Finding the perfect fit for the Grill Master in all of us.
The weather is starting to warm up and it’s time to fire up those grills! Whether you’re building that new outdoor kitchen you’ve always dreamed of or are just the grill enthusiast of your home, we’re here to help make that decision a little easier. Maybe you’re considering giving Kamado Joe or Green Egg a try. Maybe you are sticking with the traditional gas grill. With so many options these days, the process of deciding which route to take is a challenging one.
Gas Grills-
This one is by far one of the most common types of grills. Gas Grills are a staple in most homes due to their ease of use and ability to run on either propane or natural gas. However, because it is required to be stationary, Natural gas grills are usually best suited for integrating into an outdoor kitchen.
Most gas BBQ grills are made of stainless steel and can include features like multiple grilling racks, and temperature control knobs to easily adjust the grill’s heat output. Gas grills can be easily started and require almost no down time to get right to cooking. These BBQ grills are relatively limited in their range of cooking abilities as their mostly used for grilling and searing, however with the right accessories you can expand to other varieties of cooking. Gas grills are perfect if you prefer the simplicity of grilling various meats or vegetables to your desired temperature and texture for quick, delicious meals.
Kamado Joe or Green Egg –
These mighty grills are unique BBQ grills commonly used for grilling and smoking food. Unlike your traditional gas grill, these grills often require charcoal or wood to cook, but can offer more flexibility when smoking or infusing food with flavor. With that means longer wait times for heat up and less on demand cooking. You can expect anywhere from an estimated 15-30 minutes to heat up and get the charcoal and wood generating heat. The egg-shaped or dome part of the grill is often made of ceramic, or a similar material that can withstand high temperatures or abrupt shifts in temperature when necessary. The ceramic usually makes the grill heavy and while it does offer the portability option, it can also be incorporated into an outdoor kitchen design. While these little grills are best known for their versatility, you have the flexibility to cook up your favorite meats or give it that quick high heat sear, roast vegetables, bake pizzas or breads, and smoke your food for hours on a low heat. It’s dome shape of the helps retain and circulate heat, while the top and bottom vents allow for heat or smoke adjustments in no time. In addition to the flexibility of the grill to begin with, there are also numerous accessories to consider such as cooking stones, rotisserie kits, iron griddles, and more that can be purchased to help expand your cooking capabilities. This option is best suited for the home cook looking for versatility in cooking styles and options, like the choice to quickly grill or slowly smoke mouthwatering food.
Pellet Grills or Pellet Smokers –
Pellet grills are designed to cook your meat slowly over a low temperature. It’s really more like an oven than a grill, and it can also double as a smoker. It can also do more traditional grilling, but it’s built for slowly saturating your food with that great smoky flavor through the use of wood pellets. It’s important to consider getting the right kind of pellets to use and beware of pellets that can be harmful for infusion cooking. Smoking wood pellets are usually made from hardwoods such as applewood and hickory, which definitely help with that delicious smoke flavor. You can choose different types of woods to imbue specific flavors into your meats, and you can even mix and blend different pellets to customize yours to your taste. Thing to consider are how easy they are to use, even for a newbie just starting their smoking or grilling endeavors. They provide the ability of a “set it and forget it” cooking style. You can set the temperature, insert a meat probe for the occasional temperature check. Some pellet style cookers even offer the capability of temperature control through a common phone app. They’re perfect for any kind of weather or climate since they easily maintain their temperature and can easily be cleaned.