Are you the grill master of the family? Maybe you are in the market for a new grill. Different types of grills are available, so you want to make sure that you get what works best for you instead of the one that will impress your neighbors. Here’s some handy information on the various grills and as well as there best features. Depending on your grilling needs and budget, you will be cooking for the barbecue block party.
Gas Grills
The most popular grills in America are gas grills. These run on propane or another kind of liquid fuel, and they are probably the easiest for us. They usually have a knob or set of knobs that you can use to control the heat, and the flames adjust very rapidly. They provide a very controlled cooking environment and leave little room for guessing.
Charcoal Grills
Charcoal grills are ideal for slow-cooking, so that you get tender, juicy, fall-off-the-bone meat with all of the smoky flavors of charcoal. For added flavor, you can use particular kinds of charcoal. The drawback is that these grills take much time to cook your food. In fact, they can take half an hour or more to heat up properly. But if you are an experienced griller and know that slow is best, you may want to get a charcoal grill.
Electric Grills
The most no-fuss way to cook your food is with an electric grill. Electric grills usually plug into an outlet and cook your food on a nonstick surface. Some electric grills work outside on the patio, and some are small enough to fit on a countertop. If you usually cook for one, you may want to invest in an electric grill.
Pellet Grills
Pellet grills are growing in popularity, though they are more challenging to use than many other kinds of grills. These smokers use wood pellets, similarly to how charcoal grills use charcoal briquettes, to slowly smoke the food over several hours, or even overnight. The benefit is that you get a genuine would-fired flavor to whatever you are cooking, be it meat, vegetables, or anything else. The drawback is the amount of time required and extra energy that you have to put into the grilling process.
Smokers
Smokers are grills that are specially designed for cooking large cuts of meat. If you are looking for something that can feed a crowd, rather than grill a few hamburgers on the deck for your family, you may want to invest in a smoker. Just imagine the mouthwatering taste of a juicy brisket that has been in a smoker for half a day.
There are other things that you will want to take into consideration when looking for a grill. Is portability your primary concern so that you can move the grill around from the garage to the patio? Or would you prefer something that is large and will stay in one location? Do you want a lot of bells and whistles with your grill, like side shelves for keeping meat warm after it has already been cooked? Maybe you would prefer something basic and affordable. There are many different options, so the real question is knowing what you are looking for when it comes to a summer grill.
Sources:
“How To Choose A Grill,” by Sara Bir. Simply Recipes. June 9, 2020.