Grill Basics

Grill Basics: Information on Gas Grill Features, Accessories, and Materials

      Outdoor gas grills have become increasingly feature packed and complex over the years past few years. There are so many options, accessories, and materials put into gas grills it’s hard to sort out the important features and parts. Grilling Basics will help you decide and understand just what you need in your grill and what will suit you best.  After all with over ten million grills sold per year and over one hundred models available, it’s important to choose the right grill for you.

Fuel Type

      The first and easiest choice in selecting a new grill is to choose a fuel type. There are numerous benefits of both gas and charcoal grills, however, gas grills win over many buyers on convenience and simplicity. About 55 percent of grills sold are gas. Gas grills are much quicker to grill on, healthier, and give greater heat control. Gas grills are also much better for the environment and cleaner burning.  Charcoal grills are major polluters; in fact, almost a million tons of briquettes are used each year. The only thing you don’t get with gas is that charcoal flavor, however, with infrared burners and smoke trays this is now almost a thing of the past.

Propane or Natural Gas

      If your new grill is gas, you’ll have to make the decision between propane vs. natural gas. While they both cook and perform the same, natural gas is always available and will never have to be filled up. Standard propane tanks come in 20 lb. bottles and will last about 10 hours of grilling. If you are an outdoor grilling enthusiast, you could go through a bottle every couple of weeks. At this frequency, propane is about 3 times the cost of natural gas, and can add up.

Grill Size

      While most people rarely need to grill forty hamburgers at the same time, there are occasions where large grills come in handy. Once you throw on some side items, and grilled vegetables, grill space can become a premium. Small grills range from 300 to 500 total square inches, medium from 500 to 700, and large grills are above 700 square inches.

Grill BTU’s

     British Thermal Unit is just a fancy name for something very simple. Also known as BTU, this is the term to describe how much heat a grill can put out in one hour. The higher the BTU, the more power and heat your grill will deliver. While BTU’s are not the only important aspect of how your grill performs, it is one of the most important.

Grill Grates

      In addition to BTU, a grills grates can affect cooking performance. There are three common types of grill grates. They are porcelain coated, stainless steel, and cast iron. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages. Porcelain coated grates are easy to clean, but can chip. On the other hand, stainless steel shares all the benefits of porcelain grates, but is more durable. Lastly cast iron, which is probably the hottest and best performing cooking surface, is not as durable as stainless steel. The choice is usually a matter of preference, but stainless steel is usually the best choice.

Grill Burners 

      The grills burners are essentially the heart of your grill. They deliver gas and flame to your food. Burners are usually made of stainless steel, brass, or cast iron and have tiny holes through which the gas flows. The quality of your burners is very important in choosing a grill, as the heat will cause inexpensive burners to deteriorate quickly.

Grill Rotisseries

      Some food items are just too large to cook on a flat surface. Items such as roasts or whole chickens are perfect for a rotisserie system. A rotisserie will allow these large meats to be cooked perfectly even, at low temperatures, and over a long period of time.   Most rotisseries run on an electric motor and will require an electrical outlet to be used.

Grill Steel

      One of the most important aspects of choosing a grill is the quality of the parts and steel it is made of. There are two main types of steel used in grills: 430 stainless and 304 stainless. Don’t let the name fool you. 430 stainless steel will both rust and discolor. If you choose a grill with 430 stainless, extra care will be required to keep it looking its best.

Grill Accessories

      No job can be done without the right tools and accessories, and gas grilling has its own unique set of tongs, brushes, and thermometers. Don’t forget about the cover as it will keep your grill it top shape.