| Combining the convenience of conventional stove | | | | porcelain enamelled steel cooking grills, which are |
| cookery with the enduring appeal of cooking outside, | | | | much more hard wearing. |
| a gas barbecue is the definitive outdoor appliance. | | | | The handle on the barbecue hood should be weather |
| Whether you choose to have it wheeled up on the | | | | resistant and sturdy, giving safe clearance during use |
| garden decking or built into your patio, it gives you all | | | | to your arms and hands. |
| the taste of barbecued food with minimal fuss. | | | | Another optimal feature is the catch pan. Choose one |
| Prices range from around £75 to as much as | | | | with a high capacity, which is easy to remove and |
| £1500 for a top-of-the-range appliance. Although | | | | where the drips are channelled down and away from |
| they cost considerably more than their traditional | | | | the burners to minimise flare-ups. Finally, you should |
| charcoal counterparts, gas models offer many more | | | | look for a model that offers a generous warranty, |
| distinct advantages. | | | | especially when buying one of the more expensive |
| With a gas barbecue, you won't need to build or | | | | barbecues. |
| ignite a fire. The grill will heat up much more quickly, | | | | Unlike the familiar charcoal grill, the gas alternative has |
| and the temperature is easily controlled with | | | | its heat effectiveness reduced dramatically if you |
| stove-like precision. There are no dirty ashes to clean | | | | leave the hood open. When closed, the heat is better |
| up afterwards, so although you'll be paying more, you | | | | contained for direct and indirect cooking of the food. |
| should consider your purchase an investment rather | | | | To ensure your gas appliance operates at its best, |
| than a temporary fix. | | | | you should only open the hood to tend to your food. |
| In order to choose the barbecue that is right for | | | | Pay careful attention to dripping fat, as this can |
| you, it is useful to know how a gas version works. | | | | cause serious flare-ups, spoiling your food and worse |
| Whether it is mounted onto a rolling cart, built into | | | | still causing injury. |
| the patio or fixed onto a pedestal, all these models | | | | If you do experience a flare-up, lift your food |
| operate in the same way. | | | | carefully from the grill, leave the hood open to allow |
| A gas grill is usually a rectangular firebox, with a barrel | | | | the flames to burn off, then return the food to the |
| or box shaped hood. This is hinged for ease of lifting. | | | | barbecue to continue cooking. |
| The heat for cooking your food is concentrated from | | | | Gas griddles only take around 15 minutes to come up |
| underneath the grill, and the source of heat is fixed in | | | | to optimum cooking temperature, compared to the |
| place. Gas lines (one for each burner) feed fuel in at | | | | charcoal version that takes at least 30 minutes to |
| the bottom of the barbecue, either liquid propane | | | | heat up. |
| from a separate tank or natural gas from a | | | | The best cooking results come when the heat is |
| permanently hooked up source. | | | | distributed evenly around the food. If you want to |
| Once you have lit the grill, you can regulate the | | | | use direct heat, you should ignite all the gas burners |
| flames as you would your kitchen stove. The food | | | | to use the entire grill surface. For more efficient |
| cooks on the griddle above. You can vary the | | | | indirect cooking, once the barbecue has heated up, |
| distance between the food and the burners by | | | | turn off the burners directly under your food when |
| changing the height of the grill itself. | | | | you grill it. |
| When shopping for a gas barbecue, there are certain | | | | People love barbecuing because the food has a |
| things you should be on the lookout for. Firstly, try | | | | certain taste once cooked. You can try using moist |
| and look for a well-built appliance that feels both | | | | wood chips, hickory or mesquite flavour briquettes in |
| substantial and stable. The best barbecues have solid | | | | your gas device to add flavour but make sure you |
| welded steel construction, as the equipment needs to | | | | follow the manufacturer's instructions first. |
| withstand extreme heat. Check that the casters and | | | | Using a gas barbecue should be a fun and enjoyable |
| wheels meet appliance standards prior to purchase. | | | | experience, merging the pleasure of cooking |
| Avoid grates that are nickel or chrome plated, as | | | | outdoors and sharing tasty food with friends and |
| these tend to rust very easily. Instead you should | | | | family. |
| opt for individually welded stainless steel, cast iron or | | | | |