lagasse@biomed.UUCP (Robert C. Lagasse) (05/21/85)
I have seen advertisements for electric outdoor grilles that use "lava rocks". I thought this might be safer than the propane grilles. I am currently a diehard charcoal and ligher fluid person. How does food taste on a propane grille? What about one of these new-fangled electric rock grilles? Comments appreciated.
jgpo@ihu1e.UUCP (john opalko) (05/21/85)
> > I have seen advertisements for electric outdoor grilles that use "lava > rocks". I thought this might be safer than the propane grilles. I am > currently a diehard charcoal and ligher fluid person. How does food taste > on a propane grille? What about one of these new-fangled electric rock > grilles? > Comments appreciated. I, too, used to be a diehard charcoal person, but I bought a Sears propane grill about a year ago and I wouldn't go back to charcoal for anything. Besides not having to worry about dumping the ashes, etc., I've found the propane grill to be cheaper to operate. I get my 20-lb. propane tank filled for about $6.50 and it lasts for twenty or more grilling sessions. What's a bag of Kingsford up to now and how many grilling sessions can you get from a bag? Then there's the cost of the lighter fluid, too. Food cooked over propane and lava rocks tastes pretty much like that cooked over charcoal, because the fats dripping from the meat hit the lava rocks and vaporize, just like they do over charcoal. That's what gives your meat that nice "outdoors" flavor. If you're into exotica like mesquite, hickory, or alder, you can soak some wood chips and dump them onto the hot rocks, just like you'd do with charcoal. I've never had any experience with the electric grills, but I would suspect they'd be on par with propane and charcoal. As a guess, I'd say the propane grill would be less expensive to operate than the electric one. Happy Grilling! John Opalko AT&T Bell Labs Naperville, IL
larry@anasazi.UUCP (Larry Rodis) (05/22/85)
> > I have seen advertisements for electric outdoor grilles that use "lava > rocks". I thought this might be safer than the propane grilles. I am > currently a diehard charcoal and ligher fluid person. How does food taste > on a propane grille? What about one of these new-fangled electric rock > grilles? > Comments appreciated. I have a older elecrtic grill that uses lava rock and am in general happy with it. The reason being that I didn't pay for it. Seriously it works pretty well but I prefer the propane grills because they seem to heat the grill area more evenly. -- Larry Rodis UUCP: {decvax|ihnp4|hao}!noao!terak!anasazi!larry ucbvax!arizona!asuvax!anasazi!larry PHONE: +1 (602)275-0302
heneghan@ihu1m.UUCP (Joe Heneghan) (05/22/85)
> > I have seen advertisements for electric outdoor grilles that use "lava > rocks". I thought this might be safer than the propane grilles. I am > currently a diehard charcoal and ligher fluid person. How does food taste > on a propane grille? What about one of these new-fangled electric rock > grilles? > Comments appreciated. I have owned a propane unit for 4 years now. I swore up and down to my wife that we were nuts to spend over $100 when we could buy a Weber for $50. We bought the propane anyway and it's one of the smartest things I ever did. Advantages: 1. Heats up quick 2. Tastes as good as any other barbecue (you can add hickory chips or charcoal for flavor) 3. Cheap to use - $8.00 a year for a refill Problems: 1. After awhile I had to buy more lava rocks (big deal) 2. Never got the "electric start" to work (I use a lighter) 3. It got a little rusty on the tank and the legs, so I touched it up with rustoleum (I leave it out year round)