Gas BBQs - Even cooking...

Salu · 08-06-2006, 15:44

Is there a way you can get a gas BBQ to heat the lava evenly or is it a design fault....?
This is the second gas BBQ I have bought and I have the problem on both.

The burner is a rounded rectangle in the centre of the bbq but the flame doesn't reach out far enough to heat the lava on the edge of the device so you get a hot ring following the flame,a cold spot in the centre and a cold spot at the edge......producing guess what.....uneven cooking....

Other "machines" seem to employ the same technology but I wondered if anyone had any tips, like increasing the flow of the gas etc...

Kliro · 08-06-2006, 15:52

I don't really know how these work, with all the lava and whatnot - but possibly a sheet of copper cut to size and placed over everything? (but underneath the grill thing of course)

As a nicer alternative, what about a hard fuel BBQ?? They make thefood taste so much nicer :P

marky · 08-06-2006, 16:13

This can sometimes be cured by using a spirit level, but i normally find the far end from the inlet gets the hottest and there isnt a lot you can do, basicly the more you pay the better you get

---------- Post added at 16:13 ---------- Previous post was at 16:10 ----------

Sorry, i misread, try putting more lava rock on so the heat has to work its way through

Salu · 08-06-2006, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by marky

This can sometimes be cured by using a spirit level, but i normally find the far end from the inlet gets the hottest and there isnt a lot you can do, basicly the more you pay the better you get

---------- Post added at 16:13 ---------- Previous post was at 16:10 ----------

Sorry, i misread, try putting more lava rock on so the heat has to work its way through

It seems like the problme is that the flame does not reach the edge so would more lava make a difference? I can almost touch the grill at some places at the edge, it's only warm/hot and meat stays raw....

marky · 08-06-2006, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salu

It seems like the problme is that the flame does not reach the edge so would more lava make a difference? I can almost touch the grill at some places at the edge, it's only warm/hot and meat stays raw....

If the lava is a couple of coals deep the heat tends to spread through, if not it just heats the ones that get hit by the flames.

pop80_uk · 08-06-2006, 16:40

Lava? Are you trying to cook your food on a volcano!

Maybe try increasing the gas flow? or cleaning the jets?

bopdude · 08-06-2006, 18:11

Father in Laws cooks decent enough, it was only a cheapo one ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£50 ish IIRC but it has about 4 outlets covering the base of the bbq, this is what you should be looking at, I think. As has ben said though, maybe more rock so that the heat from below distributes a bit more on the way to the top.

greencreeper · 08-06-2006, 18:32

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but aren't BBQs supposed to be charcoal

If you're using gas, then what's the point - might as well use the cooker and take the food outside. Suppose it's BBQing for the man who can't light a fire - so he can do the hunter/gatherer/provider thing, the 21st C way

danielf · 08-06-2006, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by greencreeper

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but aren't BBQs supposed to be charcoal

If you're using gas, then what's the point - might as well use the cooker and take the food outside. Suppose it's BBQing for the man who can't light a fire - so he can do the hunter/gatherer/provider thing, the 21st C way

Because you cook over lava rock, which is heated by the gas (and apparently gives a similar taste, but I imagine is much easier to light).

08-06-2006, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salu

Is there a way you can get a gas BBQ to heat the lava evenly or is it a design fault....?
This is the second gas BBQ I have bought and I have the problem on both.

The burner is a rounded rectangle in the centre of the bbq but the flame doesn't reach out far enough to heat the lava on the edge of the device so you get a hot ring following the flame,a cold spot in the centre and a cold spot at the edge......producing guess what.....uneven cooking....

Other "machines" seem to employ the same technology but I wondered if anyone had any tips, like increasing the flow of the gas etc...

Build a cone shape with the lave rock round the flame then ignite the flame, this will allow the lave rock to ignite, I used to do the same with a coal fire when it wouldn't light.

**Chris** · 08-06-2006, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Because you cook over lava rock, which is heated by the gas (and apparently gives a similar taste, but I imagine is much easier to light).

Still seems to defeat the object to me.

Salu, the best thing you can do if you want to cook evenly is ditch the gas burner and buy a proper barbecue. You can rake the coals around 'til your heart's content then. It's a lot cheaper to run as well.

Plus, of course, charcoal is carbon-neutral so it's better for the environment than burning yet more gas.

danielf · 08-06-2006, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

<snip>
Plus, of course, charcoal is carbon-neutral so it's better for the environment than burning yet more gas.

Erm yes, but doesn't burning charcoal convert the carbon into CO2, a greenhouse gass?

nffc · 08-06-2006, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

<snip>
Plus, of course, charcoal is carbon-neutral so it's better for the environment than burning yet more gas.

Erm yes, but doesn't burning charcoal convert the carbon into CO2, a greenhouse gass?

Of course, charcoal is carbon.

**Chris** · 08-06-2006, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Erm yes, but doesn't burning charcoal convert the carbon into CO2, a greenhouse gass?

The CO2 that is given off by burning wood has been removed from the environment in the recent past, by a growing tree. The removal and return of this CO2 is part of the natural equilibrium in our environment. The same amount of CO2 is removed and replaced, over and over again - hence 'carbon neutral' (provided, of course, that the charcoal manufacturer continues to plant new trees, which of course they do, in order to stay in business).

The greenhouse effect is brought about by the release of CO2 that has been trapped in fossil fuels for millennia, which upsets the equilibrium.

Salu · 08-06-2006, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

Still seems to defeat the object to me.

Salu, the best thing you can do if you want to cook evenly is ditch the gas burner and buy a proper barbecue. You can rake the coals around 'til your heart's content then. It's a lot cheaper to run as well.

Plus, of course, charcoal is carbon-neutral so it's better for the environment than burning yet more gas.

I ditched the charcoal as it was very hard to control the heat and took ages to cool down and it was much more convienient to have a quick BBQ. It's a superior taste though, no doubt.

All they need do is have more outlets for the flame, the problem is solved then....