Propane Or / VS Natural Gas Grill: How To Use (Grill On) It?
There are two basic types of gas grills, the propane and natural gas grills and today I want to talk about both of their kinds. I can’t tell you if the propane or natural gas grill is a better choice for you but I can show you their pros and cons and the only thing you have to do, is pick the one you love best.
With propane grills, there is usually a propane tank connected to your grill which can be refilled or replaced once it is empty. The most common size for a propane tank is a 20-pound tank, which will last you about 25 hours.
They are environmentally friendly, because they create low greenhouse gas emissions, and produce water vapor and carbon dioxide, which are both found naturally in the environment. Cons for this type of outdoor gas grill is that it is more expensive than natural gas and it explodes easily, which can be very dangerous. Therefore it is very important to know how to use a propane grill properly. First, you must decompress the propane by turning a valve which then releases the gas and distributes it to the burners. There will be a spark from an instant igniter which will then create a flame and heat the gas.
With natural gas grills, you can cook your food the same way like with the propane gas, except the natural gas grill is attached to the gas line in your house and uses that gas as a fuel. Benefits of this type of grill are that you can’t run out of gas during your cooking. Also, it is cheaper to use the natural gas grill. Usually, the price is 1/6 of the propane gas price. Some of the cons for this grill are that the location of your grill needs to be fixed and you cannot move it around or bring it with you on a camping trip. Also, these types of grills need to be professionally installed, which can be quite expensive. Before buying a natural gas grill it is good to know how to grill on a gas grill.
Here is a review of the top five gas vs propane grill, so hopefully you can find one that fits your needs.
Top Five Gas VS Propane Grill
Char-Broil Signature TRU-Infrared 325 Propane Gas Grill
This propane gas grill model by the brand Char-Broil has 325 square inches of primary cooking space and 120 square inches of the secondary swing-a-way rack for warming. There are two top-ported 443 stainless steel tube burners that give 18,000 BTUs of cooking power each which means there are 36,000 BTUs of cooking power in total with this propane small gas grill model.
The primary cooking area of this grill consists of porcelain-coated iron grates which help to distribute the heat evenly across the surface. The warming rack of this grill is porcelain-coated and is great for warming up those side dishes. The ignition system on this grill is the Surefire Electronic ignition system which gives you a spark to light up the burners. For additional workspace, there are two side shelves, which can be folded if you don’t need them and they also make the storage of this Char-Broil gas grill much easier.
This grill is great because even though it uses liquid propane as its fuel, it can be converted to natural gas. That is done with the natural gas conversion kit, which is unfortunately sold separately. This grill also comes with a TRU-Infrared system which helps to cook your food faster and without leaving cold spots on your food. This kind of technology also gives your food juicier and better taste.
It comes with a cabinet storage with the door, where you can store your gas tank or cooking tools and accessories. The portable gas grill also comes with 4 casters which improve the stability and mobility of this grill. This grill also comes with a lid-mounted temperature gauge which helps to monitor the temperature you are cooking your food on. The dimensions of this grill are 23 x 46.8 x 47.2 inches.
- 325 square inches of primary cooking surface
- 120 square inches of the swing-a-way rack for warming
- Surefire Electronic ignition system
- Folding side shelves
- 36,000 BTUs of cooking power
Giantex Propane Tabletop Gas Grill
Thisis the next model of propane gas grill made by the brand Giantex. This grill has 2 stainless steel burners and a total of 20,000 BTUs of cooking power. This grill is made of 403 stainless steel which makes it durable and resistant to different weather conditions. Each of the burners on this grill can be adjusted independently and it is able to reach high-temperature sin a very short amount of time.
There are also foldable legs with this grill that help to store this grill in smaller spaces or even use it as a tabletop gas grill after you detach the legs. The lid on this grill is lockable which makes it very convenient for transport, and ideal for a camping trip or a picnic in nature. This grill is CSA standard approved. When you purchase this grill it needs to be assembled. The overall dimensions of this grill are 22″ x 18″ x 15″ (L x W x H).
The small gas grill comes with a built-in thermometer for easy and precise temperature monitoring. Because it is made of stainless steel it is long-lasting, but also easy to clean. This grill weighs 30 lbs and uses liquid propane as its fuel. It also has two push-and-turn ignition burners which allow for quick and easy start-ups every time. This grill has a cooking area 20.5″ x 13″ in dimensions.
- 20,000 BTUs of cooking power
- Cooking area size: 20.5” x 13”
- Made out of 403 stainless steel
- Built-in thermometer
- Foldable legs
Weber Spirit II E-310 Natural Gas Grill
This Weber natural gas grill features three burners with 10,000 BTUs each, which equals a total of 30,000 BTUs of cooking power in total. This natural gas grill also has 529 square inches of a total cooking space and an open cart design with six tool hooks ideal for hanging your cooking tools and accessories.
It comes with a 10-year warranty. For a better portability this gas grill has two large wheels, so you can move it around however you like without having to lift it. The cooking grates on this grill are made out of cast iron and are porcelain-enameled, which makes them easy to clean. The dimensions of this grill, while the lid is closed are 44.5H x 52W x 27D.
This Weber gas grill works with natural gas as its fuel and comes with a 10-foot flexible hose included when you purchase it. This grill comes with theGS4 Grilling System and Infinity ignition system, which is guaranteed to ignite your burners every time. The GS4 Grilling System includes four key elements: The Infinity Ignition, powerful burners, Flavorizer Bars, and Grease Management System. The lid on this grill comes in four different colors – black, white, blue and red. This grill is igrill3 compatible, but it has to be bought separately.
- Gs4 grilling system
- 529 Square inches of cooking space
- 30,000 BTUs of cooking power
- Open cart design with six tool hooks
- 10-year warranty
Napoleon Rogue 525 Freestanding Natural Gas Grill
The Napoleon Rouge gas grill is another natural gas grill model. It features four stainless steel burners with 48,000 BTUs of cooking power and 525 square inches of the main grilling area. The total cooking surface equals 660 square inches of cooking space. There is also a side infrared burner with 9,000 BTUs for more variety when grilling your food. That means that a total heat output for this grill is 57,000 BTUs.
The cooking surface is made of porcelainized cast iron “S” Wave reversible cooking grids, which are typical for most of the Napoleon gas grills. The dimensions of this grill are 57 x 25 x 48-inches (W x D x H). This natural gas grill has an Accu-Probe temperature gauge for precise temperature monitoring. For more convenient storage it comes with two folding side shelves and a detachable storage basket. The unique flame throwing Jetfire ignition system shoots a flame to the burners each time for quick and hassle-free startups of this outdoor gas grill. It also includes a crossover lightning.
This grill comes in a stylish, yet durable black powder coated galvanized steel and has with porcelain enamel lid and cabinet doors. It works with natural gas as its fuel. Dual-Level stainless steel sear plates are used to vaporize drippings from the food, prevent flare-ups, and keep food moist and tasteful. This natural gas grill weighs 167.2 pounds. Another great feature of this grill model is that it comes with a lifetime warranty.
- Accu-Probe temperature gauge
- “S” Wave style cooking grids
- 57,000 BTUs of total power
- 660 square inches of cooking space
- Lifetime warranty
Dyna-Glo Smart Space Living 3-Burner LP Gas Grill
This gas grill model works with liquid propane and has three stainless steel commercial-grade straight burners with 12,000-BTUs of heat power each. That means that there is 36,000 BTUs of cooking power in total with this grill. The grill comes with three steel heat tents that protect the burners. This grill has 390 square inches of primary cooking space, 117 square inches of a secondary warming rack and 507 square inches of cooking surface in total.
There is an easy push-button electronic pulse ignition system which will ensure fast start-ups every time. The cooking grates on this Dyna-Glo gas grill are the heavy gauge porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates that retain and distribute the heat. There is a double wall stainless steel lid which the main purpose is heat retention. The lid includes a temperature gauge for temperature visibility. The side shelves on this propane gas grill are collapsible, which is great to free up space when you are not using the grill and they also have a towel bar and tool hooks for hanging your cooking accessories.
If you want to protect your grill from the bad weather conditions or dust, you can buy the Dyna-Glo premium cover for this gas grill model, which can be bought separately. The dimensions of this grill are 22.8 x 49.1 x 45 inches and it weighs 76 pounds. The grill also comes with a single door cabinet with a “tank seat” for storing your propane tank and two locking and two not-lockin heavy-duty wheel casters at the base of the portable gas grill, which gives this grill even more stability.
- 36,000 BTUs of cooking power in total
- 507 square inches of cooking space in total
- A temperature gauge
- Foldable side shelves
- Push button electronic pulse ignition system
Conclusion: Gas vs Propane grill Verdict
As you can see, there are high-quality models on each side so you have to think what is more important to you. The budget or the mobility. If you want to save money in the long run, you should choose natural gas grills, but if you prefer to move the grill all over your patio then the propane is the right choice for you. If you aren’t sure which one is better, then go with the Char-Broil Signature Gas Grill because you can convert it if you aren’t satisfied with the propane grill option. But, if you are more interested in portable gas grills, then I suggest to read my posts about camping gas grills and a post about best gas grill models on the market at the moment.