The propane tank BBQ grill is one among the overwhelming range of options available today when it comes to BBQ grills. Typically, there are three categories to pick from: charcoal, electric, or gas (propane) grills.
Charcoal grills will put you through the trouble of carrying charcoal and ignition can be tricky as well. For a beginner, it can be hard to light up the wood or charcoal. Heating the barbecue and cooling it down also takes time with these types of grills.
Meanwhile, electric types allow you to control the temperature and ignite with the push of a button. However, it doesn’t give you much mobility. You will always need an outlet and electrical connection for that to work.
Finally, there is the propane tank BBQ grill. This is currently the most common grilling choice. It is quite popular due to its high levels of convenience, which we are about to discuss.
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Propane Tank BBQ Grills - The Popular Camping Grill
Propane is a liquefied gas contained in metal containers. Certain gas grills have a built-in propane cylinder which needs to be refilled when empty. The quantity might be lesser for a built-in gas grill. Most of them are separately attached as well in place for a regular gas cylinder.
Moreover, these barbecue equipments come in a variety of sizes and shapes, in addition to a hood or cover. To clarify, the cover or hood assists in maintaining the heat. It also help achieve desired cooking temperature a bit quicker. The size of the grill mostly depends on the number of burners it has.
Benefits of Having a Propane Tank BBQ grill
Propane grills are the most user-friendly and efficient compared to others, making them a good camping choice. Here are some key advantages of using the gas grill.
Mobility
A major reason for the popularity of this propane tank BBQ grill is because of its comfort of mobility. Since all you need to do is hook up a gas can and start cooking, it lets you camp almost anywhere. In addition, if you want to cook in the backyard, you can connect the cooking equipment to the home gas line too. As a result, it would give you an unlimited supply of fuel which is very convenient.
Ease of operation
Unlike charcoal grills, these ignite with more ease. All you have to do is turn a knob and the burners will light up. Even if the knob isn’t working, you can light up the barbecue with a flame too. With no lighter fluid mess or ash and briquette cleanup, a gas grill ignites immediately and quickly achieves cooking temperature.
Heat control
The burners have knobs that you can turn to control the heat required for cooking. This feature is available with electric types as well but not with the charcoal ones. This feature makes the propane tank BBQ grill a good type for any beginner or occasional griller. You can control the burners and adjust them to your preferred temperature.
Versatility
They come in many styles and sizes. Most gas grills have several burners for increased versatility. You may set up cooking zones with more than one burner. Cooking zones allow you to prepare food at various temperatures all at once. If you're grilling a lot of food, this will save you a lot of time.
Safety
Because there is no hot ash or coals to worry about, the propane tank BBQ grills are also slightly safer to operate. You don’t need to worry about the electrical hazards too since they operate on propane.
Also, this fuel type cooks cleaner than coals. The drippings from your meal are more likely to spark up and release contaminant gases on a charcoal burner.
How to Use a Propane Tank BBQ Grill
Before operating the barbecue equipment there are a few precautionary steps that you need to take for safe and enjoyable grilling.
Checking tank condition
Before connecting a propane tank to a gas grill, we need to make sure that the gas vessel is in good working condition. Any signs of rust or tarnish might prove hazardous. You also need to look for any dents on the exterior of the gas container. Dents cause the gas to compress causing a sudden burst on the slightest leak.
Also, tanks of age older than 12 months must not be used. If you detect anything unusual, it's better to get rid of it and get a new one.
Check for the amount of propane in the tank
An important thing to do is to avoid running out of fuel in the middle of the barbeque, which might also ruin the fun. To achieve this, you need to check the gas levels in the propane tank BBQ grill before you start.
A simple method of doing that is to pour hot water down the tank. Using your hands, feel up the metal container from top to bottom. As soon as you feel a chilly area, that is the level of propane in your tank. This method might not be very precise but is helpful.
Placing the tank on the grill
Usually, the design of the propane tank BBQ grill determines where to place the tank. Some have space under the grill. Some even have cabinets with doors to hide the gas container. Meanwhile, some have space beside the grill for placing the tank.
Placing the tank too far from the connector might cause stress on the connecting tube which may cause a leak. Place the tank in a safe place to avoid getting it knocked over and about 10 feet away from your home.
Connecting the grill to the tank
Once you are sure the fuel container is safe to use, connect the valve of the fuel tank to the connector of the grill. Make sure the connection is tight to avoid leakage of any sort. To be safer, you may also use a “regulator” which is a small device that controls the flow of gas from the container to the propane tank BBQ grill. It is completely optional.
Checking for leaks
Any leaks in the connection may cause a fire. To ensure there are no leaks, spray soapy water on the connector. The bubbles would indicate the place of the leak which you might need to seal or cover for a safe grilling experience.
Igniting the grill
Most gas types have knobs or buttons for ignition which makes them easy to use. In case the buttons don’t work you can also use a lighter to light up the gas in the propane tank BBQ grill.
Start grilling
Preheat before baking, the grill needs to reach a certain heat level before you can start cooking. There are knobs or buttons to control the temperature/ heat for cooking. Once your grill is adequately heated, all there’s left is to cook and enjoy.
Conclusion
Propane tank BBQ grills are the most convenient option for all types of campers or grillers. They are easy to use and clean. The smoky taste of the food that a charcoal grill gives might be lost in a gas cooker but it is still a better choice than other grills for several reasons.
If knowing all the tips/useful info we’ve provided you with, you’re still puzzled about what to look for when shopping, here you can find good camping grills.
Now that you’ve learned how to operate your own grilling equipment, go on and enjoy your own Western-style or Korean BBQ grill at home!
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