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It is evident that grilling is a fun activity that most of us enjoy, and there is nothing more exciting than a backyard BBQ party on a beautiful weekend.
If you are an avid fan of BBQ and plan to buy a good grilling oven, it is important to know what is suitable for your conditions. In this post, we will give you a thorough comparison of electric vs gas grill.
Scroll down for details!
Table of Contents
Electric Vs Gas Grill – A Side-To-Side Comparison
Space Requirement
Space is a factor you should be concerned about first before deciding which to opt for.
Electric grills are the perfect choice for those who do not have a backyard or live in apartments since this kind of grill does not require a lot of space.
Although there are bigger sizes, they generally require the space of 2×2 square feet. This type of grill also allows us to cook indoors and outdoors according to our will.
Meanwhile, petrol grills are generally bigger. This kind of grill usually requires an average space of 6×4 square feet, not to mention larger models. It is suitable for a backyard, as you can only place it outdoors and far away from the petrol source.
Energy Source And Ease Of Use
One point that makes the electric choice different from others is that it requires no fuel but electricity to cook food. All you need to do to activate an electric grill is plug it into an outlet. After that, instead of fire lighting up and grilling the food, the electricity does all the tasks by heating the grilling surface.
With that being said, this type of oven is fairly simple to use, and you may get the burnt edges and grill marks on your meat as if you do it with a traditional grill.
On the contrary, the petrol option is more traditional because it is fueled by petrol. Its general structure includes one or multiple burners in which the petrol will go through to form an open flame. With this oven, the meat is cooked directly on the fire.
Gas grills indeed provide a more authentic experience of cooking food over a fire.
However, using it is not as simple as an electric one since the grill needs to be connected to a propane tank or any other petrol source. This is not to mention that you have to be a little experienced not to overcook or burn the meat when using it.
Versatility
Regarding versatility, it is obvious that the gas one triumphs over its competitor. Although the electric one is simple to use and can sear the edges of your meat if you turn up the heat, these are the only two advantages it offers.
On the other hand, when using a gas one, especially one with multiple burners, you can try different grilling techniques from regular grilling, 2-zone cooking, smoking, roasting, or even baking.
Flavour And Quality Of Food
Electric grills allow you to cook food with very consistent results as you have full control over the heat. The ovens will prevent you from overcooking or burning your food with no flare-ups. However, the flavour may not be as grill-like as cooking on a gas one.
As for the other type, the food is cooked directly on a flame, giving it a tempting smoky barbecue flavour. During the grilling, the dripping juice and fat from the food cause flare-ups, making the food taste even better.
Maintenance
It is so easy to take care of electric grills. All you need to do is keep them away from water, or else the heating system will not work. It is best to keep your grills dry. After cooking, clean up the cooking surface thoroughly with a kitchen towel.
Maintaining petrol grills, however, takes a little more time. After using them, you have to burn off and remove all the fall-over food. You should also wash all the grill’s removable parts, including grates, grease strays, or heating plates, with hot water.
Furthermore, petrol connections, burners, and ignition systems must be carefully checked. It is very important to see if they are still intact and secured.
Capacity Of Cooking
Normally, a typical electric grill is capable of 2 to 6 people. A couple, a small group of friends, or family can opt for it.
However, you can host a big BBQ party with all your friends and neighbours with gas grills as they have enough space for 20 burgers at once. Their size also varies greatly: from a small, compacted one to those that are capable of a hundred people.
Capability In Bad Weather
One big downside of electric gas grills is that they cannot be used outdoors in bad weather, especially when raining or snowing. This is because the electronic components are not suitable for cooking in wet or extremely cold weather.
This is not to mention the risk of electric shock when cooking in wet weather. It is best to just place the oven in the garage or kitchen during bad seasons.
Meanwhile, gas grills have better endurance because you can use them even when it is snowing or slightly raining. One small problem is that it may take more time to heat the oven in such wet and cold weather.
Conclusion – Which Should You Buy?
After providing you with a thorough comparison of the two most popular types of the grill in this – electric vs gas grill, and we will draw a quick conclusion:
Electric grills are suitable for those who only have their BBQ occasionally. This grill is also suitable if you want to cook indoors and outdoors. This type of oven is an ideal option for those living in apartments or limited space.
If you are a big fan of BBQ parties and live in a house with a backyard, it is best to choose gas grills. If you are the one who enjoys the smoky flavour of the grilled meat, then buying it is a perfect decision. With gas grills, large parties with friends and family are more enjoyable.
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