The barbecue is a faithful friend who helps you spend hours in the company of relatives and friends. To cook meats, vegetables, and fish perfectly, you need the best barbecue grills that ensure even cooking at various temperatures.
If you have decided to make this kind of purchase, you must consider the frequency of use (daily or weekly) and the location where you will place the barbecue (garden, balcony, or terrace). Based on the answers you give to these questions, you can choose the most suitable model, size, and material.
Barbecue Grills: Types and Sizes
Barbecue grills, depending on their intended use, are available in various shapes and sizes. There are multiple types of grids, including square and rectangular, small and large, standard (bar), and flat surfaces. The grids can be portable, tabletop, or integrated.
1.) Portable grills are easy to transport both at home and away from home, making them useful for those who go on vacation or decide to have a picnic.
2.) The table grills are small, suitable for those who go camping in tents; they are perfect for a grill for two.
3.) The integrated grills are part of the outdoor barbecues, those that are permanently mounted in the gardens of the house and allow you to cook for many guests.
Material
The quality of the material used to make the barbecue grills is essential, as it directly affects the cooking process.
- The enameled wrought-iron barbecue grill with non-toxic paint is the most affordable option, but it also has a limited lifespan and should not be left outdoors under the elements. It needs gentle cleaning and needs to be changed often.
- The cast iron barbecue grill is the most requested one because it is made from an excellent material that retains heat well. However, it has the disadvantage of requiring more thorough cleaning, and greater caution is needed due to the material’s delicacy.
- The chrome-plated stainless steel grill differs from natural stainless steel; first of all, it is more cost-effective, but it has the disadvantage that the chrome plating, with use or exposure to high temperatures, can come off.
- The best barbecue grill is made of natural stainless steel. It has the advantages of requiring no maintenance, being easy to clean, and being practically indestructible. You can leave them in the garden, under the weather and wash them whenever you want, they will always be new. It has the disadvantage of retaining less heat than cast iron and being the most expensive on the market. To determine if it is 304 steel, it will be sufficient to approach a magnet; if the magnet does not stick, it is 304 steel; if it is attracted, it is a lower-quality steel.
Barbecue grills: Features
Today, people are more careful about cooking food and have become more demanding. Everyone looks for a grill that allows them to cook slowly, avoiding the burnt patina on the meat that doctors often criticize.
Furthermore, slow cooking allows the meat and fish to retain their juices and enhance the final flavor. To get the best out of the barbecue, choose one that has the most suitable functions for your needs and allows you to make succulent dishes.
Most grills are equipped with a “Rotisserie” function, which is used to slowly rotate the food during cooking, ensuring even cooking throughout. Some models are equipped with “Automatic Ignition” and the “Temperature Control” function.
Others have, inside them, a small surface that is used for browning and smoking smaller pieces during cooking. Some grids allow different foods to be cooked at varying temperatures simultaneously.
To grill vegetables, there are also flat surface grills that allow you to cook small pieces that cannot be cooked on a standard grill.
One for each barbecue model
The barbecues can be powered by charcoal, gas, or electricity. Each of them allows for different cooking methods: gas for rapid cooking, charcoal for smoking, and electric for uniform cooking. Let’s see them in detail.
- Gas barbecue grills. They are equipped with various features and are available in different models and sizes. They reach optimal cooking temperature in 10 minutes or less. They are easy to clean and allow you to cook or heat food simultaneously on the same grill.
- Charcoal barbecue grills. They are powered by coal, making them ideal for those who love traditional cooking, as they can reach very high temperatures. The grids are made of cast-iron or stainless steel bars and have side openings to refill more charcoal.
- Electric barbecue grills are generally small, except for some models. They are more complicated to clean and do not change the taste of food.
