Grills Buying Guide

Choosing the Right Grill for your Home

Grilling has evolved into much more than a summer pastime for suburban dads. While family meals moved to the back yard in good weather are still a popular choice, grillers now come in more shapes and sizes than ever before. Demand is growing for grill products and accessories that can accommodate travel, urban living, and multiple fuel preferences, with varying degrees of retro charm or cutting-edge technology.

Fuel for Your Grilling Fire

Choosing an operating fuel for your grill can be a tricky part of the process, especially now that many people consider the environment to be an important factor in all lifestyle choices.

Flavor is also an important factor in grill fuel choices. If you love having a smoky taste infused into your meats and vegetables, a charcoal grill may be right for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a more environmentally friendly grill, electricity could be more appealing. If you purchase an electric grill, just add a bottle of liquid smoke to your spice cupboard to recapture that taste as desired.

Technology enthusiasts may already be looking for an electric infrared grill, or a model that incorporates an infrared burner. If you’re not familiar with the term “infrared light” it refers to electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light. Put simply, an infrared grill uses the heat emitted from this kind of light.

Natural gas and propane are your other fuel choices, both of which can be environmentally friendly if implemented properly. If your home is already plumbed for natural gas, adding a line for your grill may make the most sense. If you need portability though, smaller propane tanks are available, although not necessarily refillable. Choose a refillable tank if reusing is a priority.

Outdoor Lifestyles: Urban and Suburban Grilling

Grills come in as many shapes and sizes as we have modern dwellings. From small table-top models to large built-in and cart-style grills – even commercial-size grills – the selection on the market today is dazzling.

Chances are you’ve already selected your fuel preference. Add budget and size parameters to narrow your choices a bit further. Determining how much you can or want to spend is fairly straightforward. Choosing your grill size and style will depend on two factors: where you want to put it and whether or not you need portability. Do you have ample patio space? Or are you accommodating a small apartment balcony? Will your grill be in the same spot at all times? Or do you want to take it on outings and vacations? Making those decisions will help you choose a grill that suits your lifestyle in the long run.

Grill Fashion: Colorful Finishes and Modern Styles

If the look of your grill is an important factor – and for many grillers, color does matter – shopping online makes it easy to find more selection, and to shop by color. Some of the most popular finishes include brushed stainless steel, copper (also known as a gold Weber grill), blue, green, red, and of course, black.

Grill Accessories, Tools, Covers and More

Having the right equipment to cook with and to clean your grill can make a huge difference in the quality of your meal and your enjoyment of grilling. Using the right products for your grilling style can also help you get the best performance from your grill, increasing its life with the proper usage and care.
Grill accessories can include baskets, covers, griddles, grates, and rotisseries, as well as grill tools like the brushes, tongs, turners, and forks used for food preparation and cooking. Grill tool kits make excellent gifts, often popular for Father’s Day and summer birthdays as well as tournaments and corporate events. Grilling has become a popular cuisine choice for so many people that grill products of all shapes and sizes make great gifts year round as well.