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How to Choose a New Grill
Grilling outside is the perfect way to cook and enjoy the warm weather during the summer months. That's why having a reliable grill that fulfills all your cooking needs is key to a prime experience. At Abt, there's a wide selection of outdoor grills to choose from. But finding the perfect model depends on how often you'll be using your new grill, potential housing regulations and even your preferred style of cooking. When looking at how to choose a new grill, there are likely several questions that come to mind. Is a gas grill the perfect fit? Or will a charcoal grill deliver the flavor I want? Whether your old grill is broken or you're looking for an upgrade, Abt has you covered with helpful information to help you purchase a new grill. You can even check out our grill demos to see them in action this summer.
Grills Types and Benefits
Gas
Typically with two to six burners, gas grills tend to be more convenient when it comes to barbecuing. With simple controls and quick heating, these gas appliances cook your food evenly, a perfect choice for roasts and ribs. These grills tend to cook slow and steady too, so if you're looking to roast vegetables alongside your meats, theyse appliances are a good option.
One consideration when choosing a new grill is the difference between natural gas and propane gas grills. A natural gas grill needs to be connected to your houses gas line, so its important to think about where your gas line is located. There also may be higher installation costs than what a propane grill requires. However, hauling a propane tank around the yard and consistently refilling it can be a tedious chore. To ensure you dont run out of fuel while cooking, it's wise to keep an extra tank on hand. Regardless, both options have a simpler clean up process and they take less time to turn on, heat up and cool than a standard charcoal grill.
Charcoal
When looking for a new grill, flavor is important to consider. For those who seek a deep, smoky flavor with their food, charcoal grills are a go-to investment. While allowing for a richer taste, charcoal grills do take longer to heat up. With that being said, they can often reach higher temperatures than standard gas grills, so you can try exploring more styles of high-heat cooking. Most charcoal grills also offer a portable design, which is perfect for a barbecue at your friend's place. Do keep in mind though when traveling with your charcoal grill, that there must be a place to discard your ashes after cooking.
Kamado
Kamado grills are similar to charcoal models, as they require charcoal to heat but they do differ in design. They have a tall, deep egg shape and small grates that ensure your food is cooked evenly and thoroughly. Using hardwood lump charcoal, your cooking will be more efficient and you'll be able to cook without needing to worry about changing or constantly adding more fuel. Kamado grills do require more attention throughout cooking compared to a gas or charcoal one. While you can control the temperature a bit more, flare-ups can occur so it's important to prevent these occurences. It's factors like this one that makes these barbecues an appropriate choice for more experienced grillers, but you don't need to be an expert to purchase one so long as you remain vigilant.
Pellet
If you want your new grill to offer the convenience of gas and the flavor of charcoal, then a wood pellet grill may be for you. Pellet grills offer a more aromatic, woody smoked flavor. And most pellet grill brands sell various wood pellet "flavors" too, so you can infuse your food with different notes each time you fire up your grill. Ranging from oak to hickory to cherry wood, there's a wide selection to choose from to enhance every bite of your food. Along with a thermostat, these appliances ensure an easy way for you to keep an eye on the temperature and adjust it to a more precise number when necessary. Many pellet grills feature a searing zone to help get those signature grill marks on your food as well. However, pellets grills are not known to sear quite as well as gas or charcoal.
Flat Top
With a smooth, flat surface, flat top grills give you an easy-to-manage cooking area similar to a griddle. These appliances are perfect if you want to be able to cook a wider variety of foods that would typically slip through classic grill grates, such as eggs and pancakes. Flat tops typically have between two to four burners, each of which allows you to control different cooking zones so you can heat mulitple dishes at the same time. However, they do need to be cleaned more often and they tend to be more expensive.
Rules and Regulations
Apartment Buildings
When looking at how to choose a new grill, its important to read any rules or regulations that may impact your decision. For most apartments, models with open flames are not allowed. If the apartment does allow them, they normally don't allow larger grills that can offer a more efficient barbecuing experience. This is where an electric grill can come in handy. Though they dont create the same smoky flavor as a charcoal grill or offer the same space as other appliances, an electric grill can still allow for delicious meals and an enjoyable cooking process.
Grilling at Campsites
Camping is a fun way to travel and reconnect with nature. Having the opportunity to cook your own food on your new grill can make the camping experience even more enjoyable. Nevertheless, many campsites have rules when it comes to barbecuing on their grounds. It's important to remember that water does not work when putting out grease fires. For this reason, many campsites require you to have a fire extinguisher with you any time you will be cooking to ensure the safety of the campsite and prevent forest fires. Even if your campsite of choice says "no" to bringing your own grill, many campsites still have small charcoal grills installed around the premises. Should you choose to cook with these, be sure to clean up after yourself to protect other animals and wildlife.
Find Your New Grill at Abt
Reliable grills can make a big difference when it comes to outdoor cooking. And here at Abt, we've got you covered. If you are ready to buy your new grill, shop at Abt.com today. If you would like more information on the different styles of grills, check out our guide for buying an outdoor grill or call one of our sales specialists at 800-860-3577.
