When it comes to purchasing a barbecue grill, you have a variety of options. Aside from the obvious choice of gas or charcoal, you’ll need to consider how many people you’ll be feeding at once, the type of cooking you’ll be doing, and how much you want to spend. Finding the best barbecue grill for you will depend on your personal preferences and requirements.
Your first major decision will be whether to use charcoal or gas as a fuel source. Although getting the coals hot takes time and practice, many barbecue fans prefer charcoal for its “purist” appeal and the authentic, smoky flavor it imparts to food. Charcoal barbecue grills are also portable, lightweight, and easy to store and transport, allowing you to barbeque even when you’re not at home. They are, however, messy, and their proper use necessitates some skill. A charcoal barbecue grill in inexperienced hands can produce food that is burnt on the outside and raw on the inside.
Gas, on the other hand, is quick and easy to use, and it is much cleaner than charcoal. Cooking with charcoal requires patience, whereas gas heats up quickly and requires less experience. The user has precise control over the heat with gas burners, and cooking with gas is the easier option. Gas grills, on the other hand, lack the smoky flavor of charcoal and are significantly heavier, making them difficult to transport. A gas barbecue grill is much more expensive than a charcoal grill.
After you’ve decided on a grill, you’ll need to calculate how much barbecue you’ll need. A small charcoal hibachi may suffice as an alternative to cooking indoors, but for backyard parties and family gatherings, you’ll need a larger barbecue grill. For general-purpose cooking, you’ll need at least 400 square inches (about 2,600 square cm) of cooking surface. If you plan on entertaining others on a regular basis, you’ll need a larger grill, but keep in mind that price increases dramatically with size, so be realistic.
Keep in mind that the barbecue grill you choose will most likely arrive in pieces. Some of these are simple to put together, but some of the more elaborate barbecues may be more difficult, requiring special skills and tools. Depending on your level of confidence, you may want to inquire about purchasing an assembled floor model or receiving assembly assistance.
When it comes to choosing a barbecue grill, price will most likely be the most important consideration. Keep an eye out for good deals, but don’t skimp on the quality. Choose a long-lasting grill from a reputable manufacturer with a solid warranty. This may raise the price a little, but replacing an inferior discount grill when it falls apart, warps, rusts through, or simply stops working will cost more.