By Christie Vanover | Revealed July 8, 2022 | Final Up to date July 8, 2022
There’s nothing worse than grilling a Thanksgiving turkey solely to seek out out halfway by means of the cook dinner that your propane tank has run out of gas. So simply how lengthy does a propane tank final? And the way have you learnt if it’s virtually empty?
Propane Tank Gauges
One of many simple methods to watch the extent of your propane tank is to put in a propane tank gauge. There are few completely different varieties.
Propane Stress Gauge
The pressure meter attaches to the tip of the hose that comes along with your grill. Then, it screws proper on to the tank.
When you twist the knob to open, the gauge will activate and show a studying of inexperienced, yellow or pink. Inexperienced means you might have loads of propane left. Yellow means it’s time to have a backup tank on standby. Pink means it’s time to refill or substitute the tank.
Propane Weight Gauge
One other sort of propane tank gauge is one which weighs the tank. A typical propane tank for a non-portable gasoline grill contains 20 kilos of propane gasoline. These are the white tanks that you just see exterior {hardware} shops and grocery shops.
There are different propane tank sizes, like those used for moveable grills and Coleman stoves, however for the aim of this publish, let’s give attention to the tanks used on a standard gas grill.
While you get a propane tank refueled, the gasoline inside is definitely added based mostly on the load.
With any such gauge, you’ll disconnect the tank out of your grill, connect it to the gauge’s hook and elevate the tank by the gauge.
The dial will provide you with a readout just like the gas gauge in your automobile, starting from full to three/4 to 1/2 to 1/4 to empty.
Propane Magnetic Gauge
The ultimate sort of propane gauge is somewhat simpler to make use of, as a result of it doesn’t contain disconnecting your tank or lifting it. It’s the magnetic gauge.
You stick the magnet to the aspect of the metallic tank and it measures the gas inside based mostly on the temperature.
When a propane tank releases gasoline throughout your cook dinner, the tank will cool and the magnet is ready to register that temperature adjustment to point out how a lot gas is left.
Though that is the best gauge to make use of, I personally don’t discover it as dependable as the opposite strategies.
How To Measure Your Propane Tank Stage and not using a Gauge
You can too measure your tank and not using a gauge, and that is the strategy I exploit.
A propane tank for the standard gasoline grill contains 20 kilos of propane. While you have a look at the tank, you will notice a tare weight embossed on or across the deal with. It should most likely be abbreviated to say TW.
The tare weight signifies how a lot the tank weighs when it’s empty.
So let’s say that your tank’s tare weight is 17.5 kilos. And you understand a full tank contains 20 kilos. Meaning a full tank would weigh 37.5 kilos (the 17.5 kilos for the empty tank and the 20 kilos for the gas).
Flip the knob to shut and disconnect your tank out of your grill. Then, place it on a scale.
Take the load that you just get and subtract it from the tare weight (17.5). It will inform you what number of kilos of propane are left within the tank.
How Lengthy Does a Propane Tank Final
The quantity of propane you’ll use will rely upon how massive your grill is, how excessive of a temperature your cooking at and if you happen to’re utilizing all burners.
rule of thumb is that when you have a medium dimension, 3-burner grill, you’ll get about an hour of cook dinner time per pound of propane.
When you have a bigger gasoline grill, like a 4-burner grill, you’ll get about half-hour of cook dinner time per pound of propane.
So when you have 10 kilos of propane (a half a tank), you’ll get 5-10 hours of grill time, relying in your grill. That’s loads of time to grill a turkey.
GCG Professional Pitmaster Ideas
Need much more nice grilling suggestions? Subscribe to my publication and observe me on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for my newest grilling adventures.