How to Bake Using a Propane Grill

Think outside the usual grilling foods for your next picnic.

With a propane grill, you don't need to confine yourself to meats and kabobs. Impress the neighbors with fresh rolls to go with the burgers, or serve a homemade cake at a birthday picnic. A little planning makes it possible to bake casseroles, desserts and even bread in the great outdoors. In the heat of the summer, using your propane grill to bake allows you to avoid heating up your house by turning on the oven. If you're vacationing by RV, baking on the grill can lead to greater variety in your menu.

Things You'll Need

• Propane grill with lid
• Large cookie sheet
• Extra baking dish
• Wire rack
• Food to be baked
• Kitchen thermometer

Instructions

1. Put a cookie sheet on top of your propane grill's grilling surface. Put a baking dish in the center of the cookie sheet and a wire rack on top of the baking dish. This will elevate the food from the heat source so that it will be baked rather than grilled.

2. Set your grill to the desired temperature and let it preheat for 10 minutes with the lid down. Place the food item you are baking on the cookie sheet and quickly close the lid. The lid holds the heat in and makes the grill more like an oven, so avoid opening the lid during baking.

3. Bake for the time indicated on the recipe you are following. Food often bakes more quickly on a grill than in an oven, so check it a few minutes earlier than you normally would. Use a thermometer to keep a close eye on the temperature if you're baking something requiring more precision, such as bread.

4. Remove the dish you are baking, let it cool and dig in.

Tips & Warnings

• Bake your hamburger buns first so they can cool while the burgers cook.

• Bake several foods at once to optimize your use of the grill, but make sure they all require the same temperature.

• If your food is getting burned on the bottom, try raising it up further away from the heat source.

• Always use caution and the appropriate tools when working around a hot grill.

• Keep the lid up when lighting the grill, lowering the lid only when all the burners are on.

References

• Campfire Cafe: Gas Grill Tips
• Prepared Pantry: How to Bake Bread on Your Grill
• Propane 101: Propane Gas Grills