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Great grilling is within your grasp
TIRED OF taking the heat for your bad barbecuing?
Maybe it's time to stop squirting the charcoal with stinky lighter fluid, dude. And who likes their food charred on the outside and raw inside?
If you haven't shopped for one lately, you'd be shocked at how civilized and reliable barbecues have become. Even old-school charcoal cookers are getting teched up. And some gas-fired grills are almost as sophisticated as professional indoor ranges.
Built-in gauges take the guesswork out of maintaining proper cooking temperature and monitoring gas supply.
A reliable electronic igniter replaces push-button and rotary starters that can be frightfully miss-and-then-hit, with an eyebrow-scorching whoosh of flame.
Still, it pays to kick the tires and bang on the lids of the barbecues at your local big-box store. While even six-burner models might look cute and compact in those vast spaces, how easily are they wheeled about? Do side trays drop down? Can you get the darn thing into your vehicle preassembled (a major convenience service that some retailers offer for free)? Do you have room at home for winter storage?
Take note of the bottom doors hiding the gas tank; they're sometimes flimsy and sticky, impeding access to the gas valve, which ought to be shut off between uses.
You have reason to be suspicious if the lid on one of those big (imported) bubbas feels very light. It's likely made of painted steel that doesn't hold the heat and is more likely to rust.
Flimsy, porcelain-coated steel grates found on $99 specials are likewise no bargain. Better to invest in a pricier model with a heavy stainless steel or porcelain coated cast-iron grate that holds onto the food, heats better (for searing) and wears like, um, iron.
Some current models worth considering:
- Weber Performer Platinum Charcoal Grill: A "best of both worlds" solution for old-school barbecuers who insist on charcoal cooking. The 23-inch porcelain kettle fits inside a wheeled cart with sideboard. An electronically ignited propane gas flame evenly fires up the briquettes. And it has a digital timer.
- Cuisinart All Foods Portable Propane Gas Grill: Tabletop treasure for the space-starved or for picnics, it has a single, 12,000 BTU burner with a reasonably large (240-square-inch) grill and folding stainless steel shelves. It works with interchangeable specialty grills, has a precision temp gauge and cooks with onboard portable LP gas bottles or connects to your big tank.
- Huntington Black Porcelain Coated 3 Burner: U.S.-made exclusive boasts the sturdy feel and most features of coveted, far more pricey Weber models.
- Char-Broil Gourmet 3-Burner TRU-Infrared with Side Burner: Two variants were just judged best buys by Consumer Reports and Men's Journal. The cookers deploy infrared direct heat to sear meat fast and seal juices in.
Purchase Thrifty Propane's Pure HD5 Propane the Best Choice for Propane. Call us today at 800-879-3152 or visit us on the web www.thriftypropane.com
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