Choosing A Grill

There are hundreds of different styles of charcoal grills out there and many different manufacturers to choose from, and price ranges from less than $20.00 to well into the thousands. So selecting the right grill can sometimes be confusing and even frustrating. But if you know what to look for when choosing a grill this task can be easy and fun.

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Common Mistakes:

When it come to buying a grill a common mistake that I see people make is buying too much grill.They buy biggest most expensive grill in the store, just because it has all the bells, whistles and flashing lights and the salesperson was really good at his/her job. We all have a primal urge to own the biggest, best and prettiest things that do the most. Even if we don’t need it. Most of these extras we have no use for or don’t even know what they do. These grills can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand depending on the extra features they come with. I call this yard bling because for the average backyard barbecuer there is no real functionality but is sure does look good.

Note: The more extras you have on your grill the more things can break and have to be replaced or repaired.

Another common mistake that I see is buying not enough grill. Some of us like to get in and get out. We go to the store get the least expensive thing on the shelf or the first thing we see and get out of there as soon as possible. Not even considering things like quality, size or needed features. We get it home and get it all set up just to find out that there’s not enough cooking surface to satisfy our needs or on of the legs is shorter than the rest or it falls apart in the middle of your second cookout. Now we just have a pile of scrap metal or costume yard bling.

To avoid making these and other common mistakes when choosing a grill for the first time.

Choosing A Grill:

Grills come in many different shapes, sizes and prices.  The one(s) you decide to buy is going to depend on the kind of grilling you plan to do. Choosing a grill that suits your needs is the most important part of the grill buying process. Keep it simple and don’t over do it.  When choosing a grill ask yourself these questions.

1. How many people will I cook for on a regular basis?

This is important to know because we want to make sure that we have adequate cooking surface to prepare enough food for all of our guests.

2. How much space do I have?

You will need to get a grill that fits in the space that you have available. If you live in an apartment or don’t have room for a large patio grill you may consider a smaller portable grill.

3. Will I be using a smoker?

There are many grills that come equipped with an offset smoker box. However I have found that using my kettle grill as a smoker works well for me.

4. Cost?

Unless you have money to burn cost is probably a very important component when considering your first charcoal grill purchase. If you are like me you probably don’t have money to burn. So I suggest not to get too extravagant when buying your first grill. I’ve found that a simple kettle grill can satisfy most if not all of your needs in a good charcoal grill. Weber makes an excellent kettle grill as does Charbroil. These two I’ve found are the most accessible and can be purchased at just about any hardware store or even walmart. You can get one for around $200.00 or less. I don’t really recommend going with an off brand since the quality on some of these brands is not the greatest.

I have some reviews on some great and not so great Grills on my reviews page, so be sure to check them out.

Clean and Maintain Your Grill:

Once you have chosen the perfect grill(s), be sure to maintain and clean your grill after every use. Make sure to empty any ash or leftover coals from the prior cookout and clean the grates before using again. With proper maintenance you should get many years of worry free cookouts from your new charcoal grill.

There you have it folks, a few ideas on what to look for when purchasing you first charcoal grill. I hope this was helpful.

Be sure to check out the recipes page for ideas on what to cook on your new grill

As always, Thanks for stopping by.

Please feel free to comment and share your opinions on charcoal grills and charcoal grilling

Happy Grilling!!!

Backyard Chef