The benefits of purchasing gas BBQs
Thursday, 19 April 2012 8:39 AM
The smell of food cooking on a BBQ is unmistakable and signals that summer is here. One of the best ways to spend a weekend or warm evening is to gather friends and family in your garden and enjoy good food, drink and conversation.
However, there are so many types of barbecue on the market it can be difficult to know where to start when buying a new one. Not only do you need to decide which size to purchase, you also have to think about the model and fuel it runs on. The two main types are gas and charcoal, with each having its own advantages.
A Weber gas BBQ, though, might just come out on top for you after reading the list of benefits below.
1. Quick to fire up
If you're busy or simply impatient, gas BBQs are likely to be perfect for you. This is because they heat up in a matter of minutes. So, whether you've decided to throw an impromptu garden party or your kids won't wait too long to be fed, a gas barbecue will see you cooking bangers and burgers in no time.
On the other hand, charcoal ones can take around 45 minutes to get to the required cooking temperature.
2. Easy to control
Unless you take your eye off the grill for too long, you're unlikely to burn food on a gas BBQ. This is because you can control the temperature, whereas a charcoal barbecue is open-flame, so you have to be on the ball and keep turning the food.
So, if you need to grab something from the kitchen or want to have a quick sit-down and drink, you can lower the temperature on gas ones to prevent burning.
3. Convenient to maintain
Obviously you need to keep your BBQ clean to some degree, but with a gas model there is no need to scrape out coals or clean smoke stains. This is great if you have to look after little ones, or you might just want to have some food yourself and enjoy the party, without worrying about a cleaning job ahead of you.
4. Food in a flash
Not only are gas barbecues quick to heat up, but the consistently high temperatures mean food can be cooked faster than it would on a charcoal one. If you have large groups of friends and relatives to entertain, they won't have to wait long to be served. This is especially great if your get-together was planned at the last minute, as gas BBQs require minimum fuss and preparation.
5. Wide range of options
When shopping for gas BBQs, such as those from Weber, you will notice a wide range of sizes and styles. As the garden equipment runs off gas canisters, you can buy models according to your entertaining needs - the more burners, the more powerful and flexible the BBQ will be.
Gas BBQs tend to have greater cooking options to ensure different types of food are catered for. Some of the more sophisticated models come with extras such as thermometers, a rotisserie and large drip trays for the fat.
Of course, charcoal barbecues also have benefits, such as producing a unique smoky flavour - it all depends on your lifestyle and budget, as gas BBQs can be that little bit more expensive due to their convenience.
