Barbecue Blog

Steven Raichlen grills elk tenderloin on The Grillworks wood burning barbecue grill.

There are a many barbecue grills to choose from.  Trying to find just the right grill for you can be challenging.  Let’s review some of the different types, and see just which one will fit your needs and lifestyle.

First, let’s talk about gas grills.  They are the most convenient type of grill you can buy.  They are easy to start, and get up to temperature in a snap of the fingers.  Best of all, you can be grilling, barbecuing in a matter of minutes.

Now, barbeque aficionados are going to tell you that you aren’t really barbecuing, that you are grilling.  This may be true technically, but there are some sneaky little tricks available about barbecuing on a gas grill that they won’t have a clue about. 

First you can use barbecue rubs and marinades, just like all the so-called barbecue experts use.  You can also cook with indirect heat, you can slow cook, and you can use a water smoker feature if the hood on your unit is high enough to accommodate it.  You can even give your meat a smoky flavor that will impress.

For searing steaks, a high temperature is mandatory.  An important feature of a gas barbecue is that you can cook at very high temperatures that will lock in all those fine juices when grilling steaks for company.

Most gas grills are setup for propane.  To convert it to natural gas, (if you want natural gas) you are better off taking it to your local barbecue shop than doing it yourself.

You can purchase gas grills very reasonably.  But, be careful!  You don’t want it to fall apart after the first week.  The number one thing to look for is high temperature capabilities.  Better units reach 48,000 BTUs, or so.  You can buy a quality grill in the low three hundred price range.  Get a cover for it.  The grill will last you twice as long.

Pros:

Gas grills are extremely convenient to use and store
Easily cook for a large crowd because of  grill size, and side burners
With a few tricks you can become a gourmet cook
Gas grills are reasonably priced….you can buy an excellent unit for $325
Gas grills can be easily built-in or free standing
Of all the barbecue grills out there, the gas ones are the coolest looking
Steak will be grilled, eaten by the time the purist get their hickory wood going

Cons:

Pricier than charcoal grills, cheaper than a Cadillac
The purist may stick up their noses at you, but there are pro barbecue folks that compete with gas grills

The next type of grill is the charcoal ones.  They are not as convenient as the gas grills, but the results you can get with your barbecuing will be just one notch above.

Charcoal grills are the most economical of all in initial price.  They can also be a pain in the backside, mainly because of charcoal itself.  I won’t get into all the different grades of charcoal, but buy the best if you go this route. 

Ideally, you want to use natural charcoal. It’s quite different than what you get at your local grocery store, but you will find it in stores that specialize in organic foods.  Once you have experienced using natural charcoal you won’t use anything else.

Nothing spoils the thrill of barbecuing more than having to deal with trying to light charcoal.  Worse is trying to get it going with charcoal lighting fluid.  Next, is cleaning up and disposing of the ashes.

Along comes technology!  Now days, there are certain brands of charcoal grills that start the charcoal for you very easily through propane gas assistance.  And, then make it very easy for you to cleanup afterwards without getting the hands dirty.

Now with grills like these, barbecuing can be a joy and the cooking results will be fantastic.

Pros:

The results of using natural charcoal will make the end results right up there 
The purist will now talk you
Certain charcoal grills are now very easy to use, and are very versatile
A quality grill is around $300

Cons:

Cheaper grills are a nuance when it comes to the charcoal factor
Cleanup and disposal can be annoying in a cheaper grill
Natural charcoal is little pricy

The third type of grill to consider is a wood pellet grill. 

Pellet grills have been around for a while, and are very easy to use.  Pellets especially manufactured for barbecuing are placed in a hopper and are feed to a small fire pit by means of an auger.  They come in all kinds of flavors.

It usually takes fifteen minutes, or so to get a pellet stove up to temperature.  Once you do, it is time to slow cook, and smoke whatever you are putting on the grill.

Pellet grills are, in a way, the best of all worlds.  Getting them started is very easy and the results are astonishing.  They are sort of a convenient wood-burning pit.  Which, is probably the best way to get extremely good barbecue.

Pros:

Barbecuing results are phenomenal
Unit is easy to use and easy to clean
Wood pellets add very good taste
Pellets are fairly economical

Cons: 

 Units are fairly expensive, prices start at $475 or so
 Have to have electricity available to run them  Not meant for fast grilling because of indirect heating, but you can

In a nutshell:

If you are in a hurry, or absolute convenience is a big factor, purchase a gas grill.  If you want your barbecuing to get a little bit better, but don’t mind charcoal, least look into a unit that starts your charcoal by propane gas.  If you don’t mind slow cooking and want the results right up there with the pros, get a wood pellet grill.

Gas barbecue is the most commonly used type of barbecue grill.  It is used by thousands of households throughout the world for the convenience it provides.   The gas barbecue grill can actually give you the convenience of instant grilling or barbecuing as you don’t need to invest much effort and time for the preparation of the grill. In addition, gas barbeque is easy to clean after its use.

The gas barbecue comes in different types.  Each type differs in features and sizes.  However, much of the features of gas barbecue grills are similar to that of the charcoal grills.  This is basically the reason that many people find it hard to consider which of the varieties of barbecue grills the best option to take.  Some favor for charcoal grills, while others are fro gas barbecue grills.  Well, no matter what your choice is, it is best to think about what you really want from your grill.  The ease of use and convenience it provides will greatly counts.

Now, if you are thinking of buying a gas barbecue, consider first the three main types of this kind of grill.    Make sure that you pick up the type that best suits your grilling and barbecuing needs.  Here are they:

Freestanding Open-Top Barbecues

The freestanding open-top barbecues are the type of gas grill that feature a sort of open hearth on legs, but others come with wheels.  This type comes in different sizes, but the features are generally the same.   Some appears to be large enough to carry a couple of steaks, while others are smaller than the standard barbecue grill size.  What is interesting to know about this type is that they typically feature rotisseries, storage and warming areas for the foods you cooked.  The downside, however, is that once the freestanding open-top gas barbecues are assembled and installed; they need a particular space for storage.

Hooded Barbecues

The hooded gas barbecue grills are basically recognized for their large sizes and rectangular shapes.  They are also noticeable for their hinged lids.  Well, this type of gas barbecue works in a way that the grilling area can be completely covered by the hood, hence the name.  They carry more features than the standard barbecues as they typically have warming areas, main burners, side burners, movable grates, and preparation areas.   There are also some models that possess rotisserie and spit, bottom burners that are infra red, as well as a couple of other accessories.  Because of these features, the hooded gas barbecues now come in a pretty expensive price.

Kettle Barbecues

The kettle barbecues are those that have large metal balls on legs.  Most of the available models are small and can be transferred from one place to another easily and quickly.  They can also be installed freestanding, but most are mounted on trolleys.  Just like the other types of gas barbecues, the kettle types come with rotisseries, and built-in thermometer.  It is worth noting that this type is commonly used for direct grilling.
Gas barbecue is the most commonly used type of barbecue grill.  It is used by thousands of households throughout the world for the convenience it provides.   The gas barbecue grill can actually give you the convenience of instant grilling or barbecuing as you don’t need to invest much effort and time for the preparation of the grill. In addition, gas barbeque is easy to clean after its use.

The gas barbecue comes in different types.  Each type differs in features and sizes.  However, much of the features of gas barbecue grills are similar to that of the charcoal grills.  This is basically the reason that many people find it hard to consider which of the varieties of barbecue grills the best option to take.  Some favor for charcoal grills, while others are fro gas barbecue grills.  Well, no matter what your choice is, it is best to think about what you really want from your grill.  The ease of use and convenience it provides will greatly counts.

Now, if you are thinking of buying a gas barbecue, consider first the three main types of this kind of grill.    Make sure that you pick up the type that best suits your grilling and barbecuing needs.  Here are they:

Freestanding Open-Top Barbecues

The freestanding open-top barbecues are the type of gas grill that feature a sort of open hearth on legs, but others come with wheels.  This type comes in different sizes, but the features are generally the same.   Some appears to be large enough to carry a couple of steaks, while others are smaller than the standard barbecue grill size.  What is interesting to know about this type is that they typically feature rotisseries, storage and warming areas for the foods you cooked.  The downside, however, is that once the freestanding open-top gas barbecues are assembled and installed; they need a particular space for storage.

Hooded Barbecues

The hooded gas barbecue grills are basically recognized for their large sizes and rectangular shapes.  They are also noticeable for their hinged lids.  Well, this type of gas barbecue works in a way that the grilling area can be completely covered by the hood, hence the name.  They carry more features than the standard barbecues as they typically have warming areas, main burners, side burners, movable grates, and preparation areas.   There are also some models that possess rotisserie and spit, bottom burners that are infra red, as well as a couple of other accessories.  Because of these features, the hooded gas barbecues now come in a pretty expensive price.

Kettle Barbecues

The kettle barbecues are those that have large metal balls on legs.  Most of the available models are small and can be transferred from one place to another easily and quickly.  They can also be installed freestanding, but most are mounted on trolleys.  Just like the other types of gas barbecues, the kettle types come with rotisseries, and built-in thermometer.  It is worth noting that this type is commonly used for direct grilling.

Some of the most enthusiastic of Barbeque Grillers cook ribs on a Weber kettle grill with fire boxes. The griller can start by using the charcoal with mesquite in the kettle and use some sort of charcoal starter with used newspaper print as a source for ignition. After the charcoals are getting a white ash over them, you can pour them into fire boxes, then place the coal in an aluminum pan between them to add some beers to keep the moisture in the kettle, place the grill “on”, cover the grill and tame the fire right down to about 250 degrees. Some favorites to marinate are “St Louis Cut” ribs or baby backs in a rice wine vinegar for a couple of hours.

Then, cover them in your special recipe and lay the ribs with the side of the bone down, without looking at them for at least one hour. After that first hour, it’s advisable to keep a close eye on the ribs until the meat slides up the bone. Then, you can cover the ribs with brown sugar and release them for another 45 minutes—keeping a close eye on the ribs every ten minutes or so. Thus, when the ribs have a delicious looking bark on them and the bone ends are clean, you can drip honey on the ribs, wrap them in aluminum foil for another 15 minutes, and enjoy.

You can order Barbeque Grillers Online various websites on the Internet. The PK Grill and other brands have accessories or parts that can be purchased online. As far as barbeque grills on the market, you can search for Barbeque, Barbecue, Bar-b-que, Bar-b-cue, or BBQ. Then of course you have barbecue grills, BBQ smokers, BBQ Grills, Charcoal Grills, charcoal smokers, Portable Kitchens, and other barbeque/ barbecue recipes for great southern cooking. To find out more information about quality gas grills visit: iBuyBarbeques.com.