Your Propane Grilling Guide for the Summer
No summer is complete without a few good barbecues, and any chef will attest that a great grill is essential to a perfect cookout. While cooking with charcoal is a traditional method of grilling, propane grills bring convenience and control to outdoor cooking which offer a superior experience and product to briquets.
Let’s start at the beginning. Propane grills fire up instantly, so there is no time spent waiting for coals to get hot enough to cook. Less time waiting means more time spent with family and friends. Additionally, propane offers greater temperature control than other grilling methods. Instead of poking hot coals around and trying to add just the right amount of charcoal to control the fire, the temperature of a propane grill can be adjusted with a simple dial. These features allow even amateur grillers the ability to prepare meals that everyone will love.
Propane grills function much like an indoor range; many models have several separate burners that allow for easy temperature control for different grill locations. This feature allows chefs greater convenience to cook the way that they want, and different foods with different temperature requirements can be grilled at the same time. Some models even come equipped with a built-in thermometer, so you can ensure the temperature is right where you want it to be.
Cooking with propane also avoids the mess of charcoal. When you’re finished cooking on a propane grill, all you have to do is shut it off. However, when cooking with charcoal, you have to wait for the grill to cool down and then dispose of the ashes and the leftover coals, which can be a messy job. With propane, you can enjoy your meal and not have to worry about extensive clean-up afterward.
There you have it: Propane grills offer several benefits over charcoal, from ease-of-use to mess-free cleaning. Plus, propane can elevate your grilling game so you can compete for the title of the best backyard chef in the neighborhood. Propane grills come in a wide variety of sizes, so whether you are feeding just yourself or the whole neighborhood, there is bound to be a propane grill to meet your needs.
For inspiration for your next backyard barbecue, check out these delicious grilling recipes for your propane grill.
Grilled Steak Tacos
Spicy Aoili
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tsps sriracha chili sauce or 1 tsp hot pepper sauce
- ⅛ tsp sesame oil
Avocado-Corn Salsa
- 1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and finely chopped
- ½ medium tomato, seeded and chopped
- 3 tbsp sliced ripe olives
- 2 tbsp canned whole kernel corn
- 2 tbsp chopped sweet red pepper
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 4 tsp minced fresh cilantro
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp finely chopped onion
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
Steaks
- 2 tsps pepper
- 2 tsps olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp seafood seasoning
- 1 lb beef ribeye steak, trimmed
- 8 flour tortillas (6 in.)
- In a small bowl, combine the aioli ingredients. In another bowl, combine the salsa ingredients. Refrigerate until serving.
- Combine the pepper, oil, salt and seafood seasoning; rub over both sides of the steak.
- Grill, covered, over medium heat until meat reaches desired doneness. Let stand for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, grill tortillas until warm, about 45 seconds on each side. Thinly slice steak and place on tortillas. Serve with aioli, salsa, and toppings of choice.
Grilled Corn with Chipotle-Lime Butter
- 8 large ears sweet corn in husks
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1-1/2 teaspoons grated lime zest
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh cilantro
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
- Coarse sea salt, optional
In a large stockpot, cover corn with cold water. Soak 30 minutes; drain. Grill corn, covered, over medium heat until tender, turning occasionally, 25-30 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients. Carefully peel back husks; discard silk. Spread butter mixture over corn.
Enjoy the season and come together to celebrate American values this summer with great meals on your propane grill.