Three Popular Types of Barbecue Grills
Searching online or browsing through down the aisles of your favorite outdoor store looking at barbecue grills can be confusing and daunting. With so many models and brands to choose from, which one is the right fit for you? This article will describe the main types of grills and detail their strong points to help you with your next grill purchase. There are three main types of grills used in backyards across the United States today, they are: Gas Grills, Charcoal Grills, and Electric Grills.
Gas Grills
Over 55% of grill owners in the United States own a propane gas grill. It is the most used type of barbecue grill in use in the United States today. Gas grills come in a variety of styles including free standing, built in, and portable. One of the most popular gas grills is the Lynx 30 inch Freestanding Grill with Rotisserie and ProSear. It is completely stainless steel with an large cooking surface perfect for entertaining.
The main reason that they are the grill of choice can be summarized in one word – Convenience. Gas grills light quickly and are easy to clean, for these reasons they are popular among the working crowd. You can get home from work and have your grill heated up and ready to cook on in less than ten minutes. A single propane tank of gas can last an entire summer, and the cost to refill the tank can be as little as $10.
Gas grills come in two basic types: Propane and Natural Gas. Propane grills usually have a propane tank tucked under the grill to feed the flame. Natural Gas grills are not as popular, but are very convenient because the gas feed comes directly from your house; which means that unlike a propane tank, you will never run out of fuel.
Charcoal Grills
Charcoal Grills come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and are usually much cheaper than gas grills. A small portable model can cost as little as $25. A large kettle style runs around $90. One of the most popular charcoal grills on the market today is the Big Green Egg; it is extremely versatile and has the ability to cook at temperatures nearing 750 degrees Fahrenheit. Though the initial investment in a charcoal grill is much less than a gas model, the cost of use is much higher. To cook hamburgers and hot dogs for a few friends, you can easily use as much as $5 in charcoal for one simple meal.
Preparing a charcoal grill for cooking does take longer than a gas counterpart. It takes about 15 minutes to get the charcoal ready to cook in a good chimney starter, and another 10 minutes to heat up the grill, but most charcoal grill users would argue that the wait is worth the flavor. Grilling over hot coals provides a smoky flavor that cannot be duplicated on a Gas Grill.
Cleanup after cooking on a charcoal grill takes time and requires discarding used ashes and cleaning the grill grate. Unlike its gas counterpart, a charcoal grill can’t simply be turned off by a simple switch. You can douse the coals in water, but that causes a mess and reeks havoc on the finish and durability of your investment. Any unused charcoal should be allowed to cool and secured in an airtight container for reuse.
Electric Grills
Electric grills are only used by about 2% of grill owners in the United States. These grills do not have the thermal output of charcoal and gas grills, nor do they provide the grill flavor of a charcoal grill. These grills are popular in apartments and condominiums, where restrictions don’t allow for an open flame on the premises. Electric grills can cost as much as a medium grade gas grill. If you are in the market for an electric grill then the E250s Pedistal Electric Fire Magic Grill is the right choice. It boasts 252 square inches of cooking surface and a solid stainless steel construction.
The initial investment is more for Gas and Electric Grills, but the cost of using a Charcoal Grill is heads and shoulders more than either of the other two grill types. Take a good look at your likes and dislikes are when it comes to grilling, and choose the grill that best fits your grilling style.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Derrick Sharp is a Barbecue enthusiast with over a decade of grilling experience who owns and writes for the Backyard Grilling & Outdoor Living Blog. He has spent the past two years designing and building his own built in Brazilian Churrasco style brick barbecue grill. Derrick has published extensively online and is a platinum level author at EzineArticles.
