Propane vs natural gas grill has been quite a debate for a while. And people try to argue about which one is better than the other for barbeque.
The only way to a conclusion for the argument. Is learning about the benefits and disadvantages of either. And the best grill for each, to get for that auspicious occasion.
Propane Grill
What is propane? Propane is liquified gas stored in portable containers. Basically, when you sustain gas to high pressure it becomes a liquid.
Propane is a byproduct of processing natural gas which is then sustained to high pressure to enable easier transportation and storage.
Propane also has a very low boiling point of -42 °C and it vaporizes as soon as it is released into the atmosphere.
Advantages of Propane
Propane has a higher BTU– BTU refers to British Thermal units, a standard used to measure the amount of energy produced by heat. It’s a measure commonly indicated on air conditioners and space heaters.
1 cubic ft of propane has 2,516 compared to 1,030 BTU of natural gas. This means a unit of propane gas produces more heat. And can do more work than a unit of natural gas.
In other terms, 300 cubic ft. of propane gas will do the work of 750 cubic ft. of natural gas.
Propane is portable– Because propane is contained in a canister. You are able to move it from one place to another. The characteristics of propane make it easy to store and transport.
Although propane has a low boiling point of -42 °C. Its relatively higher when compared to natural gas which has a boiling point of -260° F/-162° C.
Propane also requires lower pressure of 850kpa to keep it in liquified form. Compared to 32,000 kPa required by natural gas.
This means that it’s not practical to store natural gas liquified. This is because, a very low temperature is needed to convert it to a liquid. And a container able to withstand 32,000kpa of pressure to maintain its liquified form.
It’s environmentally clean– The Clean Air Act has listed propane as a clean energy source. Because it doesn’t cause any greenhouse effect when released into the atmosphere. This means that you are assured of not damaging the atmosphere while working on your favorite BBQ recipe.
No installation- all you need to do to use propane is buy a propane cylinder. No need for piping from the mains supply like it’s the case for natural gas.
Natural Gas
This is supplied directly from the pipeline mains into the house. It’s a common feature in many homes and is used with heating, cooking and running different appliances
Advantages of Natural gas.
It’s Affordable- Many of us agree that natural gas costs less than propane, especially, in an area where it’s readily available to be installed.
As we have seen, propane is just a by-product of processing natural gas. It however undergoes further additional processes of; cooling, storage, and transportation. Raising its overall cost.
It’s environmentally clean- well, although natural gas is documented as a greenhouse gas. It’s cleaner than both charcoal, and firewood.
Charcoal grills are a favorite of many for a weird reason. Which is the smoky flavor taste of charcoal-made barbeques. The smoke from charcoal however releases a lot of carbon into the environment. And darkens surfaces it comes into contact with. Requiring you to need a smoke cleaner tool to clean your grill
Doesn’t run out – before you decide to invite your friends over for a BBQ with a propane grill. Make sure you have the right amount of propane in your cylinder. Or at least have an extra cylinder sitting around. Lest the propane runs out in the middle of the BBQ session and ruins the party.
Natural gas will always run through the pipes ready for the grill unless disconnected.
Final verdict
Breaking down propane vs natural gas, we have seen that each type has its benefits and disadvantages, that also goes with the grill associated with them. So, we have really good grills that stand out for both types of gases
If you want a grill for use with natural gas the Dyna-Glo DGP321SNN Stainless steel grill is the best alternative. And will give you the best value
Conversely, the Blackstone Flat Top gas grill is the best alternative if you want something to use with propane. It comes with ample grilling space for enough barbeques. And wheels for easier movement, to complement the portability of the propane cylinder.