Last Updated on November 9, 2021 by
Do Gas Grills Need Briquettes? Many chefs think of “going briquettes” with the gas grills. Indeed, it can be tempting to return to the 90s or say experience energy-saving traditional cooking. But then, do gas grills need briquettes?
Some gas grills need briquettes. If your manufacturer does not specify support for briquettes, do not add any variety to your gas grill. Typically, gas grills that support briquettes feature either a tray or grate that keeps briquettes in place.
You can reuse briquettes in your gas grill to save money, they last for some years.
After grilling, turn off the vents, remove the burning briquettes and store them in a dry place for the next cook.
Should You Use Briquettes with Gas Grills?
You can use briquettes with a gas grill if the manufacturer specifies or recommends the use of it. Otherwise, do not add briquettes to your grill. If not designed for briquettes, it is not for briquettes.
If your gas grill supports briquettes, it should be obvious how to add them. Again, gas grills that use briquettes feature a tray or grate just above the burners.
There are many briquettes you can perfectly use for your gas grill. Charcoal and ceramic briquettes are two commonly used varieties.
Can You Use Charcoal Briquettes in a Gas Grill?
You can use charcoal briquettes in your gas grill. Underneath the grilling grate is the tray where you line up your coal briquettes to bring back 90s cooking lifestyle.
When the burners heat the charcoal briquettes, you get radiant heat for grilling. You will have to wait for some minutes for them to heat up. It also takes some time to cool down so you put them away. Charcoal briquettes get quickly cool.
Nevertheless, charcoal briquettes can retain their heat for a tangible time. Thus, the gas grill temperature does not immediately fall after you open the lid. The heat also increases faster when you replace the lid.
Can You Use Ceramic Briquettes in Gas Grill?
Ceramic briquettes can give your barbecue the ancient kingly taste. Place them between the cooking surface and burners.
Like the charcoal counterpart, ceramic briquettes can heat up and evenly distribute heat for consistent grilling. You can also easily gasify your meat dripping.
The ceramic briquettes’ gasification (steam/smoke) gives your meat the traditional open-fire flavor.
Again, if your gas grill uses a grate, then it is likely that you can add your ceramic briquettes. Ensure to spread them across the grate evenly. Depending on your grill, you may only have enough brackets to directly cover over the flame.
Your gas grill may be able to handle the heat from burning charcoal briquettes. The heat from charcoal briquettes produces enormous heat that can damage your gas grill components, so be mindful.
Briquette Gas Grill
As mentioned severally, not all gas grills can withstand briquettes heat. Nevertheless, some premium gas grills out there in the market let you return to open fire grilling.
Below is the best briquettes gas grill:
Kismile KM-5914
The Kismile KM-5914 is the propane gas grill to invest in for your convenient open fire grilling. Speaking about size, its large capacity can handle enormous briquettes to speed up grilling.
What is more interesting? It packs up to 4 easy-to-clean stainless steel burners capable of 42,000 BTU per hour. Advisably, you should have the KM-5914 handle your outdoor parties and family gathering.
- Stay-cool handles. The Kismile KM-5914 uses stay-cool handles widened away from the cover of the furnace to prevent hand burns. The thoughtful use of stainless steel material also ensures easier cleaning after grilling.
- Spacious. Again, Kismile offers large enameled cooking grills enough for the family. You have shelves on both sides to place your food ready for grilling.
Zefeel MASTER COOK
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MASTER COOK, as the name implies, is built for chefs with good taste. This is a premium propane gas grill that lets you use briquettes contemporarily.
Speaking of cleaning, MASTER COOK uses a stainless steel control panel with metal gloss designed with aesthetics and convenience in mind. It should take the shortest time to completely clean.
- Spacious. A bigger space means more briquette allocations. The MASTER COOK is made cart-like with the vision of creating more space to keep you closer to the items. Stretching out to other places is eliminated so that you focus on cooking the perfect food in one place.
- Movable and stable. With two large wheels, you can move your briquette-capable gas grill around your patio. Stability is ensured by its four-stand design which enhances consistent grilling.[easyazon_link identifier=”B082HG76CB” locale=”US” tag=”realkal-20″]Click here to see on Amazon[/easyazon_link]
How to Use Briquettes in a Gas Grill
Using briquettes in your gas grill is simple, depending on your product manufacturer. You only have to place the briquettes above the burner and beneath the cooking grate. Arrange them orderly in your metal grid tray.
Next, you heat the briquettes which gradually change in color. Make sure the burner keeps running while you grill.
Meanwhile, ceramic briquettes will retain high heat if you turn off the burner, whereas charcoal briquettes do not. Nevertheless, charcoal briquettes still keep the grilled food warm for some time.
Your briquettes will perform well during grilling if you ensure to clean them regularly. Normally, you clean your briquettes when they start heating unevenly or flare-up while cooking.
Can You Reuse Briquettes?
Briquettes are perfectly reusable. After grilling your favorite food, do not dispose of the briquettes. Store them in a dry place until your next cook.
Alternatively, you can turn over your briquettes for the grill to burn off the crud if they are not very dirty. The crud burning will take place during your next grilling session.
Some chefs never move or wash their briquettes because whatever drips get burnt off eventually. This might never be the case with you as you may have to wash your briquettes for effective cooking.
Experts advise “soaking dirtier briquettes in a vinegar pail”. This should last for about 10-15 minutes before you scrub them with a soft brush.
Finally, rinse and allow the briquettes to dry properly before you add them to your gas grill. Do not hesitate to replace ineffective briquettes so you do not get flares or uneven heating.
How Long Does It Take for Briquettes to Get Hot?
It takes an estimated 15 minutes for briquettes to get hot in your heated grill.
If using charcoal briquettes, you know they are hot when they turn grey ash. How fast they heat up also depends on your type or density of charcoal and the storage humidity.
For instance, lighter cowboy charcoal can take approximately 10 minutes to get hot. Higher quality briquettes such as Kingsford will take up to 20 minutes.
After you heat the briquettes, the flame subsides. You will get grey briquettes until the heat spreads across the tray to heat all briquettes. You can start your flavorus grilling.
For ceramic briquettes, turn them over if not using a briquette tray to keep the greasy surface facing down. After cranking up the heat, close the grill lid and allow up to 15 minutes to get hot.
At 15 minutes, your briquettes should reach maximum temperature or searing. If you want to grill your barbecue at a lower temperature or slow-cook, preheat for 7-10 minutes. Note that the coldness or windiness of the weather determines how long you preheat.
How Long Does Briquettes Burn in Gas Grill?
Your briquettes can burn in a gas grill for up to 3 or more hours, depending on ‘you’, ‘brand’, and ‘weather condition’. You can cook your vegetables, juicy steaks, or make a whole roast. Just place your food on the grate, cover the lid, and await the magic of traditional cooking.
Charcoal briquettes normally burn in a gas grill for approximately an hour at a steady temperature. This is quite hotter than smoking temperatures.
Again, various briquette brands burn differently longer. Find a brand that burns as long as you want and stick with it.
Burn times would generally depend on how you manage fire and airflow—more oxygen means higher heat.
How Long Do Gas Grill Briquettes Last?
Briquettes can last up to 5 years before you have to replace them. Most briquettes self-clean, and you can get them to last even longer by regularly brushing off debris.
Meanwhile, compared to lava or heat shields, ceramic briquettes last longer. On the other hand, charcoal briquettes do not expire as long as you keep them from moisture.
If your briquettes use additives that help them to light, their lifespan will depend on the additives. Therefore, if your charcoal briquettes use additives, they can expire faster as the additives wear off.
When to Replace Gas Grill Briquettes?
If debris or grease build-up will not come off when cleaning your briquettes, you need replacement gas grill briquettes.
Other signs that it is time to replace your briquettes include cracks, unpleasant odors during grilling, and crumbling.
With your tastebuds, you can also tell when briquettes need replacements. If your grilled food has a rancid flavor, your briquettes have reached their useful end.
Do not use bad briquettes on your gas grill for the following reasons:
- Poor food flavor
- Uneven heat distribution
- Flare Ups
Final Thoughts on Do Gas Grills Need Briquettes?
Briquettes are a truly traditional way to replace your gas grill grates. You can use them in the open, place them over the burner for the ancient flavor to fill the air. There are a variety of briquettes to pick from, buy what suits your menu.
Briquettes also distribute heat evenly across your gas grill. They are energy efficient and let you heat food consistently.
Apart from saving energy, briquettes also absorb heat, so they can radiate heat even if you turn off your gas grill to keep the food warm.
