For father and son Dan and Jason French, grilling year-round is a family tradition. Even when they don't have time to use the charcoal grill, they both own a gas grill that allows for quick and easy after work dinners.
"I fire up the grill about 3 or 4 times a week, and I grill everything," Jason French said. In addition to staples like burgers and steaks, he also grills ribs, brisket, turkey, chicken and wild game.
A propane gas grill can be ideal for cooks who have limited time. They are less dirty than a charcoal grill, since you don't have to deal with the charcoal or cleaning out the ashes afterward.
"You also have ease of use," said Dan French, store manager of Rapid City's Hardware Hank. "If you have it hooked up to your natural gas at home, than you just flip a button and they take less time to warm up than a charcoal grill."
Grilling through the fall and winter season is similar to grilling during the rest of the year, except you might have more wind to deal with and colder temperatures, Dan French explained. "Potentially, you might have a greater warm-up time, and you might use slightly more fuel during the colder months," he added.
For extra chilly days, Dan French said some grills on the market have insulating blankets that you can purchase to help retain the heat.
Jason French, who finds that grilling relaxes him after a long day, said there is no excuse not to grill in the winter.
"Food just taste better when it's cold outside," he said.
It's important to keep your grill covered when not in use to protect it from the weather, and Dan and Jason French said grills should also be cleaned regularly because a buildup of dirt will affect the taste of food and increase the chances of a grease fire.
For gas grills, Dan French recommended checking to make sure hoses are in good shape and connections are tight. If the grill has an electronic ignition, the batteries will need to be replaced periodically.
Dan French said that a good, quality grill starts at around $399, and goes up from there depending on the brand, model, and extra features you need.
"Don't be afraid to spend money on a well-built grill," Jason French said. "They hold heat the well and are more versatile."
Some models have accessory options, such as a rotisserie for grilling poultry, or rotating drums that hold items such as wings or grilled vegetables.
"Put your frozen wings in the grill and when they're done, put on your wing sauce. Great for Sunday football games," Dan French suggested with a grin.
If you're missing that smoke flavor of a charcoal grill, Dan French had an economically and easy suggestion for your propane grill. Take an empty tuna can, buy flavored wood chips - they come in flavors like BBQ, mesquite, and hickory - and place them in the grill while you cook. Make sure you soak the wood chips in water beforehand, because they have to be wet to produce smoke. Dry chips will simply burn.
