Now is the time of grilling. The blistering hot and swampy days of this July (2012) have passed and things are settling into a cooler more enjoyable temperature. Connecticut may not be thought of as grilling territory, but come summer like the rest of America, Nutmeggers let the propane fly. From the gold coast to central Connecticut summer is the season of propane. Regardless if you live in Stamford or Manchester, CT summer is a season tightly associated with propane.
It’s actually odd if you think about it, in the winter propane is used more by many people. It can be used as a replacement for logs in a fire place to cast a clean efficient heat; it can be used to heat a house or its water. On the other hand in summer the only seasonal use for propane is grilling and heating a swimming pool.
So why do so many people use propane grills over charcoal? First a few concessions to charcoal need to be made. It does impart a flavor unlike propane and is more traditional and rustic, you rarely have to worry about charcoal running out halfway through cooking a steak, and charcoal grills are cheaper. There are good uses for charcoal in all honesty. However, propane reigns supreme. There are a lot of good reasons for this.
The first of which is speed. You can turn a knob or two and there’s heat and fire allowing for instant on instant off cooking, a staple of propane and other gas fuels. This makes cooking on a propane grill much more flexible and convenient. You can turn the grill on, throw on a few hot dogs and turn it off as soon as you’re done. Coals are only worth it for a big meal that requires the time that they’ll be burning.
Gas and propane cook famously evenly. If you’re having problems of uneven cooking with your grill it’s on the grill not the fuel. Charcoal can be uneven and the hot spots can shift between cooking. Now, as said there are advantages to both, but for the average person who wants to grill burgers, hot dogs and the occasional steak (especially thin cut ones) a gas grill just makes more sense. Now, if you just bought an entire strip steak, from Stew Leonard’s down in Newington, and had cut it into 2-3 inch thick steaks charcoal is well worth the effort. But for the average meal you picked up in a Manchester, CT grocery store, propane is most sensible fuel to grill it with.
Whether you’re looking to set yourself up for the summer or heat your house in the winter propane is the fuel of choice for more and more families in Manchester, CT. Preferred Energy, just a few miles away in neighboring Vernon the Preferred Energy group can help set you up with a complete system. They can be contacted at 860-870-9276, or find online.
