Gas

Gas grills can be fueled using propane in a portable cylinder or natural gas that is delivered via underground pipes from a home's natural gas supply to a permanently installed grill. Although some 58 percent of gas grill owners have their LP (liquid propane) cylinders refilled for them, 42 percent find it more convenient to take their empty cylinder to an LP exchange center at a nearby store to get a new, filled cylinder. However, 54 percent of all gas grill users own two or more LP cylinders so they never have to risk running out of gas!

Gas grilling is now safer than ever thanks to a mandate from the National Fire Prevention Association in 2002 that only cylinders with an overfill prevention device (OPD) may be exchanged or refilled. This prevents the cylinder from being filled more than 80 percent -creating a potential fire hazard when rising temperatures cause propane gas to expand and unintentionally be released into the air.

Charcoal

Over 50 percent of charcoal grill owners use regular charcoal briquettes. (Twenty-seven percent use the instant-light variety.)

Added Flavor: Natural wood smoke flavoring pellets are fast gaining in popularity, are easy to use (no pre-soaking required) and available in 12 flavors, all natural, and made from 100 percent of the wood indicated (hickory, orange, sugar maples, etc.).

Ignition: Less than half (47%) of charcoal grill owners light the grill using lighter fluid. Some use a chimney-type lighter (13%) or electric lighters. The chimney lighter is the fastest way to get the coals glowing and requires only about two pounds of briquettes, a crumpled newspaper page, and a match.