Low Heat in Propane? Clear Your Gas Lines
Grilled on April 29th, 2006 in Grilling Tips
I fired up the grill today to cook some steaks and usually with two burners the grill temperature can get up to 300 degrees in about a minute, but today the temperature couldn’t get itself past 200 degrees no matter how long I waited. I waited and waited then peeked at the flames, they seemed a little too low even though the knobs were set to “sear.” I checked that the tank was fully open and pretty full (I’ve only grilled maybe four times)
Turns out I had air in the propane gas lines and didn’t properly clear them before I started grilling. It’s a simple fix, just turn off the gas to extinguish the flames, then turn the gas on for about fifteen seconds and then spark the flames. Don’t stick your face near the burners when you do this (obviously) and be very careful because the gas will burst into flames (briefly).
After I cleared the lines, the heat was what I remembered… sizzling hot. Steaks turned out great too.
Image courtesy of suxdonut.
2 Responses to “Low Heat in Propane? Clear Your Gas Lines”
- 1 Pingback on Feb 6th, 2007 at 5:05 am
Got line problems, or just flat out of propane and out of charcoal? Try a cowboy steak!
Take a good cut of beef, like a ribeye, and marinade or season to taste. Throw a well-seasoned cast iron (no, there are no substitutes, it’s GOT to be cast iron) skillet on the stove, dry, and heat on a medium-high heat until it’s too hot to comfortably lay your thumb on the rim. Then let it heat for ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES. Add NO OIL or cooking spray, it’ll BURN if you do.
Throw your steak in the dry skillet, and cover with a wire-mesh splatter screen (available at any good kitchen shop).
Cook five minutes/side for medium rare, seven minutes/side for medium. Don’t overcook, you can turn ten dollars worth of good beef into shoe leather quickly using this technique!
Your steak will have a nicely charred outside, and be tender and juicy inside. Baked potato on the side, of course, and for an extra treat, heat a can of Ranch Style Beans in the skillet with the drippings from your steak. Some sliced tomatos and cucumbers with Ranch dressing complete the meal.
Cowboys working the range in the old days thrived on beef and beans cooked this way.