How to Select a Gas Barbecue Grill
According to the Propane Education and Research Council, some 60% of Americans own a barbecue grill and gas grills are the most popular of all grill options. The primary advantage of a gas grill is the ability to control cooking temperature more reliably than with other types of barbecue grills. For example, most gas grills have a rack that allows grillmasters to set items that need to cook at a lower temperature away from the direct heat of the grill. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Select a grill with a btu between 12,000 to 15,000. Higher btus burn more fuel and may run too hot. The size of the grill should also be factored into which grill is purchased. Larger cooking areas need more btus to efficiently cook food. The rule of thumb is 100 btus per 1 inch of cooking space.
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Choose a gas grill with rod burners made of steel or enameled iron for the best durability. Don't buy grills with flat bar or H shaped burners as these must be replaced frequently.
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Look for a 10 year warranty on grill burners and be sure to save purchase receipts to facilitate any warranty claims. According to Consumer Reports grill, burners are repaired more often than any other grill component, but a good warranty usually means that the burners are made to last.
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Look for gas barbecue grills with welded joints as opposed to those held together with nuts and bolts. Welded joints are more durable.
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Check the lid handle to be sure your knuckles won't hit the lid and be burned while grilling.
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Make sure the grease pan is at least an inch deep to prevent overflow.
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Purchase a gas barbecue grill that is easy to move (take the display model for a test drive). Also consider the size of the grill vs. the available storage space at home.
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Don't pay extra for bells and whistles you won't use or that won't weather well. Side burners tend to fail with age and, unless you are religious about using a grill cover or have a sheltered patio, birds are going to poop all over any counter space.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Timegoodwin
