It must be barbecue season! The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and the irresistible smell of grilled meats and vegetables is in the air.
If you’re buying a new grill, there are many things to consider from your type of grill to its size, and what features you need. Here are 3 tips to help get you started.
1. Choose your favourite way to cook
There are four main types of fuel sources for your grill. When choosing the right one, it really comes down to lifestyle and how you like to cook.
Gas and propane grills
Pros
- Quick and convenient: Got a busy schedule? You’ll save time with a gas or propane BBQ because you don’t have to wait for it to get hot.
- Affordable to run: Propane and gas are cheaper than electricity. If you have a natural gas BBQ, you can hook up your grill to your home’s natural gas line for endless fuel.
- Keeps meats juicy: When cooking, gas BBQs give off steam that helps meats retain their natural juices.
- Easy cleanup: Gas BBQs are easier to clean compared to charcoal or pellet grills.
Cons
- Gas adds no additional flavour to your food.
- Natural gas BBQs can be expensive to setup because they need to be installed by a gas company.
- Gas grills can be heavy to move around. If you need a more mobile grilling option, consider a small propane grill.
Always clean your BBQ after cooking. Heat your gas grill on medium with the lid closed for 15 minutes or until you see smoke, then scrape the grates with your grill brush.
Charcoal grills
Pros
- Delicious flavour: All about that rich, smoky taste? A charcoal grill will give you that flavour you’re after.
- Cost-effective: Charcoal grills are typically less expensive compared to other grilling options.
- Flexibility: By arranging the coals in different positions, you get more versatile cooking options (searing, smoking, direct and indirect heat).
- High heat: There’s no max temperature setting, so you can get your grill as hot as you need it.
Cons
- A charcoal grill requires more setup and cleaning time.
- Forgetting to buy charcoal can cause inconvenient dinner delays.
- Charcoal grills are not permitted in some residential areas.
- They have limited additional features compared to other options.
Wait until your charcoal is ready to cook. Your charcoal will be a grey-white colour when its ready. If you put your food on the grill when the charcoal is still black, it will be more difficult to control your cooking temperatures.
Pellet grills
Pros
- Subtle smoke flavour: Like a smoky flavour, but not a lot of smoke? Wood pellets offer a more subtle smoke flavour compared to charcoal.
- Customizable cooking: You can choose and combine wood pellets depending on the flavour you want. BBQ pellets come in a variety of flavours like applewood, hickory, cherry, pecan, and even oak from old whiskey barrels.
- Temperature control: You can easily monitor the temperature by adding more pellets to your grill as needed.
- Not just for slow-smoking: While pellet grills are generally used for cooking food low-and-slow, newer models are also capable of high-heat grilling and searing.
Cons
- Not the most versatile option compared to charcoal, gas or electric.
- If pellet grills are new to you, they may take some getting used to.
Store your wood pellets in a dry place. If moisture gets into them, your pellets may crumble, fall apart, and become unusable. We recommend the Pellet Storage Bin from Broil King BBQ, or something similar.
Electric grills
Pros
- Cook anywhere: No fumes mean an electric grill can be safely used inside or outside.
- Convenient and compact: Electric grills come in small sizes that are perfect for camping trips, as long as you have a power source.
- Plug and play: Electric grills are ready for cookin’ — you’ll never have to worry about picking up a tank of propane or a bag of charcoal.
- Low maintenance: Just like an electric stove, an electric grill is easy to use and clean.
Cons
- They need electricity to run.
- You don’t get that authentic, charred BBQ flavour.
Your electric grill should sizzle when you put meat on it. Wait for your grill to reach a hot temperature to ensure your meat retains its moisture and cooks evenly.
2. Choose the right grill size for your family
The average household typically needs 450–500 square inches of cooking area. That’s equal to about three burners on your grill.
If you’re a larger family, or invite guests over often, you may want to look at a grill that has 550+ square inches of cooking area, or 5-6 burners.
If you live alone or with just one other person, a smaller grill will work. They’re also great for compact spaces. Accessories can give you more cooking space. Many grills offer side burners, back burners, and other heating elements that can help you multitask and cook more efficiently.
3. Decide on which features you need
Explore extra features and accessories that can help enhance your cooking experience.
Side burners
Side burners are perfect for cooking sauces while you’re grilling. They can also save you from having to boil water inside your home on a hot summer day.
Back burners
A back burner is great for reheating food and cooking succulent meats — like rotisserie chicken, or a whole roast. Napoleon has some great tips on how to use your back burner like a pro.
Cooking grates
Cooking grates help you get those beautiful grill marks on your meat and vegetables. They come in different materials such as cast iron and stainless steel.
We recommend choosing a grate that best suits your maintenance tolerance and cooking preferences. For example, a stainless-steel grate is lightweight and easy to clean, making it perfect for charcoal grills. A cast-iron grate transfers heat well and creates bold sear marks, but its porous surface can rust and needs regular maintenance.
BBQ lights
Grill-facing lights and back-lit controls make it easier to see what you’re doing when it’s dark out.
Smart grilling technology
Some barbecues, such as the Weber 2022 Genesis, come with built-in smart grilling technology that sends notifications directly to your mobile phone as your cooking. You can also purchase separate smart technology, such as the Weber Connect smart grilling hub, which is compatible with any grill and sends you notifications on everything from step-by-step tips to estimated cooking times.
Our pros are here to help
Need help picking out the right grill and features for your family? We love talkin’ BBQs. Give us a call and we’ll happily answer all your questions.
