I have always loved cooking on barbecue grills. A lot of people think that a barbecue grill is easy, and it can be. Sometimes, all you have to do is get the coals going, throw on some neat, and enjoy the results. But like anything else, barbecue grilling can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be. Just learning to get the temperature perfect, get good, even grill marks, and season the meat properly can be an art in and of itself. The bottom line is, you can take your barbecue grill as far as you want to.
Of course, the choice of barbecue grills will affect your outcome quite a bit. The most traditional way of doing it, of course, is with the charcoal grill. A charcoal barbecue grill offers a lot of advantages over other types. First of all, it is the most simple. There are no gas tanks, hoses or tubes. There is simply the grill, the metal frame that the meat rests on, and a tray under it to catch falling ash. It also gives you the most even, uniform cooking – that is, if you do it right. Of course, you have to give the coals plenty of time to ash over, make sure they are distributed evenly, and time the cooking well.
In some ways, a gas grill is much easier to use. With gas grills, all you have to do is light the gas and get to work. They allow you to cook outside and enjoy a barbecue ambiance without having to put up with the inconveniences of lighter fluid and waiting for the charcoal. All this comes at a price, however. The flavor will simply not be as good as on the charcoal barbecue grill. You will not get that smoky taste than everyone associates with barbecues.
Of course, you can take things in a really fancy direction and get a barbecue rotisserie grill. A rotisserie barbecue, when used right, can make unbelievably delicious food. Until you have had rotisserie chicken, you do not know what you are missing. It is completely out of this world. It is well seasoned, well flavored, and much more juicy than other kind of barbecued chicken. Using this style of barbecue grill does take a little bit of effort and timing, but it is well worth the work. The meal you prepare will be one of the best ones you have ever eaten.
Different Types of Barbecue Grills
Summer is here, which means that it is time to begin grilling and preparing awesome barbeque parties. The only problem is, you have not bought your barbeque grill yet. When purchasing your first grill, you will find that you have a large array of options available to you. It may seem overwhelming at first due to the almost endless amount of possibilities and options available. The best way to decide on what type of grill is right for you is by educating yourself about them.
Cost
Barbeque grills can range from extremely cheap to very expensive depending on the type and features available on it.
If you are looking for a cheaper grill, then you should probably consider a charcoal grill. While larger charcoal grills are available, smaller grills can be purchased for as little as $10 to $15 at your local department store. Fancier, large charcoal grills can be purchased for about $60 to $75. Charcoal requires purchasing charcoal and lighter fluid each time you, so you must remember this when considering the cost.
Propane grills are slightly more expensive, starting around $100 dollars.
A smoker grill is slightly more expensive then a propane grill at about $130 each.
Natural gas grills on the higher end of cost. The mechanical part of this grill make it larger and more complex. The Natural gas grills are meant to be hooked up to your home line. Typically these types of grills start at about $300.
Multiple fuel grills are the most expensive at about $450 and up. Multiple fuel grills allow you to grill using one or a combination of fuels.
Ease of Use
The easiest grill to use is by far the natural gas grill. Natural gas grills are designed to hook directly into your home’s natural gas line, eliminating the need to provide the fuel source. Natural gas grills are also one of the easiest grills to clean since you do not have to worry about cleaning out the charcoal or wood.
The next in line would be the propane grills, as they have similar features of the natural gas grills. The only issue keeping Propane grills from being equal to natural gas grills is the fact that you must provide the propane somehow. This usually means hauling and handling propane tanks.
The hardest grills to use are charcoal and smoker grills. Both types of grills require additional purchases of supplies, and then requires extra cleaning once grilling is complete.
Remember that bigger grills require more space to store and more time to clean. Bigger is not always better when it comes to grills. If you want a grill that is easy to clean, you will want to think about a smaller grill.
Flavor
If you are concerned with flavor, you first choice should be a charcoal or smoker grill. Both of these grills allow you to replicate a true “smoked” flavor. Smokers are especially nice because you can also control the flavor by changing the type of wood or wood chips you use. This is good if you are wanting to slow cook your meat.
If you are wanting to cook something a little quicker, you may want to stick with the charcoal grill. A Charcoal grill will cook quickly if you want it too, and it will still provide a good “smoked” taste.
Space
Finally, the space you have available should be a consideration. When you grill is not in use, you must have a proper place to store it. Charcoal and Propane grills are ideal for smaller areas such as apartments and city homes. If you have a large amount of space available, then you may want to consider the larger options.
Camp Grill
Camping is a fun outdoor family activity. Taking your family camping can create memories that they will never forget. However, before you go, you want to make sure that you have all of the necessary camping equipment that you will need to have a great camping trip. One of the best parts of camping is the food that you get to enjoy and do not eat all the time at home.
Having a camp grill that is easy to use as well as made for the outdoors is a huge plus for any outdoor camping adventure. Camp grills come in all shapes and sizes, as well as price ranges. Using a grill that is easy to set up can make your trip so much better. The Quad Pod grill is one that offers these features and so much more.
This grill has four sturdy legs that will make cooking on an open fire a breeze. Weighing in at 13 pounds, this grill is very portable and easy to carry, which is great if you have to carry supplies at any distance.
Setting up the Quad Pod camp grill is easy. There are no tools required. You can adjust the grill to the height that is needed for your fire, which makes this grill even more versatile. With an extra side table, you have the ability to prepare your food or you can use it for extra cooking space on the grill.
Most portable grills are not easy to clean, however this one makes clean up very easy. Because you can break the grill down to the racks, you will not be spending all night cleaning it. The Quad Pod grill is chrome plated, which helps prevent food from sticking.
Camping trips should be fun and memorable. Making sure that you have a good camp grill is part of being ready for your camping trip. The Quad Pod is affordable and a campers’ dream grill. After using it once you will wonder how you ever camped without it.
Make sure that your next camping trip is one that is remembered with good food and fun times by your family.
George Foreman Grill
When it comes to shedding fat and building lean muscle, grilling your foods is one of the best ways to consume protein and flavor up nutritious vegetables, too! But grilling outdoors can be such a pain.
The George Foreman Grill is an indoor alternative that allows you to cook any meal, any time of the day without all the hassle. You simply plug the grill in, place your meat or vegetables or other foods on the grill, and close the lid until it’s done.
With a grill like this, you can cook up to four servings, so you’re not missing out on much of the space that a larger outdoor grill gives you. Plus, the foods cook fast. The current model has improved cooking speeds of 35% over the prior versions.
Meats cook in a mere ten minute timeframe – perfect for those hurrying out the door or coming home from work hungry, but not wanting to fill the void with empty calorie foods. And it can serve the entire family at once, too.
The grill comes will grill plates built into it that you can remove and wash separately, making it very convenient for clean up and re-use. This grill comes in a black color, but you can get white or red, too.
You can also get a larger grill that serves up to five people at once. Or, if you’d prefer to downsize and take up less space on your counter, you can get a two person serving as well.
The grill plates have a durable, nonstick surface. But even for the cleaning you do have to do, there are George Foreman grill sponges you can get that make cleanup even easier.
What makes the George Foreman Grill such a healthy alternative? Aside from the fact that you’re not breading and frying your meat cuts, the fat from your meat selection drains out – leaving you with the leanest option possible.
For those of you who have a big family and want to cook a variety of foods for a larger group of people, there’s another George Foreman Grill that serves up to eight people. This option also has variable temperature control, not just the “plug in and cook” option.
You can stay on a low carb or low calorie diet with ease using a George Foreman Grill, and the best way to do that is to choose lean, boneless cuts of thin meat and season it for taste.