Barbecue Food Quality: Gas vs Propane

The biggest difference between a propane barbecue and a natural gas barbecue is not the flavor that is cooked into the food but in convenience of use. Both natural gas and propane—also known as LP or liquid propane—are gasses that fuel burners, providing gas-powered heat to grill your food. If anything, there is a difference in flavor between gas burners and charcoal. Indeed, what distinguishes gas from propane is how the gas hooks up to the barbecue and how it is replaced.

Propane Barbecue: Advantages and Disadvantages

A propane barbecue is fueled by liquid propane that is stored in a portable tank. The tank usually is found below the grilling surface, attached to the grill via a gas line. Propane tanks for grills are most commonly 20 lb. varieties that must be refilled or replaced after about 25 hours of use.

Propane fueled barbecues are convenient because they can be moved anywhere that the grill will stand. Their portability allows them to be brought along on a camping trip, moved under a canopy when it is raining or just positioned somewhere on the deck where it is sunny. The propane tanks when full are not incredibly heavy, so the grill is easy to move. The connection required to hook up a propane tank to the grill is no more complicated than a garden hose.

On the other hand, propane tanks only fuel your grill for so long before they must be refilled or replaced. If your tank is running low, there is the danger of fuel running out while you are still cooking. For this reason, it is always a good idea to keep a second, spare tank on hand for just such an occasion.

Natural Gas Barbecue: Advantages and Disadvantages

Using natural gas to fuel your barbecue is one alternative. The biggest advantage of using natural gas is that there are no spare tanks to keep around for when the fuel runs out. The natural gas comes directly from the line that fuels your home, so there is no refilling or replacing of tanks.

There are two main drawbacks of using natural gas rather than propane. The first is the installation. Whereas propane attaches to a grill quite easily, natural gas must be installed by a technician. It is not a simple matter to run a line from your home to your grill. The second drawback is that once the line is attached, your grill must stay in the same place. You lose all portability.

Gas vs. Propane

Each method of fueling your barbecue has its benefits and drawbacks. If you need portability and don’t want to hassle with installation, propane is the way to go. On the other hand, if you have a permanent barbecue enclosure on your deck or patio and care not to deal with changing fuel tanks frequently, connecting your grill to the natural gas line for your home is advantageous.

Whichever way of fueling your grill you choose, both gas and propane are efficient and quick. Rather than wait for charcoal to heat up, simply turn on the gas line and your grill is ready to cook. Evaluate your needs for a backyard grill and decide which fuel source makes the most sense.