How to Use a Gas BBQ
Few pleasures in life compare to eating home BBQ. Many prefer wood or charcoal as fuel for their grills, yet gas is an excellent option. No hot coals or charred wood to dispose of and you have better heat control using gas. There are many gas grills on the market, and they are all inexpensive and easy to use.
- Make sure your propane tank has fuel or that your natural gas line is hooked up to the patio outlet.
- Remove the grill dust cover.
- Follow the instructions in the user's manual.
- Clean the grill if necessary, removing all left-over char, BBQ sauce and meat residue.
- Move the grill to a shielded environment if it is windy. Do not light in an enclosed area or when the grill cover is down. Gas builds up in the chamber when you light it with the lid down and can cause an explosion.
- Turn the propane tank valve to the "ON" position.
- Turn on the burner nearest you. If your BBQ has an auto-light feature, it should ignite immediately. If it doesn't light, you can throw a lit match into the top of the grill over the lava rocks. Some BBQ have holes in the bottom by the ignition where you can match-light if needed.
- Do the same with the rest of the burners until all are lit.
- Place meat onto the grills and close the cover. Depending on what you are grilling, cooking time may take a few minutes or about an hour for poultry.
- Be sure to turn meat at least once to allow adequate browning on both sides. Do not allow meat to burn. If the heat is too hot for the meat, you may adjust the temperature by turning the flame down.
- Apply BBQ sauce in the last turn of the meat. Many people brush BBQ sauce onto their meat, while some dip the meat into the sauce.
- Allow the sauce to cook into the meat. Finish with a final coat of sauce before serving.