By Chase Zacha
ConsumerAffairs.com
With summer in full swing, Americans across the country are turning to their grills for tasty and authentic backyard meals. Whether it's the smell of smoke in the air, the sound of meat sizzling against the heat of the grill, the savory, sweet, and spicy flavors of homemade barbecue, or even just being outside with family on a golden sunlit afternoon, summertime is defined by how and what we eat.
A barbecue grill is the most obvious essential element in dishing up the highest quality summer meals with minimal difficulty. To do this, the grill needs to meet the demands of heat, grease, and everyday use all the while battling the elements, backyard critters, and sometimes salty ocean air. Here are some helpful tips to insure you get the most out of your grill.
What to look for
Buying a new grill is a tough decision. Buy the wrong one and you may be inviting a visit from the local fire department, as some very unhappy Charmglow owners learned a few years ago. Besides trying to avoid igniting your house, you'll want to review the basics of safe outdoor cooking and ponder the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Photo of Charmglow grill shows melted knobs
But beyond health and safety considerations, there are a seemingly endless number of options in terms of features and designs, coupled with the all-important question of whether it should be powered by natural gas, propane, charcoal, or even infrared.
Gas vs. Charcoal
The historic and heated debate that pits gas against charcoal may not ever come to a conclusion, but there are some key facts about each that could affect your preference.Greg Killick, the head of the Home Depot barbecue department in Newbury Park, Calif., explains that charcoal grills will give you a better, smokier flavor, but mentions that improvements in heat shield technology have helped to improve the taste of meat cooked on gas barbecues. Gas barbecues do however have the option of using wood chips in a smoker box to add a smokier flavor to the food, thus offsetting the taste advantages of a charcoal grill.
On the other hand, Jean, a Home Depot employee, affirms that gas grills, though perhaps less flavorful, are more convenient to use than charcoal, providing instant and controllable heat levels.
Propane vs. Natural Gas
While barbecues that cook with one form of the two are often convertible to the other, there are a few differences that may affect your choice.
First off, a propane-fueled barbecue is much more portable than a natural gas grill attached to the house gas line. Jean believes that this portability has advantages, allowing the user to move the barbecue in case of a change in wind direction, reducing the impact the wind could have on both smoke direction and cooling.
Greg also emphasizes that propane is better in emergencies, such as an earthquake, in case the gas line has been disrupted.
Natural gas is more useful in terms of continued use, with Greg explaining how propane limits availability at the amount in the tank. For this reason, Greg insists the first question he asks a customer is how often will you use the grill? You may want to ask yourself that before making the choice.
Converting
Having a barbecue that can be converted from propane to natural gas, or vice versa, is a convenient solution for some users. There are a few things to consider before assuming this is an available option.
First off, according to Greg, cheaper barbecues cannot be converted from propane to natural gas. Secondly, most barbecues that can handle a conversion will have a logo or indication in the manual or on the grill that explains its applicability.
Lastly, Greg warns, Most plumbers will not do these conversions due to liability reasons, meaning youre on your own if you wish to try it. Remember, both the lines and orifices need to be changed if you are attempting this conversion. Hint: have a fire extinguisher handy.
Infrared
A relatively new technology, infrared offers some unique advantages and disadvantages compared to its competitors. Greg explains that infrared is basically a no flame form of grilling, allowing for easy cleaning and even heating. Its essentially a form of convection cooking, but the option of using wood chips and its ability to leave grill lines leans it more towards the grilling side.Greg warns that the grills do get very hot and need to be more carefully watched. Hector, another Home Depot employee, said he has been pleasantly surprised with how well the infrared grills cook, but is unsure how long the heat shields will last.
Grill types
The type of grill you choose has a large impact on the durability of your barbecue. Greg explains that the best grilling bars are stainless steel they dont rust and are easy to clean. As a general rule of thumb, the thicker the bars, the more expensive and durable the grill.
The next step down is cast iron, which has two common forms. The finished porcelain finish is durable, though requires a softer brush to clean in order to prevent scratching. Greg jokes that the major downside to finished porcelain is that if you get drunk and leave it on overnight, it will crack. The ground porcelain finish works well, but requires the user to seal it with Pam or olive oil before use.
Which brand?
Brand recognition plays a major role. Weber is the classic and perhaps best known brand. Jean, Hector, and Greg all recommend Weber products. Their competitors, however, do offer effective, competitively priced and unique models that may better suit your needs. Your best choice is to shop and ask around, and decide what you want for yourself.
It's also a good idea to take a look at what other consumers have to say. Here are some consumer comments, many of them sizzling, about various brands:
Finishes
Stainless steel finishes, while sleek, require more work than their darker counterparts. The dark finish is easier to keep clean, Hector explains, as it is less likely to rust. If you do choose to go with stainless steel, Greg offers a neat trick to check the quality of the models you're considering.
Bring a magnet with you," he says. "The harder the magnet sticks to the stainless, the poorer the quality.
Built-ins
Gregs main words of advice to those who wish to install built in barbecues: Do your research. Make sure the grill fits, and make sure the material around it is easy to repair, because maintenance can quickly become expensive. Another good tip is to look for a long warranty, because repairs require the company to send someone out to your house. That can be expensive if it's outside the warranty period.
Controls
The way the temperature control knobs are laid out has a major effect on the longevity of a grill. Greg believes that the farther the controls are from the burners, the less likely they are to rust. He advises shoppers to buy a grill that has burners either off to the sides of the grill box or set off at an angle (not plush with the grill box).
These simple options can increase the grill's lifespan by minimizing control knob heat exposure as well as increase grill safety by making the knobs more difficult for children to reach. If your gas control knobs are removable, Barbecues Galores safety guide suggests that you can take them off to prevent children from playing with the grill when its not in use.
Burners
When it comes to burners, the heavier-duty the material, the longer it will last. The most durable material for burners is either cast iron or cast brass (which is the least common form) with a life expectancy of often ten or more years.
Stainless steel is the most common material, with an average warranty ranging from 3 to 5 years. Porcelain coated steel, the next step down, has a shorter average warranty period of approximately 3 years. Aluminized steel has generally the shortest life expectancy, meaning the shortest warranty period.
Price
In the world of grills, you often get what you pay for. Greg confirms that price, while having little effect on food quality, has a major impact on longevity.
Normally price is the biggest indicator of materials, he explains, advising potential buyers to check consumer review websites before purchasing any model of barbecue. Another good tip is to make sure the warranty is competitive with similar models in the products price range.
Maintenance Tips
Properly maintaining your grill is the best way to maximize its lifespan.Cover
Greg recommends every barbecue owner should purchase a cover or cap (for built in barbecues) in order to keep the barbecue both looking and working its best. He affirms that a cheap cap or cover is fine, as long as it keeps it out of the sun and the rain.
Weather
Besides getting a cover, a good way to keep your grill safe from the elements is to avoid them altogether. If you live in an area of the country where winter weather is rainy or snowy, its a good idea to bring the grill into the garage until you need it again. If you do this, however, be sure you leave the gas canister outside. Propane canisters should never be stored in a garage or any other building.
General cleaning
If you manage to get the grease off a stainless steel grill, Greg explains that you can put it in the dishwater. There might be some white specs left over, but this should burn off next time you heat up the grill.
Near the ocean?
Salty air will increase the rust factor exponentially on a barbecue. Besides following the above-mentioned tips, Greg has heard the suggestion of using car wax on the not heated parts of stainless steel to prevent rust, but he himself is yet to try it.
Propane barbecues
Always turn on the propane gas before you turn on the grill, otherwise you will turn the regulator into low mode. Greg says this is the number one complaint he receives about propane barbecues, receiving tanks from complaining customers only to find out that the tank is often more than half full. If this problem occurs, Greg recommends disconnecting everything a few times until a reset occurs.
Charcoal grills
A smoker is a good investment if you are planning on going the charcoal route. It allows you to keep charcoal hot while cooking, giving you a second set of pellets if need be to keep the heat up. Weber sells a model for $15.
Burners
Burners, which are constantly exposed to super-heated and acidic food residue, require regular cleaning to maximize their lifespan. Grillparts.com recommends using a wire brush on the burner exterior to remove food residue. A paper clip can be used to clean any clogged gas holes. The website also recommends that any damaged or corroded burners be replaced before use.
Repair
General repair of a barbecue can be a costly and difficult process, often costing more than the lower-end barbecues themselves. People often go through two or three cheap barbecues, replacing rather than repairing them, before settling for a nicer quality one that will last, Greg says.
Gregs recommendation
So what grill would Greg buy? The Weber Genesis E-310.
This grill costs approximately $649 and comes with an array of useful features. The controls are set aside from the grill box, insuring longevity and safety. There is also a match back-up ignition that comes in handy in a pinch. Greg confirms how nicely the pieces of the grill fit together when he assembles them, reflecting a quality design.
Webers customer service department is Gregs favorite: They put you right through to a friendly, helpful, and experienced operator. To top it off, the grill comes with Webers 10-year burner warranty, meaning the taste of summer should last a whole lot longer.
