Outdoor Barbecue Grills - an Overview

Barbeque grills come in three main categories - charcoal, gas and electric - and each type will appeal to a slightly different customer.

Charcoal Grills

For decades the only type available was a charcoal grill, and this style is still very popular. Though they require a bit more effort to prepare, use and clean there's no denying that the taste of meat cooked with charcoal has a unique flavor. The coals can be flavored themselves to add a special wood and smoky aroma that makes its way into the food. But they have drawbacks.  They usually require some kind of gasoline-like fluid to assist the briquettes in heating to the point that the fire becomes self-sustaining. (although, there are alternative lighting methods, which you can read about in our page on Charcoal BBQ Grills).  The coals also require a long cool-down period and have to be replaced after one or two uses. Clean up is often messy.

Gas Grills

Gas grills took over in popularity 20 years ago and dominate the market now. They come in two main types: natural gas and propane.

Natural gas grills use natural gas. They produce high heat and an even temperature. Clean up is relatively easy and some grills are even self-cleaning to a degree, like indoor ovens.  The main drawback is that natural gas grills require you to have or create an outlet to hook the stove up to. Many homes already have them, so that's seldom a problem. But it does limit the mobility of the grill. Once in place, you have a fairly short hose connection and the grill has to stay near the outlet.

The other type of gas grill uses propane, usually from a refillable metal tank. Tanks come in various sizes, with 20 gallons a common amount. Propane grills produce a high temperature, only slightly less than methane. They'll cook a thick steak just as well, requiring only a slightly longer cooking time.  Propane grills are convenient because they can be moved around.

But the tanks do run out, slower or faster depending on how long each cooking session is and how often the grill is used. Refilling them isn't very expensive, though propane prices have risen sharply in the past few years. The hassle factor can be considerable, as you have to take the tank to the propane supplier and fill it. It an also be frustrating and inconvenient should your propane tank run out of gas in the middle of cooking. Should you use a propane gas grill, do make sure you have a gauge on the tank which will indicate how full the tank is.

Many natural gas models can be converted into propane and vice versa. The kits are simple to use and range in price, with some representing a third of the original cost of the grill.

Electric Grills

Electric grills are another, newer option. They are in essence electric ovens set on wheels and can have a number of advantages. They have no fuel requirement, just a cord and an electric outlet. They can be self-cleaning, just as many interior ovens are. The temperature can be very precisely controlled. They do tend to be a little more expensive than other styles, though. A big disadvantage is that the food may not have that outdoor-grilled taste.

Synonyms: BBQ, barbecue and barbeque are used synonymously.

barbque, barbequed, barbeques, barbaque, bar-b-que, bar b que, barbacue, barbecued and barbecues are typos for "barbeque."