A backyard barbecue is one of the most treasured moments every family has. Relatives and friends are invited to come over to share an afternoon with good food and a lot of stories.
You may have prepared and selected the best seasoning for your meat, but the success of your barbeque often depends on the quality of your grill. In this day and age, gas grills are no doubt the most widely used because it’s convenient and easy to use. While using charcoal is an excellent way to grill, controlling the heat can be challenging for many.
To help you find the best gas grills currently on the market for your inner chef, we’ve listed down the things you need to consider before buying.
Type
Are you planning to purchase a grill for occasional hot dog and burger when the kids are home? Are you the one who cooks your meals regularly on a grill because you are trying to reduce the oil in your food? Or, are you hosting a barbeque party for the whole neighborhood every now and then and you get satisfied if you see sear marks on your steak? If you are going to use your grill just for casual weekend grilling or just grilling steak for your family, you may not go overboard with buying the most expensive grill. A basic one will do the job. But, if you will use it professionally or you want that professional feel in your equipment, then by all means, read on.
Size
Consider the size of the surface when looking for a grill. If you’re going to use it for a family gathering and you need to cook a lot of barbeques, having a big surface will be essential unless you want to grill the whole day. Being able to grill many items at once is a time saving and allows you to enjoy the rest of the day with the fam. If you will just be cooking for two, there’s no point in getting a wide-surfaced one.
Material
When buying anything, one thing you always need to check is what it’s made of. Will the grill last for a long time? Some grills are made with inexpensive materials like a galvanized sheet or metal and aluminum; these make the grill cheaper, too. But soon you will realize that you haven’t really saved anything because you will have to replace it after a few uses. Choose grills that made of high-quality, hence expensive, materials but are sure to last for a very long time, such as stainless-steel grills. They are easy to clean and rustproof and looks really nice, too.
Grates
Grates are often made from porcelain-coated cast iron or porcelain-coated wire. A good cooking grate will hold the heat to create beautiful, deep grill lines. Stainless-steel grates are great in conducting heat evenly and are easy to clean, but they come a bit pricey.
Burners
In gas grills, flames are produced by tube burners on a straight line. Great grills have tented bars called “flavorizers.” They protect the burners from being clogged while drippings are vaporized, adding flavor to your food.
Grilling temperatures and control are determined by the number of burners you have on a grill. Two or three burners will allow you to grill many items at once at various temperatures. This will enable you to cook steak and veggies on the same surface perfectly. A one-burner grill is cheaper, but you will not be able to have the temperature you need on the whole surface.
Extras
Ask yourself if you need other things with your grill like warming racks, utensil storage, rotisseries, and side burners. It can be tempting to go all out, but sometimes, they may not be necessary and you’ll just have to put them aside. However, if you’re going to use them, there are many options for you to choose from. Evaluate your needs and determine what you’ll really be using realistically.
Finally! You are just one decision away from starting your own backyard barbeque party. Don’t forget to ask for the warranty and the assembly instructions if applicable. Check for availability of replacement parts and after-sales service. Last but not the least, you should have a safe place to store and protect it from different weather conditions. Whichever grill you’re getting for yourself, have fun and enjoy every moment of your backyard barbecue!
