This one’s for you – the beginners – as you pursue a desire to be the family grill master. Or the neighborhood grill master? We can get on board with that, too, but let’s reel it in a bit and start with the basics.
New to Gas Grilling?
Welcome! You’re in the right place. There’s never a bad time to learn the art of gas grilling. It’s a fun work in process, and we’re here to help.
We have a full lineup of recipes available for you at all times. We also have loads of tips and FAQs on our website. Take advantage of these in your pursuit of becoming a grill master!
Where to Start?
Let’s start at the beginning. First and foremost, be sure that you have enough propane. If there’s a need, be sure to find a Blue Rhino tank near you with our propane location finder!
Brainstorm what you’ll be flipping in the beginning stages of your adventure to becoming a grill master. Have you always wanted to grill the world’s most delicious burger? How about a mouthwatering chicken or steak? Whatever it might be, identify one or a few go-to food items before expanding your horizons.
How to Hook Up Your Propane Tank and Start Your Gas Grill
You’ll need to know how to hook up your Blue Rhino tank to your grill in order to fire it up. Since not every grill is the exact same, it’s important to refer to the owner’s manual to learn how to properly attach your tank and connect the gas hose.
Generally speaking, most tanks either have a designated cabinet under the grill for your propane tank or the tank attaches to the side. Remove the protective cap from the grill tank and attach the grill’s gas hose to the grill tank with the regulator. Then, turn the gas tank handwheel to the open position (a single turn), then check for any leaks or wear and tear on the hose.
Finally, it’s time to bring on the flames. To do so, most manuals provide a couple options for how to ignite your grill. One way is through a starter, or an ignitor button. When pushed, the ignition rod is placed in the gas flow, ultimately leading to the grill burners. Another common option is match lighting; we’ll once again refer you to your owner’s manual to successfully complete that step.
Now that you have your heat source, allowing 15-20 minutes of preheating is strongly recommended. This will prepare the grill to appropriately heat your food.
The Gas Grilling Basics
From gathering common grilling tools to cleaning your grill, there are plenty of grilling basics to take in.
- For starters, you’ll want to have some of the basic grilling tools on hand, such as a metal spatula, tongs, grill brush, and gloves.
- Direct heat or indirect heat? When grilling with direct heat, your food is simply directly on top of the flame. This is perfect for your juicy burgers, hot dogs, and shrimp – just to name a few. Meanwhile, with indirect heat we’re working with a zone adjacent to the flame so that the food isn’t on top of the heat source. These foods, say your ribs or whole chicken, take longer to prepare when grilling with indirect heat, but the result is a delicious meal.
- There’s a good reason most grills come with a top rack! Take advantage of it by keeping meats warm once finished. You can use it to warm buns, too.
- To preserve the longevity of your grill, you’ll want to keep it clean. Two quick tips:
- Use a grill brush to do a once over of the grates, then do the same with a rag.
- Spread an onion on the grates, leaving a subtle flavor for future foods.
- We strongly recommend the use of a meat thermometer. It provides a clearer understanding of when your meat is cooked to the correct temperature. This will limit the possibility of overcooked meat. Nobody wants that. Check out our meat temperature guide to learn the safest internal temperatures for your food!
- Keep grill closed as much as possible. Sticking to recipe, of course, but it’s important your grill remains shut when foods aren’t being flipped or tested for temperature.
Once you’re comfortable with some of the basics of propane grilling – and that could be a few tries or multiple attempts – then by all means, experiment with a wider range of food!
Extra Tips When Using a Gas Grill
Now that you’re almost ready to grill, we’d like to provide some extra grilling tips, or the need-to-knows about the fine art of propane grilling.
- Every grill master’s biggest mistake is running out of propane in the middle of a cookout. Prevent this by keeping a spare Blue Rhino tank on hand.
- Add additional grill space, such as a small table next to the grill, for your utensils, ingredients, etc. This will help keep you organized when your food is hot on the grill.
- Throw in some flavor. Mixing in some marinade, rubs, and oils can make all the difference in taste.
How Far Can You Take Your Skills?
As far as you want! Becoming a grill master can be accomplished through practice, much like anything else. However, you don’t have to be the best griller on the planet to enjoy delicious food made from the comfort of your backyard.
When grilling with Blue Rhino, the sky is the limit. We’re happy to be in your corner during your pursuit of grill master status so bookmark Rhino Feed, the official blog of Blue Rhino, to keep up with the latest happenings and recipes we have to offer. The experiences are what matters most, and that’s what we’re here for, to help you along the way. Happy grilling!
Published: 2020.05.22