Can You Put Charcoal in a Gas Grill?

Yes… sort of. Some grills have an optional accessory referred to as a charcoal tray. This drop-in component replaces your grill grates and allows charcoal to be placed over the burners. 

The primary benefit of a charcoal tray (aka grill grate) is that it allows you to use hardwood charcoal chunks for grilling. This gives your food the old-fashioned smoky taste that people love.

Charcoal trays are a terrific add-on option for lighting your charcoal with the ease of your easy-to-light burner system. This also eliminates the need for lighting fluid to ignite your charcoal, preserving the flavour of your cuisine. The charcoal will just fall into the drip pan as it burns, making cleanup a breeze.

Once you’ve tried a charcoal tray, you’ll be hooked! Keep one at home and another in your vehicle for camping trips.

How do I Convert a Natural Gas Grill to Propane?

Many people wonder how to convert a natural gas grill to propane. It’s actually not as complicated as you might think! This conversion is easily done with a Gas One or similar adjustable regulator that can be switched from NG to LP (propane). The main change needed is simply to adjust the regulator so that it is set to LP. There are some models of gas grills, such as Broil King, on which the conversion process is automatic when you switch over from NG to LP tanks. Gas One has a complete line of regulators that can be used for converting your gas grill.

Converting your natural gas model to propane will make your grilling experience more flexible. This is especially true for those who enjoy tailgating with their grill in the parking lot of stadiums or local festivals. Where natural gas service is not available, propane can be used instead to ensure that you are always able to grill when you need to!

Can I Burn Wood Chips in my Gas Grill?

Yes… sort of. There are several accessories available for use with your natural gas or propane-fueled grill that will allow you to burn wood chips. These items include the Grill Daddy Grill Insert, Char-Broil’s Smoking Tray, and the Big Green Egg Wood Chip Tube (for pellet grills ).

The wood chips are placed in the tray or tube and coal or pellets are laid on top. These accessories allow you to retain your grill lid for maximum heat retention, while you enjoy the delicious flavour of smoky food!

What is Better, Charcoal or Propane?

Both charcoal and propane produce excellent results when grilling. It really boils down to personal preference and the availability of fuel sources. If you plan to cook for a large group, charcoal will be your best bet for speed and ease of cooking.

Propane is great if you only plan to cook for 4 or 5 people and want the flexibility of grilling in places that do not allow charcoal. For example, we love camping at the beach! We can hook our propane grill into a generator to ensure that we are not limited by a lack of power for cooking.

 If you are looking for an option that will last longer, go with seasoned hardwood charcoal. You’ll get up to 8 hours of grilling time from one three-pound bag!

Can I Use Propane on a Natural Gas Grill?

No, you cannot use propane on a natural gas grill. However, there are accessories available that will allow you to use propane on natural gas.

The Gas One propane regulator adjusts from 0-30 PSI, allowing you to switch your grill easily from natural gas to propane. We also carry a wide range of quick disconnects that will fit on your existing fuel line for a secure and easy hookup.

Is There an Easy Way to Light Charcoal in the Rain?

Yes, you can easily light charcoal in the rain. However, it is important that you have a safe space to do so. Ideally, this would be on your patio or driveway. If you are in the middle of grilling and run into a sudden downpour, you can transfer charcoal to an empty flower pot or metal bucket. Simply place the lid on top to retain all that lovely smoke!

Is it Possible to Cook Without Lighter Fluid?

Yes, you can cook without lighter fluid if you use either hardwood charcoal (such as Kingsford) or natural lump charcoal. Both are readily available in your local convenience store, grocery store, or hardware/lumber yard.

Most boxes of lump contain several flammable sheets that you will either use to light the briquettes initially or line the bottom of your chimney starter with. Simply fill the chimney starter 1/4 full of charcoal and place the sheets on top. Fill to within 1″ of the top (or as directed by your model’s instructions) with more charcoal, place the chimney starter on a grill grate or rack in your grill, and light! The sheets will slowly burn down into your waiting pile of coals.

Why is Propane Better Than Charcoal?

Propane burners are more powerful than an equivalent natural gas burner. This means that you will be able to sear your meat better, cooking with hotter temperatures and reducing flare-ups.

Furthermore, propane is readily available at campgrounds and other outdoor locations where charcoal would be prohibited. Camping is one of the most popular outdoor activities for families that want to get outside but still remain close enough to home for a hot meal and clean clothes.

Can I Use Liquid Propane in my Gas Grill?

No, you cannot use liquid propane (such as what is found in a gas grill) in your natural gas grill. Liquid propane has an overpressure relief valve that will release excess pressure into the atmosphere. This means all of your natural gas will escape before it can reach your burners!

Conclusion:

You would need to hook up a regulator to convert the pressure from liquid propane to natural gas. To learn more about this process, please see our article on converting a grill from liquid propane to natural gas.

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