Buying a Grill? Don’t Get Burned

Guest post by Mark Rhodus:

Seriously, outdoor grilling has gotten out of hand. I mean is it really necessary to spend $5000 on a grill? I’m a designer of paver patios and outdoor kitchens and it kills me to see how much my customers are willing to spend on a new grill. As a traditional BBQ guy, I prefer the Weber kettle grill or a smoker. I guess these days it’s all about convenience and I suppose if you have the money why not.

Does a steak from a $5000 grill taste that much better than a steak from a $100 grill? I’m guessing not. If you must have that fancy grill, here are some tips to make sure you’re getting what you paid for.

Stainless Steel - Stainless steel doesn’t rust so it’s the preferred metal; however, stainless steel is often imitated. You can do a magnet test on the grill to see if you’re really getting stainless steel. You don’t want the magnet to stick. Many times manufacturers will build the body of the grill from stainless steel but the frame from a cheaper metal like cast iron which will rust.

Heat – Heat is very important. If you know anything about grilling most meats, it’s high heat at first to sear in the juices then low heat until the meat is at the right temperature. Make sure the grill has a high BTU or one that’s adequate for the size of the grill. Just because the grill has a high BTU doesn’t mean it will put off more heat than a smaller grill with lower BTUs. If a grill is small, it doesn’t require as many BTUs to produce high heat.

Features -  Before you go grill shopping it’s a good idea to know what features you want in a grill. It’s easy to buy a grill because it’s on sale without making sure that it has everything you’re looking for. Some of the more popular grill features are side burners, a rotisserie, sear burners, infrared burners, smoker boxes, and lighting.

Size – It goes without saying that size is one of the more important factors when buying a grill. Do you grill for a couple or a whole group? Make sure the size of the grill is adequate for the work load.

Just remember that once you buy that new grill, there will more than likely be maintenance and upkeep. On the other hand, my $100 charcoal grill never gets cleaned; it’s how I season the grill. Hopefully these points will get you thinking about what you want from a grill.

Mark Rhodus (Twitter @TwoBrosBrick) from Two Brothers Brick Paving is a paver patio and kitchen remodeling designer.

image by About Outdoor Grilling

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