The smell of chops and sausages sizzling on the grill, the sounds of beer cans popping, the noise of children jumping in and out of the paddling pool...summer is here. There is no doubt that bbqs are a big part of the summer and most households enjoy one every now and again. What many people don't realise however is that their overall enjoyment of bbqs could increase ten fold if they simply traded in their cumbersome, charcoaled fired beast and purchased a sleek and elegantly designed gas fired alternative. When you mention gas bbqs, often people will say "it's just not the same." They are right, it isn't the same. There is no mess, no smoke, no 2 hour wait as it heats up, no chargrilled meat that stays raw on the side, no burnt chicken drumsticks, no difficult clean up....and on and on.

There is no doubt about it, gas bbqs are simply superior to the traditional variety. They offer the same sizzling sounds and the same bbq taste but additionally they provide an easier platform on which to cook and a simpler and less messy overall experience. Lighting a gas bbq takes just moments and it doesn't need refilling with charcoal. Turning off the bbq is easy too. There is no choice but to simply wait when dealing with a charcoal or wood bbq, and in this respect you can find yourself held hostage by the hot ashes. They don't smoke either which can often pose a problem with bbqs, especially if you are having it in a small outdoor space or garden. You can enjoy a gas bbq on nothing larger than a balcony. Try doing that with a charcoal variety and see how far you get! Gas fired grills are easy to clean too so you don't have to cook on top of last years burnt remains that are stuck like superglue to the grill.

Gas bbqs are portable. Although they come in different sizes, the smaller ones can easily be loaded into the back of the car and taken on camping trips, on days out or to the beach for fun in the sun. Stationary bbqs don't offer this same flexibility which really lets them down. There are "throw away" varieties available that can be taken away with you, but not only are they small, they cannot be refilled so once they are cold they will cook no more, and they are difficult to dispose of easily too. Gas bbqs are particularly perfect for camping trips because they provide the family a fun and cost effective way to feed the family each night. Eating out is fun too but this can become extremely costly especially if there are many mouths to feed.

Cooking using a gas fueled grill makes the actual cooking much easier and therefore more enjoyable. Charcoal or wood fired bbqs have to heat up, and if the cooking temperature is judged incorrectly then the food gets burnt or if it is left too long so the heat dies down and the window of opportunity is gone. There are many pitfalls for cooking in this way and those who switch to a gas variety never look back and report of hugely successful cook outs, time and time again.

Because a gas barbecue simply needs connecting to a gas bottle, they are really easy to maintain and use. Whether it is a propane gas bottle or natural gas alternative, it simply needs clipping into place and igniting for instant cooking. If you love barbecues but find them hard work and on the temperamental side then look into a gas variety. They provide all the same benefits of a traditional bbq without any of the down sides.