A Guide to Grill Features
With Spring upon us and Summer right around the corner, many people are already making use of their grills. You can cook just about anything on a grill, but some of my favorites are burgers, bratwurst, corn and steaks. I love grilling. This post goes over some of the features that I find most helpful in a grill.
Grill Features To Look For
Fuel Gauge. Some grills locate the propane tank on a side hook. Often this hook is connected to a fuel gauge. This gauge will determine how much propane is left based on the tank weight. It’s a helpful addition to let you know approximately when you’ll need that next tank.
Extra Side Burner. An extra burner on the side of your grill is great for preparing / warming side dishes (like chili, mmmm). This keeps the main grilling area available for other food.
Rotisserie Burner. Want to cook a whole bird? Rotisserie burners are located along the rear. Be careful as motors and spits are often sold separately.
Smoker. Smoking uses smoldering wood and low temperatures (200 - 275 F) to slowly cook the food. This process may take time but results in tender, flavorful food. A suitable grill will trap heat and maintain a consistent temperature.
Stainless Steel. Much is made about stainless steel. But after your grill has spent time outside it won’t look nearly as good unless you’re prepared to clean it on a regular basis. And not all stainless is equal. Often a grill is composed of different grades of stainless. Cheaper composites will rust.
Grates. Your grill grates should transfer heat without causing food to stick. My research and personal experience point me toward coated cast iron. These grates do not rust or chip easily and they heat well. It’s important to clean and oil your grates to keep them in top shape.
My Grill: Weber Spirit E310
My grill is a Weber Spirit E310
What do you think? What kind of grill do you have? What features do you enjoy most?
Image courtesy of Woodley
May 15th, 2008 at 9:53 am
i’ve had both gas and charcoal, and must admit that gas is very clean and easy, but i have to go with the charcoal. i use that fancy dancy lump charcoal. we got our grill clearance from target - it’s called an aussie, but obviously it is made in china
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87039192@N00/365230046/
May 15th, 2008 at 10:19 am
We have a broken old weber gas grill… it’s ancient. The ignition is broken, so we have to light it with a match. It’s handles are wood, and almost cracked off…
I want to build a built in gas grill… but the inserts cost SO MUCH! I’ve been trying to figure out if I can just buy a normally priced cart grill and modify it into a built in.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:35 am
We had a 40 year old built-in with no ignition and one burner that worked intermittently. A new grill would have cost $3000! and the bricks had started crumbling and cracking, so we abandoned that idea, knocked it down and bought a weber genesis. Apart from the ignition which sucks, it’s a great grill.
But if I ever win the lottery I’m getting this
May 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
@Jennifer, sound like a big project. Seems like you should be able to do it. Run a longer line to the propane tank. Keep the main body intact (burners, grill, lid, firebox) and set that into some kind of brick cradle. It’s fairly common to replace the igniter’s. I’d be really curious to see what you do. Let me know if it ever happens.
May 15th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Our grill is a CharBroil Commercial Series. It was a wedding gift from my husbands parents. It has about everything you could ever want in a grill. Four burners, side burner, duel fuel, temp guage, push button electronic start (that runs on a battery), removable drip tray, side prep area, cast iron grill plates, and a top rack thats great for grilling buns and keeping things warm. It’s stainless steel and the propane tank is fully enclosed. It also has nonstick covers over the burners and the top rack is also nonstick. It’s huge (stands about 5′ tall) and was a little intimidating at first. I got over it though, and its amazing! It’s a little over the top, but it was a gift and we use it every chance we get. And we keep it in the garage in hopes that it’ll last for many, many years.
We also have a tiny “Bubba Keg Grill” (that’s the name on the box). It’s lightweight, uses a small propane canister, and is made from a keg. We haven’t used it yet because we got it for Christmas and it’s intended for camping. And we haven’t had good enough weather to go camping yet.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
@BeccaMarie, the CharBroil sounds like quite the grill! An excellent gift too I might add. I’ve also used a small portable weber grill. Probably very similar to the “Bubba”.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
@beccamarie — that sounds like one awesome grill! We have a charbroil stainless steel as well and have been very happy with it (although as ethan pointed out in the post, the SS isn’t all its cracked up to be… ours has never looked like the day we got it since we forgot to put the cover on for a few weeks. I’ve had some success cleaning it but not much.
Anyhow, after reading this post and then your comment, I realized E didn’t write about a thermometer–essential for telling you when you’re ready to cook! Maybe we’ll have to add that in in an updated post.
@JD-I am with you on the charcoal. I went through a mad charcoal phase last year when I got some royal oak brickets. I’m looking forward to getting back into some charcoal grilling this year.. in fact, I’m planning to paint the grill a nice fiery red color (its currently black) to get things kicked off.