Propane Grill Thoughts

When you enter the realm of BBQ you will find that there is a raging debate over what is "true" or "the best" method for smoking meat. The smoker you use for your creation will set you firmly in one camp or another. Traditionalists verses taste quality. Ease of preparation versus flavor. Everyone is biased to one degree or another. If for no other reason than they like to believe that "their" BBQ is the real deal, the best stuff. So it only stands to reason that if you feel passionately about your BBQ dish that you will also feel passionately about your smoker and method you have so painstakingly developed to give that "perfect" smoke flavor.

The traditionalists will cringe when you suggest a propane grill for BBQ. They will even make fun of those who use them, and they will do it in front of them as well as behind their backs. So if you choose a propane model, be aware that if you get into the meat smoking circles there WILL be some teasing.

That may be just fine with you though. Why, you may ask? Because you may need everything the propane grill has to offer. They are very convenient for a number of reasons. You can always find propane, so you will almost never be anywhere without the ability to get the needed fuel. Another plus to the propane smoker is the ease of clean up. You don't have any ashes to haul off, empty out, or dispose of in any way. Which leads me to another convenience attached to them - time savings. Because you don't have to spend time looking for fuel or disposing of ashes you save time that you could be using elsewhere to enjoy your family, friends, or BBQ. And we haven't even discussed consistent temperature while cooking, which is fairly important in the smoking process. So, you may be just fine with the teasing, knowing that you have chosen wisely.

For the BBQ enthusiast who may not have lots of time or resources to spend on their favorite style of meat preparation, or for the weekend BBQer the propane grill may just be the best choice. For the "on the go" folks they are also really great because of their portability - there are several portable models that will allow you the freedom to take your smoker experience with you, wherever you go. Don't short yourself on your BBQ dreams because of the traditionalists out there who believe that only one method or style is the "true" or "real" way to go. It should be shared by all who want to share it. That is one of the great beautiful things about BBQ.