| Summer is here and the steaks are ready to | | | | means a larger area to clean. |
| grill, the only problem is that you don't | | | | |
| know exactly what type of barbeque grill to | | | | Additional Features |
| buy. There are many questions that need to be | | | | |
| asked when buying a grill. Things such as | | | | Natural gas or propane grills can offer |
| cost, ease of use, other uses besides | | | | additional cook spaces that a charcoal or |
| grilling, flavor and portability should be | | | | smoker unit cannot. If you plan to cook full |
| considered. The most important item in this | | | | meals on your grill, gas burners and a |
| list depends on what you want. This article | | | | warming tray come in handy. A rotisserie |
| looks in detail at the different categories | | | | option may also be important to you depending |
| and makes a judgment on which grills would be | | | | on what you want to grill. |
| best in that category, charcoal, propane, | | | | |
| natural gas or smokers. | | | | Flavor |
| | | | |
| Cost | | | | If flavor is the most important item on your |
| | | | list, a smoker or a charcoal grill should be |
| If cost is the main factor, the grill to go | | | | your first priority. Smokers are meant to |
| for is charcoal. They start at $15.00 for a | | | | slow cook over time and impart a smoky flavor |
| small, basic unit and only $30.00 for a | | | | to meats. You can choose the type of wood to |
| standard 22" kettle grill. Propane grills are | | | | smoke that will give you the flavor you are |
| the next lowest in price, starting at around | | | | looking for. The only problem with a smoker |
| $100.00 for a basic unit. A small smoker | | | | is when you want a quick pork chop or |
| starts at around $130.00. Since natural gas | | | | hamburger, it isn't so quick. Consider a gas |
| grills are supposed to be hooked to a home's | | | | grill for quicker cook meals and a smoker |
| gas line, they tend to be larger units, and | | | | when you really want to impress the |
| more expensive starting around $300.00. They | | | | neighbors. Charcoal is the next best in the |
| now have dual fuel grills as well that use | | | | flavor department with no gas undertone. Gas |
| natural gas most of the time but can also use | | | | grills can also impart a good grilled flavor, |
| propane; these are the most expensive with an | | | | and now many gas grills have a smoker option |
| asking price of $450.00 up. | | | | on them. |
| | | | |
| Ease of Use | | | | Portability |
| | | | |
| The easiest grill to use is probably the | | | | When portability is the most imporant |
| natural gas grill. It is hooked to your homes | | | | requirement, propane is the way to go. |
| natural gas line and therefore doesn't | | | | Charcoal grills run a close second. Small |
| require you to buy large propane tanks on a | | | | propane tanks make it easy to take your grill |
| regular basis. Getting a grill that has a | | | | camping or to a tailgate party and you aren't |
| battery powered or electric starter makes | | | | left wondering where to put the smoldering |
| things even easier. Propane is probably the | | | | coals. Charcoal can work and there are |
| next easiest to use since there are no | | | | several small portable units available; just |
| charcoal briquettes or wood chips to worry | | | | make sure you have a plan for what to do with |
| about. While it seems that a larger grill is | | | | the used briquettes. |
| a better grill, remember that larger also | | | | |