Electric Lighter vs. Traditional Gas Grill Lighters: A Comprehensive Comparison Plus a Secret Hack!
When it comes to firing up your grill, the method you choose can greatly impact your cooking experience. The new generation of electric lighters represent a significant advancement in grill-lighting technology, offering a range of features that set them apart from traditional gas blow torches or conventional gas lighters. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you understand why an electric lighter might be the superior choice for lighting your grill. Or is it....
Electric Lighter Game-Changing Technology
The new generation of all-electric, battery-powered grill lighters are designed to ignite your grill effortlessly in just 60 seconds. It boasts dual functionality, allowing users to switch between torch mode for ignition and blower mode to accelerate the fire to high heat. This innovation offers a level of convenience and efficiency unmatched by traditional methods. Alternatively, you can choose a corded electric lighter which also works great. The only drawback is the cord so it is less convenient if your grill isn't near an outlet.
Advantages of Electric Lighters
- Electric Powered Efficiency: The battery powered versions, like the Looft X, are equipped with a powerful 36V Li-Ion battery. The Looft X Lighter can light your grill approximately five times on a single charge, eliminating the need for constant refueling. The corded version performs even better but has a cord.
- No Gas Taste: Since electric lighters do not use gas as a propellant, there is no gas taste on any of your grilled food.
- Convenience and Safety: With no gas or open flames involved, an electric lighter provides a safer and more user-friendly experience. Having a blower function also is a huge benefit.
- Portability: The battery-powered design allows for easy transport, making it perfect for lighting your grill anywhere.
- Stylish Storage: Battery versions come with a matching charging station for convenient storage and ensures it's always ready for use.
Disadvantages of Traditional Gas Grill Lighters
- Safety Risks: Gas blow torches and lighters involve open flames and flammable gases, posing a higher risk of burns or accidents.
- Taste Of Gas: Whenever you light your grill with gas, the metallic gas taste lingers and you can taste it in your grilled food.
- Environmental Impact: The use of gas canisters contributes to waste and environmental harm.
- Inconvenience: Refilling gas canisters is an additional chore, and running out of gas can interrupt your cooking experience.
- Limited Portability: Gas lighters are less convenient to transport and use on the go due to their reliance on gas canisters.
Conclusion
The new generation of electric lighters offer a modern, efficient, and safe alternative to traditional gas grill lighters. Its innovative design and battery-powered efficiency provide a seamless and enjoyable fire-starting experience. Whether you're lighting an Arteflame grill or any other cooking fire, electric lighters stand out as the superior choice for convenience, safety, and environmental friendliness.
Match Ready Charcoal Or Fire Starters
Using match-ready charcoal or chemical fire starters to ignite your grill will effect the flavor of your grilled food. When these products burn, they release chemicals and odors that often do not fully dissipate by the time you begin grilling. As a result, these chemicals are absorbed in the food and have a chemical taste. This is particularly noticeable in foods with a large surface area (like hamburger buns) or food that is grilled for longer periods, as they have more opportunity to pick up and retain the unwanted flavors.
For purists and enthusiasts seeking the authentic taste of grilled foods, tasting these chemical undertones is a significant issue. This emphasizes the importance of choosing natural and clean methods for starting your grill.
Secret Hack:
All these lighters are great for charcoal. They light the charcoal so you can add wood on top of it and get the grill going. Now, try this hack… use three sheets of paper kitchen towels stacked together and soak them in cooking oil. You can use Crisco, avocado oil or any other cooking oil. Put the soaked paper towels in your grill and stack the wood right over top of them. Light the paper towels and voila! Your fire will be going in no time! No mess, no fuss and no foul lighter fluid taste. Works awesome. Now, you don't have the awesome blower that's incorporated in the Looft but I think you'll be very surprised at how well this hack works.
