The Different Types of Grills Available on the Market Today
Are you ready to entertain your family and friends this spring and summer? Here are the different types of grills available on the market today.
A whopping three-quarters of US adults — that’s how many own either a grill or a smoker.
In fact, sales of barbecue grills have been ramping up by at least 2.8% every year. In 2017, different types of grills sold for a collective $6.6 billion. Come 2022, experts say this will reach a staggering $7.2 billion.
All these prove just how solid and deep-rooted America’s love affair with barbecue is. If you’ve fallen hard for all that smoky goodness yourself, then now’s the best time to get your own grill.
The question now is, what’s the best type of grill that’ll help you become a real, legit pitmaster? Which features should you be on the lookout for?
We’ll answer all these questions in this post, so best to keep reading! Moreover, you can also check Grill Ace to find the best grill which suits best to what you need and you can visit the Argentine Grilling Blog to find the latest in tips and recipes for your grilling recipe needs!
Pellet Grills
Pellet grills combine various features and functions of smokers, gas grills, and ovens. The term “pellet” comes from the fact that they use wood pellets as their main source of fuel. These pellets are responsible for the grill’s direct and indirect heating.
You need to plug in this type of grill to an electric outlet, but it’s not electricity that cooks the food. The electricity is for powering the grill’s heating element (usually a hot rod) and fan.
The heating element fires up the wood pellets, and the fan stokes the fire. This process then creates convection heat within the grill. This allows for even, albeit slow cooking. Some pellet grills, like these ones from Memphis, even have Wi-Fi temperature control feature, which can offer great convenience for some busy chefs/cooks.
One of the things that make pellet grills great is that you can set — and then “forget” them. Meaning, you can do other stuff, like prep the salad or bake the cornbread, and not worry about the meat burning. That’s because these grills let you cook low and slow, which also helps infuse a delish smoky flavor to the food.
You can read more here, but the gist is, pellet grills are convenient and fuel-efficient. You can use them not only to barbecue and grill, but also to smoke, roast, and even bake!
Gas Grills
Gas grills remain the most popular of all types of BBQ grills, with about six in 10 US households owning one. They’re quick to heat up to optimal grilling temperatures, much like pellet grills. Gas appliances are generally cheaper to run than electric ones, so that’s another plus.
Compared to pellet grills, gas-powered ones usually come with a lower price tag. However, gas-grilled food may not taste as barbecue-ish as those cooked with pellets. Still, it’s a great choice if you prioritize quick and easy grilling.
Gas grills are also available in natural, built-in, and freestanding types. Natural gas grills often connect to the same pipeline that delivers natural gas to homes. Built-in gas grills are compact and permanent, while the freestanding ones are grills-on-wheels.
Charcoal Grills
Charcoal grills aren’t as “common” as gas grills today, but they’re still the classic option. Charcoal, a type of lightweight, black carbon, is actually heated or “charred” wood. It’s this charred-wood taste and odor that defines the classic barbecue.
This is a great choice if you’re always craving the original taste of grilled food. However, be sure that you have more time on your hands, as charcoal grilling does take a lot of time. Grilling with coal is also quite messy, but if it’s not a big deal, then this type of cooker is a good choice.
Also, be sure to stick to a durable, high-quality grill with a thicker grill grate. Keep in mind that this part gets exposed to direct heat, so expect low-quality grates to rust away faster. Stainless steel is a top choice when it comes to grill materials.
If you are looking for a healthier grilling experience… look into vertical grilling. The fats drip while it cooks and you can add one of the best vertical smokers to your grill equipment lineup and become the envy of the neighborhood.
Electric Grills
Electric grills are plug-and-play cookers that use electricity to heat the cooking grate. The heating element is either built into the grill grate itself or right below it. As the current flows into the heating element, they become hot enough to cook the food.
As you can imagine, there won’t be a lot of that smoky flavor in electric-grilled food. However, BBQ marinades and artificial smoke flavoring can help you get some of that flavor in.
Also, electric grills may be a good choice for those who don’t have enough outdoor space. Think condominium and apartment tenants.
As for price tags, smaller electric grills are usually cheaper than pellet or gas grills. However, they may cost more to operate.
Ceramic Grills
Ceramic grills are dome-shaped grills that use glazed ceramic. This makes the grill extremely efficient in keeping in heat and moisture. This then evenly cooks the food while also retaining as much juice (moisture) as possible.
Ceramic grills are also types of charcoal grills, as they also rely on this carbon material for heat. Their dome-like structure, however, allows for a more even flow and spread of heat. As a result, the food gets cooked on all sides, and not just the top or the bottom.
The biggest drawback to ceramic grills is their high price. They’re way pricier than charcoal grills and also costlier than smaller pellet grills. Plus, they’re quite heavy, so you can’t really move them around, unlike portable grills.
Portable Grills
Portable grills are the downsized version of gas and charcoal grills. They’re small and lightweight enough to move and even bring with you on a camping trip. However, since they’re tinier, you can only cook a small amount of food at a time.
Time to Heat Things Up: Shop Around for the Best Types of Grills Now
There you have it, the only guide you’ll ever need when it comes to the different types of grills. Now that you know what your best options are, it’s time to get some shopping done!
Just remember to consider the actual size of the grill (and not only the cooking surface). Also, factor in portability, and most importantly, the cooker’s overall grilling quality.
Once you do get that grill all set up, be sure to check out all the delish recipes we’ve shared on this site! Head over to the Savvy Recipes section to start planning your barbecued meals.
