What To Look For When Buying A BBQ
Purchasing a grill or BBQ is no different from buying a refrigerator or cook stove for your kitchen. This Is basically an appliance you will use throughout the summer and fall. Some of you may even be able to grill or BBQ year-round.
So what should you look for when considering the purchase of a grill? There are a few things you want to look for. Understand that the BBQ is almost a centrepiece in your backyard. Just as guests gather in the kitchen and dining area of your home, the same can be said of gathering around the BBQ in your backyard.
For that reason alone you want to find one that is attractive, one that is able to do the type of BBQ you would want to do, and you need to decide if you would prefer a charcoal grill or a gas grill.
Your backyard area is also going to factor into the type of grill you purchase. Do you want a built-in type or a freestanding BBQ?
The built-in style is for those that have a designated patio area that is designed specifically for outdoor enjoyment. This is not an area that is going to be moved, depending on the weather. You would likely have a roof and possible screen walls to protect the area from weather and insects.
Along with the option of freestanding or built-in, the decision will need to be made in regard to the type of connection, will it be a Natural Gas or a Propane BBQ?
Size is also one of the most important decisions that will need to be made. How often will you be grilling for a crowd? Will it be mainly just immediate family or extended groups? There are four sizes, small, medium large and extra-large.
One thing to remember is that the amount of food you can cook on your BBQ grill is totally subjective. It not only depends on the number of people but also the type of food you are grilling or BBQing.
The type of grill is also an option available. You could choose from an entry-level grill; this is just the basic grill. There are no extras, it is a simple design and is the most economical of gas grills. The selections go all the way up to the Luxury type.
The Luxury grill is one that is made of the highest quality materials and parts and is also considered to be the most reliable.
The Premium style is made of Commercial grade Stainless Steel. This style has a wide range of available accessories that will ultimately enhance your BBQ experience.
The Practical Style is a step above the Entry level grill. It will have a combination of Commercial grade Stainless steel and painted stainless steel. The temperature will also top out at 500*, this also has fewer available options to add on.
Many gas grills will have a shelf on either side of the cooking surface. Some of these are actually set up with a burner so that you could do other types of cooking and food preparation.
The type of cook you are is also an important decision point in choosing the type of BBQ you need. Are you a Low and Slow cook, or are you high heat and steakhouse sear marks? Some BBQs are already equipped with attached Smokers, while others will need to be added on if you want the ability of smoking foods.
Another consideration is the option of direct or indirect heating and cooking. Many grills will have a second shelf that allows you to have the food farther away from the flames and gas, while others may have adjustable racks.
Your BBQ may have the ability to be plugged into an electrical outlet to have lights or an electric start. If this is the type of system you want for your backyard, be sure that the placement is set for your grill. This means that you will need to have electrical power running to the area with outlets for plugging the BBQ in. These types are most often for the designed patio spaces with a roof and possibly partial walls.
The built-in style of the grill also needs to have what is called an insulation jacket. This is the heatproof insulation in the walls of the area where you’re built-in will sit. This prevents any danger of fire due to the heat of the grill.
A Charcoal grill will also come in various sizes, there may be additional attachments that can be used, such as smokers. You will find some with hinged covers, some with covers that are removable and others with no lids. There are round Charcoal grills and rectangular-shaped grills.
These too will come with variations and styles, there are some grills that are more well-built, some with ash pans, and others where you would have to scoop the ashes out each time.
A major difference in the cooking between the two types is that the gas will run continuously until you shut it off. With a charcoal-style grill, you would need to add more charcoal as you are cooking to keep the heat steady. Although, steady heat is almost impossible to maintain with a charcoal grill.
The area where you place the BBQ grill must have adequate ventilation so that the gasses that are emitted from the flames, or the propane do not result in medical issues for those around the area.
No matter which type of grill you have decided upon, it is highly suggested that you invest in a very good quality of grill cover. This will protect your grill from the weather and any changes, it will help protect against wind and flying twigs and branches during storms and will also help protect the grill from hail damage, depending on where you live.