Benefits Over Charcoal Grills

• A gas grill is ready to cook as soon as you are ready to start your meal. There is no waiting on the charcoal to burn down, and excessive wind does not affect lighting of a gas grill. A gas grill takes much less cleanup than a charcoal grill. Charcoal ashes can be very messy when you dispose of them. A gas grill is cleaned by brushing the cooking surface before cooking. Occasionally, some foods drip into the bottom and these can be easily wiped out. Also periodically clean any ash residue from the burner and make certain that there is nothing blocking the gas flow.
  Gas grills cool off much quicker than a charcoal grill. The temperature is easy to maintain for as long as you need it to finish cooking your meal. Some foods take much longer cooking times; charcoal grills may not burn long enough or may have hot spots that will burn foods.
  
  

Types

• Gas grills operate on propane or natural gas. The propane grills require replacing or refilling of the fuel, but the natural gas setup allows you to use the natural gas tank for your home. A natural gas grill requires installation of a natural gas supply hose and fittings, which should be completed by a professional.
  
  

Size and Price

• The price of a grill is relative to its size, so the larger grill you choose will have a larger price tag due to models, brands and additional features. The simplest way to explain size options of gas grills is to place them in three categories. The first is a budget grill. This is a small to medium grill, which will cook 30 or fewer hamburgers at once. If you have a small family and do not have many large gatherings, then this size is adequate. The mid-sized grill is a good choice for a larger family, or families that like to celebrate birthdays and other milestones outside. The high-end grill is quite substantial in size and price. They have solid, stainless steel construction and lifetime burner warranties. Large gas grills are often used in permanent outdoor kitchens and built into a brick or rock frame to showcase their beauty and usefulness.
  
  

Features

• Gas grills have many options to consider when purchasing. There are side burners, warmers and a smoker tray. Some of the models include bun and bread warming racks and may even have a rotisserie attachment for cooking large pieces of meat. Additional burners are features on the medium and larger grills, and each size larger typically will contain more storage space in the cabinets below the cooking areas.
  
  

Considerations

• When choosing a gas grill, consider the features you desire. All sizes of gas grills cook exactly the same. A larger grill will have more burners to cook larger quantities of food at one time.
  
  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises safety in gas grilling: "Each year about 30 people are injured as a result of gas grill fires and explosions. Many of these fires and explosions occur when consumers first use a grill that has been left idle for a period of time or just after refilling and reattaching the grill's gas container." Visit their website (see Resources) for a complete list of safety practices when using a gas grill.