Hi, welcome to my article on what to look for when buying a Garden Barbecue. There are two main types of barbecue, the traditional charcoal grill and the ever more popular status symbol "gas barbecue". But lets start with the format.
When selecting your barbecue you should take into account where you live. For example if it's the UK the chances are it will only be used a few weeks of the year (more would be great but that's English weather for you) so do you really need the top of the range, where as in America or southern Europe it will get used a lot more often.
What to look for when buying a Charcoal Barbecue Grill?
Charcoal grills are relatively inexpensive. Top of the range units go from $250-400, and charcoal-gas combos a little more. A basic unit costs between $50 and $150. But the best advice i can give is don't buy too cheap it really is worth spending a bit more to get something that will last and is easier to use. For around $150 you can keep the average family happy for a long time.
Size and shape (ask the wife) The standard barbecue that you see is round but you also can get square and rectangular. The round is better because it helps circulate the air better. Size, this depends on how many people you expect to cook for. A minimum size I would suggest for cooking is an area of at least 400 sq inches. Bigger in this case is usually better.
It is also important to think about storage and how portable is it. If you are buying a large grill try to buy one with some wheels, this makes it so much easier to move. Storage is another consideration, do you have enough space to keep it protected from the elements and also thieves.
Minimum features your charcoal grill should have:
Sturdy steel construction with a baked-on porcelain-enamel finish. Heavy-gauge charcoal grate. Deep, easy-to-remove ash catcher for easy clean-up. Adjustable-height heavy-gauge nickel or chrome-plated aluminum cooking grate, hinged for adding coals easily. Portables should have a locking lid for safety when transporting.
Upgrade Features:
Step-ups include shelves and warming racks, smoking ability, workspace, storage space, larger cooking grids, rust-proof ash-catchers, and porcelain-enameled cooking grates. High end grates are made of cast iron, porcelain-coated aluminum or even stainless steel. Gas-charcoal combination. Think carefully about these extras, do you really need them.
What to look for when buying a Gas Barbecue Grill?
You can buy cheap gas barbecue grills form $100 and go right up to $10,000 for the gourmet or entertainer who wants all the full spec. To be honest anything under $1500 is not worth it. The safety and overall build quality at this price is often not up to the mark. A good price point to aim for is $500-$800 at this priceyou will get a very nice model with lots of premium features. The most popular models are under $300, but grills in the $400-$600 range are gaining in popularity, according to the HPBA.
Minimum features your gas grill should have:
Again, sturdy steel construction with a baked-on porcelain-enamel finish.
Heavy-gauge nickel or chrome-plated aluminum cooking grate.
2 separate burners, with 2 separate control knobs for greater heat control.
BTUs: 20,000 for small, portable units, 30,000-40,000 for a medium-sized model, and 50,000-60,000 BTUs for very large appliances. But note, these are relative figures. A well-engineered grill uses fewer BTUs but is more efficient, for instance. In general, the larger the cooking surface the higher the BTUs. But don't get sucked into paying for 100,000 BTUs if you don't need them. More is rarely better, just a waste of gas.
Flare-up control system to quickly burn or divert drippings. This increases the life of the cooking elements.
Upgrade Features:
Step-ups include shelves and warming racks, flip-up workspace, enclosed storage space, large cooking areas with up to 6 burners, improved cooking grates (as above), side burners for cooking sauces, rotisseries and infrared cooking abilities, smoker boxes or drawers, and stainless steel construction. You have custom design and built-in options that include the use of natural gas, if you have it, for convenient, no-refill barbecuing.
Autor: Peter Roth
Hope you found this guide helpful for selecting your Garden Barbecue Enjoy!
Peter Roth is a gardening expert who runs some of the most popular home and gardening websites on the internet. More than 20 years of helping customers, listening to their needs, ensures that he knows what are the best products, and offers you that information in a plain English format. http://www.gardenbarbecue.net
Added: August 20, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
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