With outdoor grills, some people prefer the taste of charcoal or wood. Others don’t want to taint the food’s natural flavor. What’s the best type of grill fuel?
It’s summertime! And you know what that means. Time to break out the bbq grill.
If you are in the market for a new grill you might be confused with all the choices you have when it comes to the type of fuel.
This guide will break down each different type of fuel and decide on the best type of grill for you.
Charcoal Grills
The charcoal grill is one of the most widely recognized grills for backyard barbecues. This type of grill uses charcoal barbecue briquettes as a fuel source. It’s safe, easy, and convenient and provides loads of flavor.
Charcoal comes in the form of briquettes. Use a chimney starter to ignite your briquettes for the best results. Some people choose to start their charcoal briquettes with lighter fluid but this can leave a chemical taste on your food.
Charcoal briquettes come presoaked in a chemical that will help them to catch fire. This makes it easier to start your grill and have it cook for many hours using the same coals.
However, charcoal experts will tell you how you light your charcoal and how long you let it heat up before placing in the bottom of your grill can have noticeable effects on your food’s flavor.
Charcoal grills reward those who are patient and it can take some practice using one before you get the best results. There are also many different kinds of charcoal to choose from. Look for a type of charcoal that watches your cooking style.
When it comes to cost a charcoal grill is an affordable option but you will need to continuously buy charcoal briquettes for fuel. Charcoal girls must also be regularly cleaned and emptied which makes them more high maintenance than other types of grills.
Propane Grills
Gas grilling with propane is another one of the best grill types. This modern-day grill has many advantages. A propane tank is used as the fuel source. You can have it refilled at your local hardware store or any store that sells gas for grill.
Propane gas is an instant source of fuel and it is easy to control. This grill uses burners that channel and lights the gas with an ignition switch.
The grills come in many sizes. Some grills have two small burners and much larger versions have multiple burners that can be controlled separately. Propane grills even come in these portable grills so you can take them with you.
Propane is an ideal fuel source for a large party where you will need to cook multiple different types of food at different temperatures. You can set up one burner for veggies and another for hamburgers.
A propane grill is the best type of grill for beginners. It won’t produce the same smokey flavor as a charcoal burning fuel grill but it is low-maintenance and easy to turn on.
You can easily cook for lots of people on your propane gas grill and when you are ready it can be scaled up easily.
Propane is also a relatively inexpensive source of fuel. When the tank starts to empty simply take it to the store and exchange it for a full one.
Propane gas tanks are safe as long as you follow simple safety rules, however itis a bit more complex than a charcoal grill.
Pellet Grills
A pellet grill is a less popular choice but also on our list of the best types of bbq grills. These grills use wood pellets as their fuel source and are often ignited by an electric ignition system much like a propane grill. You should know that a wood pellet smoker grills help you to make delicious food.
These grills burn hot and slow. Thye produces even flames and provides excellent flavor similar to a charcoal grill. Like charcoal pellet grills have a lot of flexibility. They are often used to smoke meats.
Pellet grills are more expensive than charcoal but they also tend to last longer. You can also choose from a variety of different woods or wood blends for interesting flavors. If a charcoal grill takes too long for you, then a pellet grill may be your perfect middle ground.
Electric Grills
Electric grills are making a comeback. New models of electric grills have been released that allow you to get the taste of a backyard bbq inside your kitchen.
Most versions don’t take up too much space and can be easily stored away in a cabinet when not being used.
Many people living in apartments like to use electric grills when outdoor grilling isn’t an option. These grills use electricity as the source of fuel and heat up quickly. This grill could cost you on your electricity bill if you end up using it a lot so keep that in mind.
An electric grill doesn’t impart any flavor on the food, however, this technology is always improving. An electric grill may be the right choice for you if you want to grill indoors.
Natural Gas Grills
Natural gas grills are not that common. Some propane grills are being made these days to be converted to natural gas and other grills are made specifically for natural gas usage. This type of grill works best if your house has a natural gas connection.
You will need to hook this grill up to your gas line. That means you cannot take this grill without and it can’t move around a lot in your backyard. Once you hook your natural gas grill up to your gas line it will sit right there.
The good news is once it is hooked up this girl acts very much like a propane grill. It is very easy to use and is best suited for an outdoor kitchen. If you have a permanent outdoor grilling space than a natural gas may be the right fuel source for you.
You will never need to swap out a tank because the grill is hooked up to your fuel line, Natural gas is one of the cheapest sources of fuel too.
The Best Type of Grill for You
The best type of grill is one that will match your cooking style and your budget. If you like to smoke meats then a propane grill probably isn’t the right grill. If you like to take your grill with you to the beach then be sure to get a portable one.
Follow this guide and select your best grill and enjoy the summer grilling season. If you enjoyed this article please share it with your friends and read more of our articles on food and cooking.