Have you ever enjoyed a piece of perfectly marbled, perfectly charred steak or a burger cooked to juicy perfection? What about an artichoke roasted to perfection under the open flames? All of these delicacies—and more—are possible thanks to barbequing and grilling.
However, picking the right barbeque grill can be confusing at times. This article is all you need to pick the ideal grill for yourself. Head over to Dickson BBQ for top-quality barbeques and grill equipment for your get-togethers this summer.
What are Barbeque and Grills?
Barbequing and grilling are two types of cooking that sound similar but are quite different. Grilling is a cooking method that uses direct, radiant heat to cook food. Grilling typically involves placing your food on a grill over high heat and cooking it for a short period.
Barbequing is also a cooking method that uses direct, radiant heat to cook food. Barbeque tends to use lower temperatures than grilling and requires that the food be cooked for longer.
Types of Barbeque Grills
There are many different types of barbeque grills you can choose from. If you’re just starting to get into grilling, knowing which grill is right for you might seem overwhelming. Here’s the breakdown of each type of grill and what makes them unique.
Natural Gas & Propane
A propane grill is a gas grill that uses propane as fuel. Propane grills are the most popular type of grill available today. The most popular type of propane grill is the “gas grill,” a box-shaped metal container with an open top and one or more lidded compartments for holding food and fuel.
The fuel compartment holds an LP tank that supplies gas to the burner via a rubber hose and regulator. The food compartment contains one or more gas burners mounted below a metal grate, which creates a cooking space, sometimes enclosed by a hood.
These grills hook up to your home’s natural gas line or a propane tank. They’re ideal if you want to grill frequently and don’t want to bother with charcoal or lighter fluid every time. They also come in several sizes and styles, so they’re easy to find one that suits your space and needs.
Charcoal Grills
Charcoal grills have been popular since the 1930s, and they’re still a classic choice for some good old-fashioned barbeque enthusiasts. Charcoal gives your meat a richer flavour than natural gas or propane.
It also holds heat longer than other fuel types, so it’s perfect for when you want to slow cook your food for hours. The downside to charcoal is that it takes more work to get started—you have to add fuel and wait for it to heat up, and it can be messy if you’re not careful.
Charcoal grills give food a smoky flavour, making it perfect for ribs, brisket, and other low-and-slow cooked meats. They work best with small cuts of meat that can be cooked quickly. In fact, make sure your charcoal grill reaches at least 600 degrees Fahrenheit before cooking on it.
Coal cooks hotter than gas but takes longer to heat up. However, once it’s hot enough, it will maintain its temperature well enough to keep adding more charcoal as you need it.
Kamado Joe and Big Green Egg
The name Kamado is a Japanese word that means stove or cooking range. This type of grill is ceramic with a cast-iron vent at the top to regulate the temperature.
This grill is best for smoking and slow cooking as it can cook at low temperatures and maintain that temperature for an extended period. They can be set up as grills, smokers, or even an oven. They are even durable and will last for years with proper care.
Though these grills cost more than other grills, they will cook your food exceptionally well. The temperature is easy to regulate because you do not need to add more fuel every time you want to change the temperature. Simply open up the vents on top and bottom, lower the temperature inside, close them up, and it will rise again quickly.
Pellet Grills
A pellet grill is an outdoor barbeque cooker that uses wood pellets as its fuel source. The pellets burn efficiently and cleanly and add little or no unwanted chemicals or gasses to the cooked foods.
Pellet grills are often more expensive than other grills because they are usually constructed from heavy-gauge stainless steel for long life and durability.
They are also very easy to use; the light, with the push of a button, sets your temperature on the control panel and lets the grill do the rest. These grills are more versatile than a charcoal smoker but not as versatile as a gas grill.
Wood-fired & Pizza Ovens
These grills include pizza ovens or large wood-fired grills, which usually have short legs attached to them. Because of this, they usually sit on a patio or deck instead of being built into it. They give you that real wood-fired flavour, but most can’t be used to grill burgers or steaks. They are designed for slow-cooking foods like roasts, whole chickens, or even pizzas.
They function by burning wood chips or pellets, which provide heat and smoke flavour to your food! These grills come in different sizes ranging from small tabletop units to large freestanding ones with multiple burners.
Electric & Portable Grills
These grills are ideal for people who live in apartments and don’t have any outdoor space to set up a grill. These grills are also ideal for people who want a grill that they can take with them when they go on picnics or camping trips.
Electric and portable grills heat up quickly and have non-stick surfaces. Cleaning up is easy. These grills come in multiple sizes, and you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
Built-In Grills
Built-in grills are designed for people who want to install a grill in their backyard or terrace garden. These grills come in various styles, including ceramic and stainless steel models. Built-in grills do not require you to purchase additional components as they come equipped with everything you need to enjoy some great burgers and ribs with your family and friends.
Endnote
Grilling is a great way to cook because it uses very little fat. You don’t need to add additional butter or oil to prevent sticking, and the fat that naturally renders from the meat can drip away. Moreover, not only do grilled veggies have more nutrients, but so does grilled meat! Because grilling cooks the meat quickly at high temperatures, vitamins and minerals don’t lose their potency like they do with direct cooking.
Thus, if you have yet to try barbequing, there is no reason to wait. Get yourself a grill now, and get started.
