The weather is getting warmer (finally!) which means it’s time to dust off the barbecue and toss a steak on the grill. Maybe you’ve just taken the step from apartment living into a townhouse or house and it’s time to buy your first barbecue.
It can be a bit confusing when you first start shopping, but the first question you’ll need to answer is whether you want a propane or natural gas grill.
Natural Gas provides the freedom from ever having to fill another propane tank. If your home has natural gas you may already have a barbecue box ready to go. If not, you’ll have to hire a licensed gas contractor to run the pipes from your gas meter to your grill’s location.
Once again, the big pro is the constant supply of gas – no running to the gas station 5 minutes after you have thrown a thick and juicy tenderloin on the grill. In the long run, natural gas will cost less as the fuel is less expensive.
On the con side, it can be fairly expensive for the upfront cost to run the pipes from your meter to your grill. In my case, the meter was about 38 feet from where I wanted to put my grill. It cost nearly $600 for the job, including the cost of the permit. For me the constant supply of gas was worth the cost.
Propane grills are generally a bit cheaper than their natural gas counterparts. However, I would recommend buying yourself an extra tank to keep on standby.
Propane may not be the best option if you’re planning on running a large grill because you can end up going through an enormous amount of propane and making frequent trips to re-fill your tanks. In addition, you’ll always pay for a complete fill whether your propane tank is completely empty or not.
Either way your grill will function the same. Both will heat to an adequate temperature to cook all kinds of tasty dishes to impress your friends and family.
It’s important to remember that your grill will either be set-up for natural gas or propane and is not interchangeable.
Finally, here’s some general advice...
Look for solid, stable construction
Buy a grill with stainless steel or cast iron cooking grates as they sear better and are easier to clean than porcelain enamel
A built-in thermometer can be very useful
A tight fitting lid can be very important for indirect cooking for dishes such as ribs.
Buy good tools, a stainless steel scraper can make cleaning you grill easier (but don’t scrub too hard!)
Pre-heat your grill and then scrape it right before its next use.
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