By Thomas Kerrin
By far the most popular type of outdoor grill in the UK is the type that uses traditional charcoal as a heat source.
Although propane and natural gas based barbeques are less popular and commonplace, no doubt due to the fact that they are a lot more expensive, they do have a number of advantages over the more traditional charcoal grill.
Not only are they easier to control and keep clean, they are also a lot healthier due to the comparative lack of harmful emissions when compared to charcoal burning grills. They also heat up quicker, are easier to clean, and produce far less in the way of smoke than their charcoal equivalent.
So, if you want to have a successful barbeque experience, there are a number of things that you can do to ensure this:
Keep the grill away from anything that might be flammable, such as bushes, trees, or wooden outhouses.
Never use your grill indoors, even if you think that there is little or no risk of fire.
Make sure that the racks are clean, the cover fits snugly, and that the grill pan doesn't have any fissures or holes in it.
Make sure your grill is clean before you fire it up. This is especially important if it is the first time you have used it this year. In particular, get rid of any old ash, as this can turn into a corrosive chemical when mixed with water. A layer of ash that has been created over the course of a grilling session works well as a heat insulator, but old ash will only rust your grill.
Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the correct lighting method for your grill, as you may damage your grill permanently if you do this the wrong way.
The charcoal-like rocks used in gas grills are referred to as lava rocks, and usually come included with the barbeque.
These look, and behave, a little like charcoal, but the two are far from interchangeable.
You can heat lava rocks many times before they need to be replaced.
The rocks are used to retain the heat energy given out by the gas flame, and do not catch light as such.
You need to keep these rocks clean if you want to avoid flare-ups caused by grease getting stuck to the rock and then catching fire, which can burn the food.
Be sure to clean and replace the rocks according to the instructions given by the manufacturer.
After you've finished all your grilling for the day, turn up the gas burner to full power for five minutes or so to burn off any grease and drippings from the lava rocks.
Turn and rearrange the lava rocks every so often to ensure even heating and cleaning.
If lava rocks look unclean and start to break apart, it is time to replace them.
Lava rocks should be no more than one layer deep, so avoid stacking them or your grill will not function correctly
British Gas is the nation's favourite cheap gas and electricity supplier, boiler service provider, and energy efficiency advisor.
Source:www.isnare.com |
