Grill is an investment so you can search for the main things that are necessary for your grill to have. Please don’t go for the old saying like it must be an open one, a heavy one is better than a light grill, and many more. Look at your grilling style, the frequency of your cooking, and the need for a grill in your daily life. You want to cook breakfast in your kitchen or enjoy a party with friends and family in your backyard.
These things make it hard for everyone to select one among hundreds of grills. Just point out some of the points on your own before going to read the article on how to pick a right grill out which has many points that will definitely help you select one.
Grilling Style Helps in Choosing the Right Grill
Here are some common points to consider while buying a grill, as I considered them the backbone of buying anything that costs in your pocket. For most people, the grill is a one-time investment and if they buy one that does not meet their requirements then they end up with regret. This is like I want to buy a gas grill and there is no gas in my area like thing.
Cooking Frequency
Know the frequency of your grilling and then select a grill. If you are a regular griller then go for a high-quality grill, otherwise, you have to purchase grills from time to time and that will make your love for grilling so down. It also has a great impact on your budget too.
Cooking Style
You can consider your cooking style before selecting a grill because different grills work on different cooking techniques. The start and cook process of gas grills makes them ideal for grilling, whereas charcoal grills give you the original taste and best flavor that everyone wants.
Cooking Capacity
It is necessary to have a big grill having a wide capacity for grilling if you entertain friends and family often. The small grill makes you handicap for making again and again for a big gathering which ends with some bad memories.
Budget
When all the things come to an end then go for the budget thing because it is what you have to consider as well because grills come in a wide range of prices. You can get a grill from some dollars to thousands of dollars but it will not help if the other requirements meet.
How To Pick a Right Grill Out
The below points are the points that will help in deciding the grill you need because it covers several factors that aligns from your cooking style to the budget you want to spend on the grill. However, each grill has many options from small portable to massive ones for grilling to several people at once. Understanding the different types of grills and their subunits makes your idea for getting the perfect one that meets your requirements.
1. Size
Considering the size according to your needs is important. If you have a limited backyard or patio area then you can go for a portable and a small grill. However, the other thing that comes up while selecting a grill is the family. If you are a nuclear family and your people don’t visit you much, go for a small grill.
If you have a large family having many people or you enjoy the company of your friends then search for a big-size grill. It will help you to make food for many people and everyone will enjoy the food at once. A rough estimation of grilling the food for the people to the size of the grill.
| Number of People | Size of the Grill in Square Inches |
| 2 | 144 |
| 4 | 288 |
| 6 | 432 |
| 10 | 720 |
This is also true when you want to cook different types of food which usually happens while grilling. If you want to enjoy the various tastes all at once then you need a wide grilling area for equally dividing the food and it needs some free space to provide air to the fire source.
2. Price
Price can determine the size of the grill you want to buy. However, the size is not linked to the price because there are many grills available in the market having different price ranges. However, the price can be proportional to the quality of the grill. It is a fact that good quality things need money to have additional features.
3. Portability
Portability of the grill comes from the size of the grill and the size of the grill comes from the members in a family you want to cook for them. If you are a small family then don’t go for a grill that is massive in size else you will not be able to move it around.
Sometimes the outside is so hot that you also want to grill at that time if your grill is small then you can take it to the car porch and start grilling. You can also take the small and portable grill to the hilly areas for grilling on weekends.
4. Fuel
Grills use different types of fuels for cooking and some are good options while others are avoided in some areas. You can think about this factor before purchasing a grill because you will lose money and struggle while finding a grill that is not allowed to be used. For example, in New York City it is not allowed to use a charcoal grill on a roof or balcony.
If you choose to use the charcoal barbecue outside, in your backyard, or on a patio, there is no such restriction. Therefore, do some research on state laws before buying the grill to avoid losing money on a grill that is not allowed to be used.
5. Durability of Grill Material
It is an important aspect that you can’t deny because the grill is not a single piece but is made up of many parts. If you have experience in checking the quality of metals then it will be easy for you to purchase a good one for you.
Check the grill grates because it is the first thing that gets rust because of the marinades or the sauces you apply on the steak while grilling. The other issue that arises with a low-quality grill is it doesn’t distribute heat evenly, which has a great impact on the food you cook over the grill.
Consider Grill Type and Fuel Options
Gas Grills
Gas grills are easy to use because they fire up so easily. The ignition system and temperature control need to rotate the knobs and you will get your desired hotness. The heating power depends on the BTUs so it is recommended to buy one with high BTU. As the grill runs on gas so try to understand your needs and wants while selecting the gas grill.
Charcoal Grills
Charcoal grills are the first option for those who know the grilling and the taste that comes with cooking food on coals. The heating source is charcoal and you can use hardwood to get better flavor from the grill.
The aesthetic flavor only comes from these grills but with the cost of high preparation cleanup time. Select a charcoal grill made up of high-quality material and check the grill for good airflow and adjustable cooking grates for getting the steak without burning.
Pellet Grills
Pellet grills use pellets for cooking food and you can select the pellets of your own choice. It comes in compressed dust of sawwood, charcoal, and hardwood pellets. It gives the charcoal taste to the food cooked on it and provides the ease of gas grills.
You can use these grills for grilling, smoking, and slow cooking of meat for example ribs, smoking whole boar, etc. The thing to see while selecting a pellet grill is a control panel, and the hopper size. These will help in setting and monitoring the temperature and determining the time of cooking.
Electric Grills
Electric grills use electricity as a heating source that makes the rods hot for cooking. You can use these grills in your kitchen for making steaks and grilling other food. It is designed for grilling indoors whenever you want to eat grilled food. They are made while considering the ease of use and ease of cleaning without the need to unscrew it for cleaning.
The heating source is electricity so you can use the grill anywhere having the power socket. While selecting an electric grill look for the one having a lid, a non-stick cooking surface, and a hood system within it to clean the smoke.
Kamado Grills
Kamado grills are known for their high ability for heat retention because of their ceramic constructions. You will have an exceptional grilling experience at Big Green Grill which is one of the Kamado grills.
It uses charcoal as a heating source and because of its heat retention system, you can cook for hours without adding more charcoal to it. If you want to cook more on this grill then find one having a large grilling area.
Select the Grill From your Cooking Style
- Charcoal is the best option if you know how to cook on coals. You will enjoy from maintaining the coals for heating the grill to the serving of food. You can select the fire style by managing the coals according to your requirements, and when the meat is searing on the coals you will enjoy its fragrance.
- If you are a lover of ribs or want to cook low and slow it takes a long time like almost hours on a gentle heat that is not possible with gas or other grills. On coals, the ashes come and make the heat lower with time so the best option for that is the charcoal grill.
- The weather impacts the grilling so much so if you are living in an area where the weather is raining most of the time you can go for a gas grill because it is easy to use. With a charcoal grill, grilling with wet coals in the rain is almost impossible or takes a lot of time while you need to turn the knob in gas grills.
- If you want to cook the food quickly and don’t want to give more time to grilling then go for a gas grill. It is easy to use because it runs on gas that is easy to light. Turn the know and the grill is ready to make burgers, kabobs, steak, and so on. It also doesn’t take much time to make the grill hot because of the high BTU burners.
Features a Grill must have when Buying for Home
- Find one that has good and easy-to-maintain temperature settings while grilling.
- Search for grills that have an easy-to-use and reliable ignition system.
- Purchase a grill that has stainless steel or porcelain-coated cast iron grill grates. These grates give real aesthetic grill marks on the food and they are also easy to clean.
- If you are frequently grilling then buy one that has a side burner, warming racks, and built-in thermometer.
- Check for reviews and recommendations before going to buying a grill because it gives a better idea about a grill.
- Buy a grill from a reputed brand because they give proper customer support and warranty. It is a good thing to have a warranty which makes the thing worthwhile.
Conclusion
If you are going to buy a grill then go for some research first. Everyone has their own preferences and likeness and they will tell you accordingly. You can understand your grilling needs first and the areas you have where you want to grill. After that, you can think about the frequency and cooking style. All these things will help you while selecting a grill and you will have a good list of your needs and wants from a grill.
The main things that you will add to the list are the size, portability, and durability of the grill. Budget is also the main point to consider and you can’t avoid this thing while going to purchase a grill. All these factors will help you pick the right grill out of hundreds of grills that will meet your requirements and fulfill your expectations.