to hold your tongs and trays and platters. Youll also find a thermometer in the lid to give you a rough idea as to how hot it is under the grill, a warming rack thats helpful for heating buns, and an easy to remove ash tray. Below the grill theres a bottom shelf to keep extra charcoal or a roll of paper towels. ;
How Do You Use A Smoker Box On A Gas Grill
If your grill has a smoker box, you can cook delicious, flavorful food quite easily. Start by soaking wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes, which will prevent them from catching on fire. Pre-heat your grill for 10 to 15 minutes, then place the wood chips into the smoker box using tongs. Close the lid of the box, as well as the grill’s lid, and wait for it to start producing smoke. From here, you can lower the grill temperature and arrange your food on the grates over the unlit burners.
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Camp Chef Pg20ct Woodwind Wifi 20 Pellet Grill Black The Best Pellet Grills For Small Families
Camp Chef already won the hearts of many with its best pellet grills and has done it again with its woodwind series. Similarly, this model is a product from that list too. After carefully analyzing and thinking, Camp chef has brought this model to us which is a perfect choice for small families.
This compact machine is easy to fit in any kitchen as it occupies less space. Therefore, storing it in your cabins or using it on your small balconies will be no problem at all. Despite its small body, it cooks up some really delicious meals with ease. Given that, its 25000 BTU heat supply easily ranges the temperature from 160°F up to 500°F. Resultantly, you can either slowly smoke your beef pieces or grill your veggies at high heat levels.
In addition, the innovative WIFI PID controller feature adjusts the cooking temperature automatically. So, the inside heat is maintained and the quality isnt ruined. Thus, with the Camp chef app on your phone, you can easily control your machine without any stress. Not to mention, just like the other best pellet grills it offers an easy clean up too.
PROS
- May not have large cooking space.
Apparently, this model is a uniquely compact machine among the Camp chefs best pellet grills. Surprisingly, its new and amazing wifi controlling feature makes cooking easier and more fun. Also, the small body is very easy to store too.
I Threw Out A Napoleon
On a personal note, I just threw out a propane powered Napoleon grill, that was brand new about 22 years ago. The original burner finally died. It was not a cheap machine 22 years ago , but it was worth every cent; because it required very little basic maintenance, and no replacement parts were ever required, in 22 years! Can you imagine!!!??
All grills require a little bit of upkeep, so remember to keep them clean and cover them after every use.
Regardless of your choice, you can rest assured that a properly maintained propane grill will not only last you a long time, but also be much more convenient than the other grilling alternatives. Get those shish kabobs, relish, and buns ready, because an excellent grilling experience is just around the corner!
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Best Gas Grills Of 2021 According To Experts
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Summer is barbecue season, and now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said fully vaccinated individuals and, depending on the situation, some unvaccinated individuals dont have to wear masks outdoors, family and friends are looking forward to gathering in person. This means the focus is on grills yet again, similar to the steady and regular increase in interest we saw last summer around grilling accessories.
If you plan on spending quality time grilling this summer, it might be the right time to consider upgrading your wares or investing in a new model. From charcoal to wood and pellet grills, it can be daunting to know which direction to go. But gas grills are fairly common and could be an option for your outdoor space. Its estimated that 62 percent of grill owners have a grill thats fueled by gas, said Matt Moore, author of last years Serial Griller.
