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| Below is an overview of
popular grill fuels and their differences. |
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Gas
Gas grills can be fueled using propane in a portable cylinder or natural
gas that is delivered via underground pipes from a home's natural gas
supply to a permanently installed grill.
Although some 58 percent of gas grill owners have their LP (liquid
propane) cylinders refilled for them, 42 percent find it more convenient
to take their empty cylinder to an LP exchange center at a nearby store
to get a new, filled cylinder. However, 54 percent of all gas grill
users own two or more LP cylinders so they never have to risk running
out of gas!
Gas grilling is now safer than ever thanks to a mandate from the
National Fire Prevention Association in 2002 that only cylinders with an
overfill prevention device (OPD) may be exchanged or refilled. This
prevents the cylinder from being filled more than 80 percent -creating a
potential fire hazard when rising temperatures cause propane gas to
expand and unintentionally be released into the air.
Charcoal
Over 50 percent of charcoal grill owners use regular charcoal
briquettes. (Twenty-seven percent use the instant-light variety.)
Added Flavor
Natural wood smoke flavoring pellets are fast gaining in popularity, are
easy to use (no pre-soaking required) and available in 12 flavors, all
natural, and made from 100 percent of the wood indicated (hickory,
orange, sugar maples, etc.).
Ignition
Less than half (47%) of charcoal grill owners light the grill using
lighter fluid. Some use a chimney-type lighter (13%) or electric
lighters. The chimney lighter is the fastest way to get the coals
glowing and requires only about two pounds of briquettes, a crumpled
newspaper page, and a match.
Pellet
Many people haven’t yet heard of pellet grills, but as gas prices
continue to rise, they’re becoming increasingly popular. Small wood
pellets, in a variety of “flavors” such as hickory, mesquite, and oak,
provide the energy source and infuse the food with flavor from the
resultant smoke. Pellet grills are especially attractive because they
are energy efficient and clean burning.
Some pellet grills have a dual-fuel unit that can switch over to gas
which can reach higher temperatures than pellets. Increasingly, these
models include microprocessor-based circuit boards that manage the
grill’s entire operation including temperature regulation.
Prices for pellet grills generally range from about $600 to $2500. |
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| Source:
Hearth,
Patio & Barbecue Association |
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