There is something very primal and satisfying about barbecuing. Maybe it’s the act of throwing raw meat on an open flame, hearing the fat sizzle, and smelling that mouth-watering smoky flavour that brings us back to some primitive mindset, or shared memory with an ancestral caveman. Either way, now that this year’s absolutely brutal winter is finally behind us (oh God, please say that it’s behind us, or I will lose it, for real!) it’s time to start thinking about getting outside, firing up the grill, and getting down to some serious barbecuing. Now, if this is going to be your first season setting up a barbecue, or if you’ve been thinking of purchasing a brand new grill – but have no idea where to start or which options would suit you best – then let me fill you in on everything you need to know, with my Ultimate Beginner’s Barbecue Guide.
What Types of Barbecues Are There?
When you’re shopping for barbecues, the first thing you need to decide is which type of grill you want to have. Basically, barbecues come in one of three flavours – either the propane-burning type, charcoal barbecues, and portable grills. By far, the most commonly used type of barbecue for cooking is the propane-burning type. This type heats up quickly, and offers high temperatures that are easier and more precise to maintain, and keep consistent.
Charcoal grills use those briquettes or other natural charcoal as their fuel source. Charcoal grills give you the best, authentic and smoky barbecue flavour and taste. Charcoal grills are also great for food that needs to be cooked slowly, as the charcoal heat seals in juices and flavour, although unlike the propane-burning grills, you will need extra time to let the charcoal barbecues heat up to a proper level for cooking.
The third type of barbecue available is the “portable” type of grill. These come in both the charcoal and propane varieties, as well, however, a barbecue like this is meant for people who maybe don’t have a ton of outdoor space on their patios in which to fit a full-sized barbecue, or camping and outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Portable barbecues are ideal for picnics, the park, tailgate parties, or grilling up burgers at the beach.
Fuel Choices for Barbecues
As stated in the section above, barbecues typically cook using one of two types of fuel, either gas or charcoal. Gas grills – the most popular type of barbecue – either use propane or natural gas as their fuel source, with the food being cooked either directly over the flame, or heated over elements or infrared grills, such as the Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Performance 40,000 BTU 4-Burner Propane BBQ. For that barbecue, the propane flame heats a ceramic tile, causing it to emit infrared radiation, which cooks the food. The benefits of this type are that heat is uniformly distributed across the cooking surface and that temperatures reach over 500 °C (900 °F), allowing users to sear items quickly. And although the typical gas grill is designed for either propane or natural gas, it is indeed possible to convert a grill from one gas source to another.
The second fuel type for barbecues is charcoal. Charcoal grills burn those black charcoal briquettes, or some other sort of natural lump charcoal that, when burned, turns into red-hot embers that radiate heat and cook your yummy food. Now, lots of barbecue enthusiasts like to argue about which particular type of charcoal is best for grilling. Some prefer one type because of burn rates and uniformity of heat, or other types because of the different authentic smoky flavours they can add to your cooking. It is really up to personal preference, but if you do invest in a charcoal grill, you’ll want to experiment with the different types of charcoal available to find the one that fits your cooking needs. Charcoal grills come in a wide range of sizes and configurations, too, however you’ll likely remember your father using something like the Napoleon PRO Charcoal Kettle back when you were a kid. Today, you can go whole hog with something like the Napoleon Professional Charcoal BBQ Grill, which offers plenty of room to cook pretty much anything you want.
There also exist hybrid grills that feature a propane starter system on a charcoal grill, so you won’t need to pre-warm the barbecue before slapping your steaks down.
What Size Grill Do I Want?
Speaking of having enough room to cook everything you need; how do you figure out what size grill you need? Well, the primary thing you want to consider when determining the grill size you need is the cooking area. The average three-burner gas grill features somewhere in the range of 450-500 square inches of cooking area, which is generally about right for the average family of four. Those folks who entertain a lot or have larger families may want to consider buying a grill with five or six burners, offering 550-650 square inches of cooking area. If you don’t happen to have a ton of room, or you plan on being more mobile with your grill, then it’s likely more prudent to get a hibachi or portable grill, like the Napoleon TravelQ 12,000 BTU Portable Gas BBQ.
What Features Do You Want for Your Grill?
When it comes to features, you want to make sure you have some sort of warming rack, so you can keep one thing warm while finishing off the cooking of another. That way, you get to serve up everything all nice and hot at the same time. My own barbecue features a side burner for boiling water, or cooking side dishes you can’t heat on the ‘ol barbecue flames. I find that pretty handy, and if you’re buying a bigger barbecue, you should really consider it. I wish mine had more space for food prep, and to place more plates and utensils. You may want to look into barbecues that offer more prep space and nooks for sauces and accessories.
Useful Accessories for Your Grill
And speaking of barbecue accessories. You’ll want your barbecue to survive a few seasons, so it’s a good idea to invest in a barbecue cover of some sort. And, you can’t use a regular fork from the drawer to flip your steaks. Well, not unless you like the smell of your own seared wrist. You will likely want to pick up a barbecue set with fork, spatula and maybe some tongs. And not to say anything against your barbecue skills or cooking, but it is always a great and prudent idea to have a handy fire extinguisher around, just in case things get out of hand.
Well, that’s my Ultimate Beginner’s Barbecue Guide. Do you think I covered everything you need to know to make an informed choice? Have a look at the Best Buy Barbecue Page to see if I should have mentioned something else. And, let me know what you think in the comments section below.
