Thom Richards asked: There are a many
barbecue grills to choose from. Trying to find just the right grill for you can be challenging. Let’s review some of the different types, and see just which one will fit your needs and lifestyle.
First, let’s talk about gas grills. They are the most convenient type of grill you can buy. They are easy to start, and get up to temperature in a snap of the fingers. Best of all, you can be grilling, barbecuing in a matter of minutes.
Now, barbeque aficionados are going to tell you that you aren’t really barbecuing, that you are grilling. This may be true technically, but there are some sneaky little tricks available about barbecuing on a gas grill that they won’t have a clue about.
First you can use barbecue rubs and marinades, just like all the so-called barbecue experts use. You can also cook with indirect heat, you can slow cook, and you can use a water smoker feature if the hood on your unit is high enough to accommodate it. You can even give your meat a smoky flavor that will impress.
For searing steaks, a high temperature is mandatory. An important feature of a gas barbecue is that you can cook at very high temperatures that will lock in all those fine juices when grilling steaks for company.
Most gas grills are setup for propane. To convert it to natural gas, (if you want natural gas) you are better off taking it to your local barbecue shop than doing it yourself.
You can purchase gas grills very reasonably. But, be careful! You don’t want it to fall apart after the first week. The number one thing to look for is high temperature capabilities. Better units reach 48,000 BTUs, or so. You can buy a quality grill in the low three hundred price range. Get a cover for it. The grill will last you twice as long.
Pros:
Gas grills are extremely convenient to use and store
Easily cook for a large crowd because of grill size, and side burners
With a few tricks you can become a gourmet cook
Gas grills are reasonably priced….you can buy an excellent unit for $325
Gas grills can be easily built-in or free standing
Of all the barbecue grills out there, the gas ones are the coolest looking
Steak will be grilled, eaten by the time the purist get their hickory wood going
Cons:
Pricier than charcoal grills, cheaper than a Cadillac
The purist may stick up their noses at you, but there are pro barbecue folks that compete with gas grills
The next type of grill is the charcoal ones. They are not as convenient as the gas grills, but the results you can get with your barbecuing will be just one notch above.
Charcoal grills are the most economical of all in initial price. They can also be a pain in the backside, mainly because of charcoal itself. I won’t get into all the different grades of charcoal, but buy the best if you go this route.
Ideally, you want to use natural charcoal. It’s quite different than what you get at your local grocery store, but you will find it in stores that specialize in organic foods. Once you have experienced using natural charcoal you won’t use anything else.
Nothing spoils the thrill of barbecuing more than having to deal with trying to light charcoal. Worse is trying to get it going with charcoal lighting fluid. Next, is cleaning up and disposing of the ashes.
Along comes technology! Now days, there are certain brands of charcoal grills that start the charcoal for you very easily through propane gas assistance. And, then make it very easy for you to cleanup afterwards without getting the hands dirty.
Now with grills like these, barbecuing can be a joy and the cooking results will be fantastic.
Pros:
The results of using natural charcoal will make the end results right up there
The purist will now talk you
Certain charcoal grills are now very easy to use, and are very versatile
A quality grill is around $300
Cons:
Cheaper grills are a nuance when it comes to the charcoal factor
Cleanup and disposal can be annoying in a cheaper grill
Natural charcoal is little pricy
The third type of grill to consider is a wood pellet grill.
Pellet grills have been around for a while, and are very easy to use. Pellets especially manufactured for barbecuing are placed in a hopper and are feed to a small fire pit by means of an auger. They come in all kinds of flavors.
It usually takes fifteen minutes, or so to get a pellet stove up to temperature. Once you do, it is time to slow cook, and smoke whatever you are putting on the grill.
Pellet grills are, in a way, the best of all worlds. Getting them started is very easy and the results are astonishing. They are sort of a convenient wood-burning pit. Which, is probably the best way to get extremely good barbecue.
Pros:
Barbecuing results are phenomenal
Unit is easy to use and easy to clean
Wood pellets add very good taste
Pellets are fairly economical
Cons:
Units are fairly expensive, prices start at $475 or so
Have to have electricity available to run them Not meant for fast grilling because of indirect heating, but you can
In a nutshell:
If you are in a hurry, or absolute convenience is a big factor, purchase a gas grill. If you want your barbecuing to get a little bit better, but don’t mind charcoal, least look into a unit that starts your charcoal by propane gas. If you don’t mind slow cooking and want the results right up there with the pros, get a wood pellet grill.
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