Sunday, September 27, 2009

Buying A BBQ Grill, Get Ready For Summer

By Franklin Greyklon

As soon as winter thaws start and spring flowers begin to bloom, you know that it will soon be time for a BBQ. Now is the time for buying a BBQ grill if you do not already have one.

When buying a BBQ grill, you will first need to determine the type of fuel that you want to use. Propane grills are easy to light and give even heating. Most modern grills no longer use lava rock to keep down the flare ups, but have heat defusing plates that give a more even heat to the cooking surface.

Homeowners with natural gas may prefer a natural gas grill rather than the propane model. It is much less expensive to cook with natural gas and it is available without taking the bottles to the gas station for refilling. The primary disadvantage is that natural gas limits portability.

Although sometimes difficult to light and keep even heat, nothing adds flavor to grilled foods like a charcoal grill. These grills can be inexpensive small table top models to large grills that can cook twenty to thirty hamburgers at once. In addition to charcoal, you can choose to cook with wood chips such as hickory or mesquite to add even more flavor to your foods.

Some charcoal grills are able to cook with slow indirect heat to smoke and slow cook foods. This is a great option for tougher cuts of beef, but is also good for poultry and fish. Many of these grills are called smokers.

By buying a BBQ grill, you can take the heat of cooking a meal outside on many summer days. You may even choose to dine on the patio and enjoy some of the fresh summer air. Use of the patio in this way expands the living space of your home.

Do not limit your use of the BBQ grill to meats only. While they are great for beef, chicken and pork, they can also be used to cook the vegetables to accompany the meal. Steamed vegetables can be wrapped in aluminum foil on the grill. A small amount of water in the packet will help with the steaming process. If you prefer, vegetables can be sliced and cooked directly on the grill or may be added to skewers for cooking.

If you are looking for a quick marinade for veggies or meats on the grill, try using Italian dressing. The mixture of oil and vinegar makes for tender meats that are moist and the seasonings add a great flavor.

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