Got a new propane grill? Start with the guide. From setup to grilling techniques and cleaning to the best accessories, learn how to use a gas grill today.
The best gas grills offer users a quick and easy way to get involved with backyard grilling and are powerful enough to produce exceptional heat. Follow these best practices to ensure you get the most out of your barbecue.
Best Gas Grills in The Market
How to connect the grill to a propane cylinder
First things first: You will need a gas grill connection and a propane gas tank. Be sure to follow all necessary safety tips. Handling gas can be tricky, so YOU should make sure you have everything in place before making the necessary connections.
If replacing a propane tank that you have previously used, tighten the valve on the tank and make sure it is securely closed before unscrewing the hose. Then remove the empty tank. The next step will be to remove the gasket from the new tank. Remember that tanks can vary and therefore you must follow these specific instructions.
Next, you need to connect the grill’s gas hose to the propane tank. Be sure to securely attach the hose to the tank, then hand-tighten the knob. You can now open the propane valve and you open it. This is especially useful when replacing a tank that isn’t working. Let’s say it’s a new tank. The process differs only in that YOU connect a new hose without disconnecting an already connected one.
So light the grill
Before lighting the grill, YOU & make sure you have already turned on your fuel and in the case of a gas grill this would ensure the gas is turned on and all safety precautions have been taken. Make sure the gas is flowing through the tubes so you can activate for a few seconds. Then be sure to open the lid of the gas grill.
Then light the burners by turning the knob to the “on” position and press the auto-ignition button. If that doesn’t work you can find a place to run your light bar, usually on the side of the grill. Turn the gas knob to the highest setting and then light the lighter. The flame is ignited by the released gas.
It is important to preheat the grill and ensure the grill is nicely toasted before grilling. Preheating the grill helps prevent food from sticking to the grill and helps prevent unsightly grill marks on food that form on the grates as it heats. It is recommended to preheat the grill on the highest setting for about 10 to 15 minutes.
How to adjust grill burners
Grill burners don’t always burn at the right heat and in some cases YOU may need to adjust. The first thing we’re going to do is find the air that connects to the burner. It should allow for an air setting that will allow it to mix air and gas. On the barrel type, this adjuster is located at the end of the barrel. For the triangular ones, adjust the adjuster by moving the plate slightly after loosening the screw. Then loosen the screw on the air damper near the burner.
Open the clasp by turning it counterclockwise. As you die, add air. This will fan the flames and make them burn higher, adjusting the heat. By closing the air intake, you reduce the flame and heat generated by the burners. For the triangular type, loosen the screw slightly, just enough to allow the plate to move, but not enough of the screw. Changing this plate breaks or lowers the air and thus adjusts the heat of the burner.
Security
When it comes to petrol, safety should always come first. It can be volatile and dangerous if not treated regularly. SEE the owner’s manual that came with your grill or look it up online. Most manufacturers have an online manual. This will help you know how to connect the grill and how to keep it secure.
While you’re not trying to have accidents or start a non-boiling fire, these things happen. Make sure you always have a working fire extinguisher near the grill when grilling. So you can quickly extinguish any fire.
Make sure you set up your grill in a safe place. Open spaces are ideal. You can also place the grill in a location approximately 10 feet(3 m) from buildings, vegetation, or potential fire hazards. If the grill catches fire whenever you prevent anything from starting the fire spread.
Also, be sure to do your best to avoid flaring up on the grill. You can die by making sure you keep your grill clean. Excess dripping of fat can be one of the main causes of grilled food. Also, take the time to ensure your food doesn’t have excess marinade or fat that could drip onto the grill and cause problems.
Cleaning
While cleaning your grill might seem like a chore, you don’t have to work too hard to clean it if you do it often enough. When dirt accumulates, it can be more than just unsightly. It can also be dangerous as it can cause breakouts. If possible, clean the grill, lid and grates after each cooking session. This prevents accumulation.
To clean the grill, light it to loosen stuck grease and juices. In high temperatures, turn it on with the lid closed. Be sure to wait about 30 minutes to allow food stuck on the grill to loosen enough for easier cleaning. Use a strong wire brush to clean the grill. Soak in warm, soapy water and scrub the grill. Then turn off the grill and let it cool down.
The other would be to remove the grille and any other detachable parts and wash them off in warm, soapy water. Then vacuum the cooking cavity to pick up loose parts.
Learn to use indirect heat
Sometimes it is necessary to cook food with indirect heat. This means the heat is close but no direct flames are hitting the food. Instead, the food is cooked using convection heating. It’s a great way to cook food at two different temperatures. Indirect cooking helps you control the cooking temperature.
When you cook food over direct heat, there is a high chance that it will become tough and burn. This happens when the protein in the meat shrinks, squeezing out all the juices quickly. This happens when YOU keep the meat on direct heat. Indirect heat is particularly useful when grilling. Putting the meat on indirect heat allows YOU to cook it low and slow and also maximizes the flavor.
If YOU are cooking foods with too much marinade or sugar, or if you think they might burn before the inside is cooked, consider using indirect heat, also known as two-zone cooking.
Accessories
Smoker box for gas grill
An additional smoker box is a great way to give you the best of both worlds. You can have a grill and a smoker in one. This way you don’t have to mount a smoker box on the grill grates. Add smoker boxes so you can remodel your regular grill.
Pizza stones
This will help you cook pizza better on a gas grill. This will help you bake a better tasting pizza more evenly. With this plugin YOU improve the skills of your cook. With a gas grill pizza stone & you’re not looking for an oven to bake your pizza. It also gives it a unique flavor that baked pizza lacks.
Cast iron pans
A cast iron skillet will help you cook more evenly. This can be a problem, especially with gas grills. Cast iron calculates heat and cooks food more evenly in the pan. That’s why it’s a great accessory for gas grills. It also gives you more control over the temperature so you can cook differently.
Propane fuel gauge
Running out of gas while cooking is one of those inconveniences you don’t want. To avoid surprises, get a propane fuel gauge to keep you informed. You can know how much gas you have left and if it will last as long as it cooks. This also gives you time to presumably set up another tank to keep the grill from going out.
So, turn off a gas grill
As previously mentioned, safety should be the number one priority when it comes to gas grills. It applies not only when you turn the gas on, but also when you turn it off. When you’re done cooking, the next thing to do is clean the grill and then turn off the gas. Turn the throttle knobs all the way off.
Make sure all burners are off and there is no chance of even the smallest flames burning. You will hear a sound indicating that the gas has stopped flowing through the tubes to the burners. At this point you will also find that the flames will subside and eventually die out.
Once the burners are completely out, you can close the gas tank valves. It is important to ensure that the heat source is switched off. In this case it is a propane tank. You want to eliminate any possibility of gas migrating through the burner when you are not using the grill.
Turning off the torch buttons alone is not enough. Once the burners and valves are on, allow the grill to cool, then cover with a grill cover. The cover protects the grill when not in use.
Not to do
There are certain precautions that you must take to ensure the efficiency of your gas grill. The materials you use for your cookware need to be heat resistant so they won’t crack under pressure. Glassware does not fall into this category. Do not use glassware on your grill.
The second involves no lifting of the lid. As curious as you may be about what’s going on under the hood, you’ll only cause more damage and prolong the process if you keep opening the hood. This allows heat to escape and lowers the fo’s temperature. When you close, that heat needs to reheat. They die at constant temperatures by keeping the lid closed. You can make sure the food is on track by using internal meat probes instead of visual inspection(which is almost never accurate anyway).
Also, make sure YOU are not using the grill indoors. Anything that poses a fire hazard should be moved out of the way. Therefore, make sure that the grill is placed in a safe place. It’s not safe to do it indoors. Some blankets and furniture catch fire easily.
Another thing you shouldn’t do is leave the gas tank valve open, even when you’re not cooking. The reason not to do this is because it is a security issue. However, there is another reason. If the gas is left open, a bypass can form. This is the condition where the grill cannot reach its maximum and most efficient temperature. A grill that is on the bypass will not normally get above 300°F. Don’t leave the valve open no matter how convenient it seems.
Writer & content creator. BBQ fanatic!
