Efficiency, Air Quality Should Be Considered When Choosing A Grill

Q. I’m in the market for a new barbecue grill. I’m interested in an energy-efficient and clean-burning product. How do electric, gas and charcoal models compare in these aspects? J.D., Spokane

A. Congratulations for doing your consumer homework! Most grill shoppers don’t think to consider energy efficiency and air quality, but they can be important factors. For city dwellers, there’s nothing more unappetizing than a neighborhood filled with the smell of lighter fluid from house after house of charcoal grills. And for gas grill fans, considering energy efficiency in the purchase can save a few extra trips to the fueling station.

Here’s what we know about energy use and air pollution for barbecue grills:

Which is the most energy efficient? The “most energy efficient” means the grill that uses the least amount of energy (measured in British thermal units (BTU), a standard unit of energy) to get the cooking done. Of the three grill types, gas and electric are comparable in being the most efficient. Charcoal is the least.

There are also differences in efficiency between brands and models using the same fuel. For example, one propane model may use 3,600 BTUs to cook a burger while another may use 5,300 BTUs. One feature on electric and gas grills which enhances efficiency is independent burner control. A unit with several small burners with independent controls allows you to match the burner to the quantity of food you’re cooking.

While high efficiency is a good feature to get in a grill, it doesn’t always mean the higher efficiency grill will cost the least to operate. Differences in the cost of electricity and propane make propane grills more expensive to cook with despite their superior efficiency. The opposite is true if natural gas is used. It’s about one third the cost of electricity. Within models using the same fuel, higher efficiency models will generally cost less to operate.

Pollution: Grills pollute through combustion of the fuel. Electric grills are the least-polluting because they aren’t combustion appliances - they don’t burn anything at the point of use.

Gas and charcoal grills burn fuel at the point of use. Charcoal is the least-clean burning of the two because of inefficient combustion at start-up. Most people use lighter fluid which is a petroleum distillate that emits volatile organic compounds which contribute to smog.

Improvements are being made to lighter fluid formulas so that less of the fluid evaporates. If you use lighter fluid, look for improved products sometimes labeled as “meeting the South Coast Air Quality Management District standards.”

However, a safer and lesspolluting alternative is available in the form of the charcoal chimney which concentrates the coals in a metal chimney stack. This speeds the process and eliminates the need for lighter fluid. Two sheets of newsprint lit below the stack of charcoal is usually enough to get it started. The start is a bit smoky, so it’s not altogether pollution-free. Charcoal chimneys are available at most hardware stores and outlets carrying barbecues.

In a recent survey by National Demographics and Lifestyles, grill buyers were found to have many diverse interests. But one thing in common was the belief that barbecuing was less work than cooking indoors and that it’s relaxing.

Good luck with your decision and many hours of clean and efficient cooking.

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The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Amy Mickelson Washington State Energy Office Cynthia Putnam assisted with the writing of this column.