Help with a BBQ..POLL

[Ruger1022]

Hey guys,
I am retiring old Bertha(6Yrs old), shes a good old Propane BBQ.
Currently I have 2 tanks, one on the BBQ and one in the garage for back up.

I am going next week to buy a new BBQ. :sHa_shakeshout:

Should I stay with Propane? or should I go with gas? I also have a hookup on the deck already for gas.

What do you guys use?
Ideas for around a $4oo price range?

Thoughts?
Ideas?

Thx

[pikergolf]

If you have the hook up already I'd say it's a no brainer for gas.

[Piker]

Depends where you live. I am in the south and sick of the wind so I am getting an electric one. I already wore one out but it was great infinite heat no flaring up only drawback its no good camping. Piker

[thunderheart]

its no longer portable if you go gas

[het4human]

I know it is not one of your options but one word "Charcoal"

[bb356]

I know it is not one of your options but one word "Charcoal"

x2 !!!

[lannie]

I would not consider anything but Gas for a main BBQ. For brand name I would get a Webber. They are a fairly bullet proof BBQ.

[bb356]

Anybody have the scoop on taste ........... gas have that certain off taste like propane ???

[NewAlbertan]

Had a nice weber, house we bought had a gas hookup and a bbq that came with. Sunbeam(?). Not a bad bbq. However, I find that the gas takes much longer to heat up than my propane unit. I find the gas easier / better to control at lower heat levels, but the propane sears better.
Also, propane unit is on wheels and can be moved around the backyard, whereas the gas unit is fixed on the balcony.

[fitzy]

I do a lot of BBQing and I'd highly recommend a gas/charcoal combo unit. It depends on your situation and whether or not you're considering moving it.
Propane is simple and easy but the natural gas conversion and hook ups are cheap and easy, you'll also never run out mid steak.

The gas fired charcoal bbq's are a dream to work with, they are reasonably priced now. Same as a regular bbq with a charcoal grate and vents that can be closed to use with charcoal if you have the time or inclination.

[fitzy]

You shouldn't be getting any propane taste unless you've got an incomplete burn, if that's the case you've got bigger problems than taste. The bbq taste comes from vaporization of melting fat on the flame guards on a gas bbq. The taste on a charcoal unit comes from the vaporization of fat with the added perfection of charcoal smoke.

[CaberTosser]

With a gas quick connect already there it's a no brainer. I installed two gas outlets at the rear of our house to allow for flexibility in designing our patio. Both are 3/4" so I can tee into them for secondary appliances such as patio heaters should I wish. Personally I've never noticed a different taste from natural gas, and it's what probably 99.8% of restaurants use, save for eclectic ones that might use charcoal (which I've never seen in Canada, but I know in parts of the US charcoal has a cult following)

[NoKlu]

What ever you get make sure the body is cast. They last forever and they heat evenly,no cold spots. Cheap stainless will rust. Do some internet research before you buy a particular model.

[riden]

I would never go back to propane.

If anything, I am better off that it is not portablem, now it is someone else`s job to haul theirs.

[Alberta Bigbore]

I use propane. But when I buy my new house next summer, I would like to use Gas.

[bb356]

Thank's fitzy and Caber !!!

[CaberTosser]

I have seen some nice ones at Lowe's and Canadian Tire. I look at the design used on the side burners seriously, as a giant pot for corn on the cob needs lots of well distributed BTU's. Lowe's has one ridiculously large unit for not a half-bad price. Though if a person isn't entertaining lots of people frequently, those things do waste fuel as they have so much more mass to heat up for just a few steaks or ribs, etc. I also check the frame, how the doors or drawers feel for fit and finish, etc.

[doetracks]

Saw a nice John Deere model Weber at Martin Deerline in Edmonton today :love:

Perfect size. Though the monster grills are cool to look at, they seem to be pretty impractical for the average family.

$899

[Kingfisher]

If you have the hook up on the deck for Nat Gas then go for it. It is a no brainer.

Was at a buddies place a while ago that had a nat gas bbq. No difference in taste at all. Even after 4 beers the steak still tasted great.

Rob

[u_cant_rope_the_wind]

I cant vote cuz we have a smoker BBQ runs on wood and briquettes

[gitrdun]

To the true BBQ afficionados, gas and propane are simply sinfull, just like boiling your ribs will send you to hell in a handbasket. Charcoal or wood burning is the real McCoy. Personally, I use a Traeger wood burning BBQ which also doubles as an superb smoker. I also highly recommend any of the Steven Raichlen books, BBQ Bible, BBQ USA, Rib Ribs outrageous Ribs, and Sauces Rubs and Marinades, all by the same author. So, I didn't vote 'cause gas and propane are for the furnace. :sHa_sarcasticlol:

[lone wolf]

If you have the hook up already I'd say it's a no brainer for gas.


x2 (never out).

[Spidey]

x2 (never out).

x3

Nothing worse than having to run down to the gas station with half cooked chicken or ribs on the grill.... Used propane for 15 year and then bought a house with NG two years ago and it's great. No difference in taste at all. I agree with other posters that charcoal still tastes better.

If you are patient wait until the end of the season (Sept.) and look for clearance deals at Home Depot and Superstore. We bought a great gas unit with searing grill and external burner in addition to the main grill for under $300. Been using it for nearly two years and its great!

[gitrdun]

From what I know of propane vs natural gas (by being at someone else's BBQ's) is that propane burns way hotter than natural gas. That was my experience. What say you, you sinful gas BBQ'ers? :snapoutofit:

[Lefty-Canuck]

From what I know of propane vs natural gas (by being at someone else's BBQ's) is that propane burns way hotter than natural gas. That was my experience. What say you, you sinful gas BBQ'ers? :snapoutofit:

Propane has about 2500 btu per cubic foot and natural gas has 1000+, so propane has the higher heat value by over double.

LC

[Kevvk2]

x3

Nothing worse than having to run down to the gas station with half cooked chicken or ribs on the grill.... Used propane for 15 year and then bought a house with NG two years ago and it's great. No difference in taste at all. I agree with other posters that charcoal still !

Yuuuuup. Switched when I built my new house. I always seemed to run out of propane on a long weekend when we had company over. Not so great in a small town.
I also was tired of buying the 3-5 year crappy tire disposable grills. I ended up splurging on a big ole Napoleon hoping it will last longer. As for the heat issue, if you have more burners it heats up quicker (hence the big grill).
I won't miss the 40 bucks to fill the bottle

[gitrdun]

^^^ that's the impression that I got when everyone was saying "are they done yet, are they done yet". :sign0176:

[gitrdun]

^^^ Lefty, that's the impression that I got when everyone was saying "are they done yet, are they done yet". :sign0176:

[Yéil]

Propane here, we move about every two or three years so trying to find a house we like/afford and find one with a gas hook up for a Nat Gas BBQ is even more difficult. We started using the exchange program as dealing with buying and disposing of the tanks when we move was also getting annoying (movers don't take the tanks).

[Hunter65]

If you got the hook up, go gas all the way.

[doetracks]

Once you FIND someone to do the natural gas hookup, it's not overly expensive... that is, if the line is close to where your BBQ is.

We finally got someone in to do it for about $125, not including the $64.50 permit.

[CaberTosser]

Propane has about 2500 btu per cubic foot and natural gas has 1000+, so propane has the higher heat value by over double.

LC

This is true, but to compensate for this the nat gas grill's have larger gas orifice's. The orifice in combination with the gas type/ pressure/ altitude is what dictates the actual btu output. A person can convert a propane grill to nat gas by using specially sized orifice drills to enlarge the metering ports; converting the reverse requires either new orifices or bushings. I think my Dad still has his set of orifice drills, it has a chart noting the btu's from each size. Bearing this in mind there should be no difference in heat output. When I converted my old Broil King from propane I oversized the side burner orifice for handling big corn cauldrons.

Gitrdun: you may have been experiencing differences from the grill's having either higher or lower (or both) regulator pressure.

[Deckacards]

Wood Pellet the way to go nummmy

[bruinsmaniac]

Wood Pellet the way to go nummmy

X2. Trager

[Lefty-Canuck]

This is true, but to compensate for this the nat gas grill's have larger gas orifice's.

It is ok man......some people are always trying to compensate for some other short-coming :)

LC :)

[gitrdun]

.

Gitrdun: you may have been experiencing differences from the grill's having either higher or lower (or both) regulator pressure.

Truly? .... I have no idea, when my stomach says "feed me" I simply don't care, I wanna eat. :sign0176:

[mudbug]

Natural gas is way better than propane, never runs out, no tank to mess with, it has no taste or flavour that I've ever noticed or heard of. Make sure you get a side burner though, they are very habdy for cooking things outside rather than in the house on a hot summer day, why heat up the house more using a stove burner when you can just use the BBQ :)

[Hagalaz]

Always went with propane, but then I don't have the hook ups available for a gas barbeque.

[Bigdad013]

its no longer portable if you go gas

you take your home BBQ camping? really?

[Bigdad013]

To the true BBQ afficionados, gas and propane are simply sinfull, just like boiling your ribs will send you to hell in a handbasket. Charcoal or wood burning is the real McCoy. Personally, I use a Traeger wood burning BBQ which also doubles as an superb smoker. I also highly recommend any of the Steven Raichlen books, BBQ Bible, BBQ USA, Rib Ribs outrageous Ribs, and Sauces Rubs and Marinades, all by the same author. So, I didn't vote 'cause gas and propane are for the furnace. :sHa_sarcasticlol:

Just like all the finest restaurants, I remember just last week they all went charcoil and wood burning. Glad you cleared that up...I was starting to wonder...

[hassihand]

I know it is not one of your options but one word "Charcoal"

X3

I've got one of these

http://www.weber.com/explore/grills/performer-series/performer-2

and the results are night and day over propane or nat gas. A little more work and time but so worth it.
With the propane ignition system, it makes it way quicker to get your charcoal to the right cooking temp.

Once you figure out the bottom and lid vents, you can get as accurate Temp control as any other BBQ. Low n' slow or hotter than h*ll! Easy to clean as the ash drops into the attached bucket and when it fills up just take it off, dump and you're G2G.

I also have a propane jobby for when I'm in a hurry or feeding a big group and need the space of 2 grills, but it usually sits unused.

Oh, and don't forget to put a Bradley Digital into your arsenal as well.

[Snowdog]

wood is cheaper than both

[doetracks]

wood is cheaper than both

.. but nowhere near as convenient :)

I'd rather cook on charcoal myself, but time is more often than not an issue.

[just_dave]

I don't always BBQ. But when I do, I use propane.

Stay hungry my friends.

[Ruger1022]

Well after careful though,..
Since we have moved into a new house and I have only built a temporary deck for now. We decided to take all our emptys back from out of our trampoline hole. We had a whopping $162.oo in emptys, along with $106.oo in Canadian Tire money we were off to Canadian Tire.

So untill we figure out what kind of deck we want(2 years) I figure we wont go all out on a BBQ for now. We ended up just gettin a Cusineart PROPANE BBQ for now. It was $299 on sale from $399, so in the end I only paid out $30.oo cash total and came home with a decent looking BBQ.

http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/CanadianTire/0853054_1?$medium$&defaultImage=image_na_EN

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/2/OutdoorLiving/BBQs/PropaneBBQs/PRD~0853054P/Cuisinart+Gourmet+600+Propane+BBQ.jsp?locale=en

Again thank for all the info guys lots fo good info on here!!

[deepfried]

I know it is not one of your options but one word "Charcoal"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx222222222:sHa_shakeshout:

[roger]

if its ready to go, giver!
are nat gas bbq's near the same as propane yet or is there still a radical price difference?
Ruger,
id suggest if your designing a deck to add a simple alcove in the handrail for the Q to rest, where the crumbs or drips can drop right thru onto the ground below instead of staining the decks top wood. maybe even take off that cheezy metal frame and wheels and mount it direct to steel L brackets that attach to the deck rails. you dont lose deck footage and the handrails can be built to hold the extra weight..toss in some flat checkerplate aluminum or stainless steel lite guage around it for heat reflectors...also makes degreasing and pressurewashing it easier, too.
make sense of that???

natural gas itself is the worst...renting it every month. bahhh!
I realize not everyone has the place for 1000 gallon tank of propane but it doesnt run out either.

[Kevvk2]

you take your home BBQ camping? really?

Lol, I took my old propane BBQ & shortened the legs to make it work for table height. Re drilled holes for the bottom shelf. You can't beat it at the lake, does not take up much more room than the Coleman stand up's, but 10 x the grill.
Then just borrow the bottle & tie it to the tiger torch for when the firewood is wet :)

[jackrabbit000]

I'm looking at buying a new BBQ also. I'll never buy another propane one. Pain to having to fill the tanks all the time.