Barbecues

8 grill features you should know before you buy a grill

When you are out to find a grill, there are several different features that you may need to pay attention to in order to get the best grill for you.

#1 Side Burner

There are gas grills that have a side burner next to the grill, which typically is located in the side tables.

They are super handy if you want to boil potatoes or make sauce while grilling, turning your grill into a small outdoor kitchen.

The side burners are typically hidden under plates, which you can simply lift up when you need to use the burner, so they can also just serve as countertops when the burner is not in use.

#2 Thermometer

In many grills, there is a built-in thermometer in the lid of the grill, so you can easily see how hot the grill is.

The lid must be down for the grill to measure the heat, as it is the heat inside the grill that it measures.

If you need to measure the internal temperature of your food, however, you should look for a meat thermometer, which you can read more about below.

You can find thermometers in both electric grills, gas grills, and charcoal grills, so there are plenty of opportunities to find a grill with a thermometer that suits you.

#3 Meat Thermometer

There are increasingly many grills equipped with a meat thermometer or where a meat thermometer can be added, especially in newer and more advanced gas grills

The meat thermometer can tell you the core temperature of, for example, the meat you are grilling, so you know if it is properly cooked before you start slicing the meat.

#4 Drip Tray

It varies whether grills are equipped with a drip tray or if you have to ensure to get a drip tray yourself, but there will always be or be room for a drip tray in the grill.

Some have a holder for a drip tray, where you can typically just insert a foil tray if the grill does not come with a drip tray itself.

Here you should just be aware that it is something you need to add on the side if you do not choose a grill model that comes with a built-in drip tray.

#5 Burner

Some gas grills only have a single burner, such as many tabletop grills and other smaller grills have.

The really large gas grills often have around 4-5 burners, so you can easily control the temperature in different parts of the grill.

#6 Rotisserie Function

The larger grills often also have a rotisserie function, allowing you to easily cook larger cuts of meat, such as chicken, duck, and large roasts.

It consists of a rod you can place your piece of meat on and then set it up inside the grill where the rod can rotate, ensuring your meat is evenly cooked all the way around.

#7 Storage for Gas Bottle

Gas bottles for gas grills can be large and typically come in colors that not everyone thinks fit well in their garden.

Therefore, some gas grills come with some form of cupboard or cabinet where you can store the gas bottle away in.

However, make sure to read the instructions for your grill thoroughly, as there may be warnings on how and when the bottle may be stored in the cabinet.

#8 Side Tables

Many grills today have side tables, especially gas and electric grills, so you can easily set food and utensils down while grilling.

In many cases, these can be removed or folded down, making it easier to move the grill or pack it away.

Types of Grills

There are several different types of grills and the three most well-known types in Denmark are respectively:

• Charcoal Grill
• Gas Grill
• Electric Grill

It is often charcoal and gas grills that most people choose for outdoor use, but some electric grills can also be used for that purpose, for example tabletop grills.

Read more about the different types of grills and their differences in the section below.

Gas Grill vs. Charcoal Grill vs. Electric Grill

Gas and electric emit fewer particles than charcoal, so if used correctly they are more environmentally friendly than charcoal grills, but particularly electric grills are typically the most environmentally correct.

If you do not utilize the heat correctly from your gas and electric grill, you may in some cases pollute just as much as with a charcoal grill.

Gas grills and electric grills can heat up very quickly, almost instantly, while charcoal takes considerably longer to be ready to heat in the grill.

For charcoal and gas grills, remember to buy fuel for them, whereas the electric grill is much easier and can just be plugged into a power outlet.

When using a charcoal grill, you get a completely different taste and aroma than when grilling on gas or electric grills.

At avXperten, in addition to grills, you will also find a wide range of other products for heating and preparing food, such as pizza ovens, induction cooktops, warming plates, toasters and many more.

8 questions you should ask yourself before choosing a grill

You obviously want to have the perfect grill for you and your needs, so below are some questions you can ask yourself to find the best grill.

#1 How many people will you be cooking for?

You should obviously consider how large amounts of food you typically need to cook on the grill.

If you have a large family or often have guests, you should consider a large grill so everyone can eat at the same time.

Of course, it also depends a bit on what you will be grilling; if it is mostly just sausages, they don’t take up as much space as large steaks do, for example.

So consider how large amounts of food you need to be able to cook on the grill at one time.

#2 Where do you live?

If you live in a house with a large garden or in an apartment with a small terrace/balcony, then the grill should obviously fit the area you have to work with.

If you have a lot of space and occasionally cook on the grill for many people, it is a good idea to ensure that the grill is large and has room for a lot of food at once.

If you live somewhere with very little space, you need to be careful not to buy a grill that is too large.

Tabletop grills are often particularly well-suited for small balconies or terraces, as you can easily move them, set them on the table or wherever you happen to have space for it.

Furthermore, there are also many places where you are not allowed to use charcoal grills and possibly even gas grills, so it may be that the electric grill can help you to be able to grill on your balcony.

The gas grill only uses regular electricity to heat, so there is no form of fire involved.

In relation to where you live, you should not only be mindful of how much space you have but also whether you live in an area that can easily become dry and has a tendency for dry conditions.

If you often experience dryness in the summer in your area, there is a higher risk that there will be bans on the use of charcoal grills.

Here, a gas grill or electric grill is better suited since they do not fall under the ban in dry periods, as the gas grill and the electric grill do not use charcoal or anything else that can splatter with embers.

This is also one of the reasons why many people today choose gas grills, as we in Denmark experience more and more dry periods in the summer, so that you don’t end up missing the whole grilling season.

#3 Does the grill need to be portable?

If the grill needs to be movable, there are a few grills that are particularly well-suited to be moved around.

The grills you can look for include tabletop grills or grills with wheels underneath.

Additionally, there are also grills where you can remove the grill from the stand it sits on, allowing you to move the grill in two parts.

A tabletop grill is particularly handy for you if you have a camping trailer, summer house or just enjoy grilling on a picnic, but do not want to have several grills or use disposable grills.

Tabletop grills are easy to "fold" up and carry out to the car and can be used on the ground or on a table, so it can be placed almost anywhere.

So make sure that you choose a grill with foldable or removable side tables, so you can easily move with it and potentially have room for it in the car without the side tables getting in the way.

For some grills, you can even add carrying bags, so you can easily move them and take them with you on the go.

#4 Do you grill a lot?

If you grill a lot, it is a good idea to pay a little extra for good quality.

If you buy the cheapest of the cheap, you should also expect that the lifespan will not be as long as with a grill made of quality materials.

This means that when you use the grill a lot, you will also wear it out faster, especially when it is made of cheaper lower quality materials.

#5 How quickly should the grill be able to start?

There is a difference in how quickly you can start the different types of grills, as some require more preparation than others.

The charcoal grill takes the longest to start, as the coals must be ignited well in advance before you can grill over them.

In contrast, a gas grill and an electric grill can be ignited immediately, just by turning a knob.

#6 What should the grill be able to do?

Are there specific features you want your grill to have, for example, can be used for rotisserie, has built-in light or has a built-in meat thermometer.

If you want to be able to cook under indirect heat, which functions somewhat like a convection oven, you should choose a larger grill that has at least 2 burners.

Additionally, you can also get grills with side burners that are hidden in the side tables so you can for example cook potatoes, rice, sauce, etc.

#7 How easy should it be to control the temperature?

There is a difference in how easy it is to control the temperature for different grills.

The absolute easiest grill to control the temperature of is the electric grill, followed by the gas grill, and lastly the charcoal grill.

With the electric grill, you can specifically set how high a temperature you want to prepare your food at.

The gas grill also provides an easy way to adjust the heat up and down in the gas grill.

#8 Do you want to grill both indoors and outdoors?

It may sound a bit funny to you that you can use a grill indoors, but you actually can if you choose an electric grill.

With electric grills, there is not the same risk of charcoal spitting embers or gas leaking out, so therefore there are electric grills that are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, for example, a toaster, with grill grates or a tabletop grill.

Accessories for the grill

Some grills come with extra grill accessories so you don’t have to add them on the side.

These can include accessories such as covers, rotisseries, pizza stones, thermometers, grill brushes, etc.

There are also a wide range of other accessories for the grill, but these often need to be added on the side.

Choose the right grill grate

There is a difference in what grill grates and plates are made of, but they are often made of either stainless steel or cast iron.

Chrome Plated Iron Grill Grate

Although these grates are cheap and therefore may seem tempting, they can very easily rust and therefore require you to keep them nice with cleaning and care.

They do not fare well being left outside and exposed to rain or grease and should therefore be kept indoors when not in use, if possible.

However, they are well-suited for bread shelves, which typically sit higher up in the grill, so they do not get direct flames and bread typically does not add much moisture or grease to the grate.

Enameled Grill Grates

The enameled grill grates are good for distributing heat and are also easy to clean, as long as there are no scratches in the enamel.

If any of the enamel wears off, there is a good chance that the grate can start to rust, so it is good to be careful with the grate so you do not knock the enamel off.

Stainless Steel Grill Grate

Stainless steel grill grates are, as the name reveals, stainless, so they are actually very easy to maintain and they are a bit more resistant to heat and good at distributing heat across the grate.

Cast Iron Grill Grate

Here you get the best heat distribution and a grate that retains heat long after the grill is turned off, but it does require a fair amount of maintenance to prevent rust.

It rusts very easily, and you need to be good at remembering cleaning and maintenance afterward.