A guide to gas barbeques

By far the most popular type of outdoor grill in the UK is the type that uses charcoal,although propane and natural gas based barbeques are becoming more and more popular. Whatever type of barbeque you are using, there are a number of steps that you should follow if you are going to get the best, and safest, performance from your outdoor grill:

Always use your grill outdoors. Don't even think about grilling indoors, even in an open garage, as it is too much of a fire hazard.

Make sure that the racks are clean, the cover fits snugly, and that the grill pan doesn't have any fissures or holes in it.

Make sure your grill is clean before you fire it up. This is especially important if it is the first time you have used it this year. In particular, get rid of any old ash, as this can turn into a corrosive chemical when mixed with water. A layer of ash that has been created over the course of a grilling session works

well as a heat insulator, but old ash will only rust your grill.

Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the correct lighting method for your grill, as you may damage your grill permanently if you do this the wrong way.

Gas grills use something known as lava rocks as a secondary heating element.

These look, and behave, a little like charcoal, but the two are far from interchangeable.

Unlike charcoal, lava rocks can be used several times before they need to be replaced.

It is important to keep these as clean as possible, as grease attached to the rocks can catch fire and burn your food unnecessarily.

Don't stack lava rocks, or they will trap grease and catch fire more frequently.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning or replacing the lava rocks.

It is a good idea to set your gas burner on high for a few minutes after you've finished cooking, in order to burn off any grease or food residue from the rocks.

Rearrange and turn over the lava rocks now and then to maximise their efficiency.

Replace the rocks when they start to look dirty and break.

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