Different Types of Barbecue Grills

By:Emma Snow

Copyright 2006 Emma Snow

Summer is here and the steaks are ready to grill, the only problem is that you don't know exactly what type of barbeque grill to buy. There are many questions that need to be asked when buying a grill. Things such as cost, ease of use, other uses besides grilling, flavor and portability should be considered. The most important item in this list depends on what you want. This article looks in detail at the different categories and makes a judgment on which grills would be best in that category, charcoal, propane, natural gas or smokers.

Cost

If cost is the main factor, the grill to go for is charcoal. They start at $15.00 for a small, basic unit and only $30.00 for a standard 22" kettle grill. Propane grills are the next lowest in price, starting at around $100.00 for a basic unit. A small smoker starts at around $130.00. Since natural gas grills are supposed to be hooked to a home's gas line, they tend to be larger units, and more expensive starting around $300.00. They now have dual fuel grills as well that use natural gas most of the time but can also use propane; these are the most expensive with an asking price of $450.00 up.

Ease of Use

The easiest grill to use is probably the natural gas grill. It is hooked to your homes natural gas line and therefore doesn't require you to buy large propane tanks on a regular basis. Getting a grill that has a battery powered or electric starter makes things even easier. Propane is probably the next easiest to use since there are no charcoal briquettes or wood chips to worry about. While it seems that a larger grill is a better grill, remember that larger also means a larger area to clean.

Additional Features

Natural gas or propane grills can offer additional cook spaces that a charcoal or smoker unit cannot. If you plan to cook full meals on your grill, gas burners and a warming tray come in handy. A rotisserie option may also be important to you depending on what you want to grill.

Flavor

If flavor is the most important item on your list, a smoker or a charcoal grill should be your first priority. Smokers are meant to slow cook over time and impart a smoky flavor to meats. You can choose the type of wood to smoke that will give you the flavor you are looking for. The only problem with a smoker is when you want a quick pork chop or hamburger, it isn't so quick. Consider a gas grill for quicker cook meals and a smoker when you really want to impress the neighbors. Charcoal is the next best in the flavor department with no gas undertone. Gas grills can also impart a good grilled flavor, and now many gas grills have a smoker option on them.

Portability

When portability is the most imporant requirement, propane is the way to go. Charcoal grills run a close second. Small propane tanks make it easy to take your grill camping or to a tailgate party and you aren't left wondering where to put the smoldering coals. Charcoal can work and there are several small portable units available; just make sure you have a plan for what to do with the used briquettes.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: barbecue, bbq, barbeque, grill, grilling, grilled, bbq grill, barbecue grill, barbeque grill, chicken, recipe, beef, smoked, grilled, cooking, summer, party, buy, buying, charcoal grill, propane, gas grill, gas

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Emma Snow is contributing author and publisher to www.bbq-shop.net an online resource that provides you with information, articles of interest related to barbecues.

Top Cooking Articles
1). Choosing A Culinary School By : Noel Matthew You have made the decision to go to a culinary school. Now what? Culinary school options are many, around the world, even. To choose one, you need to consider several aspects. Think that it doesn’t matter? Around the world there are hundreds of thousands of people looking to be the next big chef. One of the first deciding factors on who you are as a chef is the culinary school that you attend.
2). Which Grill Should You Buy, Charcoal Or Gas? By : Roy Green If you are considering purchasing a new grill, or barbecue, you will be faced with a multitude of options to choose between. However, there is one choice which you will need to make fairly quickly in your quest for the perfect grill for you. That decision is whether to buy a charcoal or gas grill. Both charcoal and gas grills have advantages over each other depending on what you are looking for and how you intend to use it.
3). Keep That Cooking Area Clean By : JM Jackson One of the most prevalent illnesses today is food poisoning. It starts as a slight discomfort a few hours after eating and grows into a life- threatening episode requiring hospitalization. The most common cause are the salmonella e-coli and listeria bacteria. And, they can be common problems in the chef's kitchen. Common breeding grounds for bacteria are kitchen towels, dish rags and brushes, cutting boards, kitchen sinks, door, drawer and refrigerator handles.
4). Cooking As A Culinary Art By : Trevor Marshall Culinary arts is the art of cooking. Cooking is a way to prepare food that will be eaten or served to other people. The culinary arts is comprised of many categories - some of which are tools, methods, combination of spices and ingredients that adds flavour to the food. It normally needs the right measurements, proper selection and accurate combination of ingredients involved to reach desired result.
5). Rediscovering Grilled Pizza By : Scott Schirkofsky America’s favorite food has long been the pizza cooked in a traditional oven but is that about to change? While most Americans have probably never indulged in a grilled pizza, the origins of pizza are making a big comeback. There is no denying that we love our traditional backyard barbeque but rarely, if ever has the barbeque included grilling a pizza.
6). Basic Cookware Explained By : Larry A. Johnson What is All-Clad stainless steel cookware and why is it the best top-of-the-line bake ware you can buy? All-Clad cookware is made with a heavy aluminum inside which extends up the sides of the pan. It is coated with a stainless steel cooking surface and has an outside layer of magnetic stainless steel. This type of bake ware is ideal for cooking on a gas stove where the flames can burn up the sides of the pots and pans.
7). A Brief History of Pizza: The Dish that Conquered the World By : annamaria Pizza, the way we know it today, is a derivation from focaccia (from the Latin word for fire), flat bread that has been prepared since antiquity in different forms and garnished with herbs, olives, fat, raisin, honey, and nuts. The word pizza in Italian identifies any type of flat bread or pie—fried or baked. Although you’d find many types of pitas or pizzas around the Mediterranean, it is in Naples that pizza in the form we know it today first emerged, after the tomato appeared on the table in the 1700s.
8). Breadmakers For Easy Baking By : Robert Thatcher A bread maker is a home appliance that has revolutionized the process of making breads. First manufactured in 1986 in Japan, breadmaker since then moved its way to homes in the United States and United Kingdom. By means of a breadmaker, automatic baking has become possible and more convenient. As with ordinary baking, ingredients must first be measured according to the recipe.
9). What Exactly Is a Crockpot? By : Tony Buel Copyright 2006 Tony Buel The word 'crockpot' is a name which is actually a trademarked name, but is often used as a generic term. The terms 'crockpot' and 'slow cooker' have come to be used interchangeably. 'Rival' is the original holder of the trademarked term 'Crock-Pot'. The Rival Crock-Pot / slow cooker has been one of the most important cooking tools for busy families since its introduction in 1971.
10). Amazing Thai Recipe By : Barney Garcia Bamboo Shoots: Bamboo shoots are called for in many Thai recipes. In order to prepare a bamboo shoot for cooking you need to peel them and boil the white inner stalks for 30 minutes in water. If you are using canned bamboo shoots you will only need to boil them for 10 minutes, or if they are going into curries or soups, boiling might not be required.

New Cooking Articles
1). Cake Decorating Book - Make your cake look more delicious By : Isabel Rodrigues Everyone loves to eat cake, which is nicely and perfectly decorated. But due to lack of decorating skill ones wish is not fulfilled up to the maximum level. Now with the help of cake decorating book one can easily decorate the cake and make it look more rich and delicious. These books are specially designed for preparing cakes. They also provide you with additional mouth watering recipes and tips to make your cake more delicious for consumption.
2). Cookware - What’s New In Cookware? By : John Francis As in most other industries, the cookware industry are constantly coming out with new lines and innovations. Some of the new lines are only available in gourmet or specialty shops and are sure to be expensive. Regalware has a new cast iron cookware with a twice-fired ceramic exterior. It’s available in Royale Blue or Brick Red. As opposed to older cast iron cookware, this new ceramic exterior will work on any cooking surface, including glass top stoves.
3). Tips For A Perfect Low Carb Cheesecake By : Sheila Easton Who doesn’t love low carb cheesecake? The Low carb cheesecake is now one of the recommended products for low carb dieting which will greatly contribute a big part for the quick and successful results with the diet. There is no doubt that due to the increased number of people who love low carb cheesecakes for their low carb diet, many food companies are now offering so many flavors and varieties of low carb cheesecake.
4). They Say “Look In The Mirror, Don’t See Fat, See Beautiful!” That’s Not Going To Make You Healthy Or Unclog Your Arteries Or Improve Your Diabetes By : Helen Robinson Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you can't, you are usually right.” If you really want to improve yourself, know that you can. You will not be dieting, you will be changing ingredients and you will give in to some changes without turning your nose up before trying. It took a long time to put that weight on, it will come off, but not in 6 weeks like the skinny models on your TV screen.
5). What’s So Great About A George Foreman Grill? By : Doug Mahopac When he entered the cooking appliance market, George Foreman ended up delivering a knockout punch in terms of sales. A number of people—whether they’re seasoned chefs or novice cooks—rave about the George Foreman grill. Still, you may be wondering what’s so special about this popular product. Some consumers say the Foreman grill is the best “as seen on TV” product ever produced.
6). What To Look For When Purchasing A Grill By : Donna Somerkin For many of us, summer will forever be associated with grills. Grills mean Father’s Day cookouts, graduation parties, and relaxing family get-togethers. You may think that the scent of bratwurst on the grill is one of the best aromas around. Therefore, if you’ve just moved into a home with a deck—or an apartment with a patio—you may want to invest in a grill in order to make your time outdoors a bit more memorable.
7). Choose Vegetarian Recipes By : Triston Huntsmin Whether you are a seasoned chef or someone who has never put together an edible meal, consider expanding your knowledge of cooking by adding vegetarian recipes. Chefs of great restaurants and moms of hungry families will enjoy having more meals to cook, and the customers and children who eat the food will be happy as well. Exploring vegetarian recipes is great simply to spice up the kitchen with something new.
8). Cast Iron Cookware By : John Francis How to Season and Care for Your Cast Iron Cookware You have a skillet that came from your mom, and before that your grandma, and has now fallen into your hands. So how do you take care of it, use it, clean it, and get the best taste possible from it? I hope to answer some of those questions in this article. I love my cast iron skillets, passed down from my Mom; I remember her using them to make delicious fried chicken dinners, cornbread to go with our Great Northern beans and the best popcorn.
9). Are You Professional Chef Material? By : Tom Ehrhardt © 2006, All Rights Reserved We see them on the Food Network every day. Rachael, Paula, Emeril and others zip around their kitchens making quick work of fabulous recipes. In no time, they've whipped up three or four dishes that look so appetizing you can almost smell them through the TV. As thoughts like "I can do that" ramble around in your mind, you begin dreaming about the glory of becoming a professional chef.
10). Cooking Recipes, Anytime And Anywhere. By : Sparky Hrelek Have you ever known exactly what you want to cook but searched and searched through all of your cook books and had no luck finding that tender morsel that has been making your mouth water all day? Having to settle for something else is so disappointing isn't it? Or have you been to a restaurant and fell in love with a dish or a dessert but don't have.