I am considering buying a propane grill but would like to know if they are a big hassle to keep clean, and does the food taste as good as it does when you charcoal? If not is there anything you can do to make it taste like charcoaled food? thanks

-- Leesa Baker (leesa73401@yahoo.com), November 17, 1999

Answers

I don't know about using a propane grill but I do know about making stuff taste like it's been grilled over charcoal. I do this when I cook steaks inside. Mix l/2 oil, (olive is best but canola works well) with 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke. Wisk it together until it's mixed well and brush on the meat, on both sides. Do this several times while it's cooking. Enjoy

-- Peggy Carr (wclpc@cookeville.com), November 17, 1999.

I like the propane grills that have lava rock to difuse the heat. For extra flavor, you can add wet hickory, apple, cherry or alder chips for good smokiness. You could try putting a little charcoal on the lava rocks, too.

-- Laura Senderhauf (gsend@hotmail.com), November 18, 1999.

Dan, You can find Liquid Smoke in most grocery stores with the Soy and Worchestershire sauce. I buy it from the Amish a quart at a time as I use it in marinating jerky. It must not be bad for your health. I've been using it for years and haven't killed anyone yet. HaHa. I didn't type in the amount of oil. It should have been 1/4 to 1/2 cup.

-- Peggy Carr (wclpc@cookeville.com), November 18, 1999.

I have had 3 propane grill in the past 17 years, 2 of them stayed with the places when I sold. Of course you have to clean them, you can do it by heat, much like a "self cleaning oven" a bit of a waste of fuel, they make brass brushes to clean off the grill whne you heat it up to cook. there is no waste of charcoal when the cooking is done or ashes to get rid of. the rgease drips down into a little can beneath the grill, just remember to dump it now and then. As far as i am concerned they flavor is as good as hardwood charcoal and it is almost an instant on. Np Naptha or starting fluid or what ever method one needs to start the coals.

-- Bob Henderson (redgate@echoweb.net), November 19, 1999.

I found an enamel grill cover that you just spray a little nonstick coating on and it washes easy in the sink. I bought one in a specialty cooking wares store in the mall and one in target. they were both less than 10.00

-- Rick wyckoff (wittey@aol.com), November 22, 1999.

Sometimes you guys amaze me.

We only have a gas grill because the kids got us one for our 40th wedding anniversary. Convienient, yes. But for poor folks who want to eat like royalty forget it!

For us peasant gourmets, a gas grill is NOTHING like charcoal so far as flavor is concerned... and a good hardwood fire is even better.

Just my humble opinion. But if you ever want a meal that didnt cost anything or something made out of nothing, stop in and Ill show you what I mean.It wont be cooked on the gas grill.

-- jd (belanger@midway.tds.net), November 23, 1999.

OK, folks - here's the hot poop! Gas grills are just about as good as charcoal grills and a whole lot more convenient. Why? Charcoal today isn't charcoal - it's compressed briquettes (isn't that a yuppie spelling?) of "stuff"! Want a really good way to "grill" your steaks or whatever? Build a good fire in your (kitchen) woodstove. (Use oak, maple, hickory, or apple). Let burn down to coals. Break out your 1910 "grill" that fits over the firebox. Grill the steaks. Enjoy the best steaks you have ever had. Pity the "in town" folks that have an electric range and think the smell of a wood fire means the house is burning down. Don't tell them. Enjoy!

Good Luck! Brad

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), February 13, 2000.