Warm-up time:

While a grill's BTUH (BTU/Hour) rating is often cited by the manufacturer, the time required for a grill to actually reach high temperatures is more important. Gas grills can take as little as 6 minutes to reach 600 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heat Control:

The wide range of temperatures in a gas grill allows the user to sear steaks at a high temperature or slow roast effectively. A temperature indicator is a useful accessory to help the cook maintain consistent temperature control.

Heating Evenness:

Gas grills use lava rocks, ceramic rocks, firebrick, or metal grids to ensure even cooking temperatures.

Special Accessories:

Many accessories are available to enhance the grilling experience. These include shish kabob skewers, rotisseries, wiener wheels, warming racks, smokers, griddles, ovens, woks, and side burners.

Easy Clean-up:

Ducane's cooking grid can be washed in your dishwasher. Most foods that can't be wiped off can be burned off. A steel or brass wire brush will quickly clean off the grids (especially porcelain coated grids). Lava rocks or ceramic briquettes can be flipped over and food spills will burn off with the next use.

Convenience:

The quick connect flexible gas hose allows the gas grill to be moved for cleaning or storage. Permanently piped post-mounted grills have a constant supply of fuel and do not require the refilling of storage tanks.

Economy:

Gas grills cost pennies to operate--less than one-tenth the cost of charcoal cooking. Cooking time is dramatically reduced as well. A hamburger which takes twenty-two minutes to cook on a charcoal grill may take only 9 to 10 minutes on a gas grill. Also, when you cook out on your gas grill, you reduce the heat in the kitchen which puts less demand on the home cooling system.

Durability:

Better quality gas grills are constructed of heavy duty cast aluminum and have a long life expectancy so you don't have to replace them every few years. The heavy duty frame construction also provides additional years of trouble-free service. Ducane offers a stainless steel post with a lifetime guarantee.

Safety:

While instant ignition reduces the risk of burns, to protect children and pets, a lit grill should not be left unsupervised. The lid handle and controls are accessible without bringing the user into contact with hot surfaces.

Grill Operating Cost Comparison:

The 40,000 BTU burner at 75% of maximum would consume 30,000 BTUs per hour. The grill is used for 45 minutes, or 0.75 hours, so multiply 30,000 BTUs by 0.75 to get the total BTUs needed for this cookout (22,500). To compare usages, multiply the price per gallon of propane times 1.1 to get the price for 100,000 BTUs. Next, divide the price for 100,000 BTUs by 100,000 to get the price for one BTU. Then multiply the price for one BTU by the number of BTUs needed for this cookout.