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Outdoor Grill, which type do I choose? This is one of the many questions you want to ask yourself when designing an outdoor kitchen and that is the purpose of this article.
Before we begin, let's look at your “why”: why do you want an outdoor grill or outdoor kitchen?
For us at Riviera Outdoor Décor, it is all about healthy outdoor living and here is why…
One of the biggest benefits of grilling is that cooking meat on grates causes a lot of the excess fat to melt and drip off instead of being reabsorbed into the meat, as it would in a pan. The cooked meats still retain their juiciness and all of that extra burned-off fat never enters your body.
Grilling over flames and using high cooking temperatures also reduces the amount of time required to cook food. That helps meats retain important nutrients like thiamine and riboflavin.
The benefits of outdoor grilling also extend to another food group – vegetables. Shorter cooking times by grilling helps veggies retain more of their vitamins and minerals, as well as their flavor, color, and texture.
Now that we have looked at the “why” of an outdoor grill or outdoor kitchen, let’s take a look at the ever expanding market of the outdoor grill.
There are five things to consider when looking for the right type of outdoor grill and outdoor kitchen: space available, location of electrical and gas outlets, cooking style, convenience, and flavor preference.
One of the oldest and dearest outdoor grills around. The original and the king of smoky grilled flavor, charcoal grills have been around for a long time. It is the outdoor grill you imagine when envisioning burgers being cooked on for that quintessential American meal on the Fourth of July.
Outdoor Grill, which type do I choose? Charcoal Grill, small, affordable and portable. Perfect for the beachKing of flavor - If you want that classic, smoky grilled flavor, you just can't beat a charcoal grill. You have to love that flavor!
Affordable and portable - There are lots of small, affordable, and portable charcoal options out there. Even the higher-end models are usually less expensive than other types of grills.
High heat - Great for searing!
Charcoal is a pain to clean - Charcoal grills are less complicated than gas grills (basically just a bowl to hold charcoal), but cleaning up charcoal ash is pretty messy and annoying.
Charcoal may be illegal - Some consider it dangerous because of the high heat and inability to turn a charcoal grill off. That is why some apartment complexes or city areas may ban charcoal grills.
Less control - You can’t set charcoal to certain temperatures or control it easily. You have to stay alert to how your food is cooking, and it takes some practice to master the art of grilling with charcoal. If you are a grilling connoisseur, maybe that tickles you, but some just consider it harder.
Gas Grills are the basic ‘go-to’, ‘quick-and-easy’ option in the barbecue world. They run on gas and are super easy to use. They are an excellent option for whipping up a quick supper for the family.
Outdoor Grill, which type do I choose? In coastal area, we recommend a marine grade outdoor grillTaste - Some say gas grills don't achieve the same taste as charcoal. This is somewhat subjective, but gas grills don't produce smoke like charcoal or pellet grills, so the flavor is less authentically grilled.
No smoking - Since gas grills don't produce smoke, you can't smoke food with a gas grill. This also contributes to the lack of flavor in your food.
A Green Egg is similar to a Kamado Grill. They are like a big ceramic pot, and typically use charcoal as a heat source. Highly versatile, this may be the only grill you ever need!
Outdoor Grill, which type do I choose? The Big Green Egg is a favoriteVersatile - Eggs are one of the most versatile grills on the market! You can sear, roast, smoke, grill, slow-cook or bake food in an Egg. With a bit of practice, the sky is the limit!
Portable - Eggs are also portable and come in different sizes. You can get everything from small tabletop grills to large standing grills.
Precise temperature control - You can adjust the Egg’s sophisticated airflow meters to cook at precise temperatures and control just how your food gets done.
Safe - An Egg’s ceramic surface doesn’t get as hot as a metal grill, and the hot charcoal is safely contained in the thick ceramic bowl. No worries about you or your kids getting burned.
Comes in different sizes - You can get anything from a small tabletop Egg to a large Egg to serve a crowd!
Extremely long time to heat - Heating a Green Egg is a process. Eggs are not the way to go if you just want to whip up two pork chops for you and your spouse. They are better for more serious projects.
Needs charcoal and cleaning - You’ll have to buy charcoal for this grill. Also, you will have to clean out charcoal ash frequently.
Cost of accessories - There are specific accessories you can buy for Eggs, and they aren’t always the cheapest. Finding affordable accessories and extensions that fit these unique grills may be challenging.
Pellet Grills are rapidly growing in popularity due to the added flavor and added benefit of technology assistance with your phone. Pellet Grills burn wood fuels instead of charcoal or gas. They use electricity to power their self-feeding pellet systems, so they need an outlet nearby.
Outdoor Grill, which type do I choose? The Pellet Grill with an Induction Cooktop is growing in demand Unmatched heat control - You can set pellet grills to precise temperatures for complete control. Most controls can easily be accessed from your phone. Also, they circulate heat and smoke so your food cooks evenly without ever being moved - you can put your food on the grill and walk away, and it will cook the whole way through without being flipped.
Versatile - Pellet grills are suitable for smoking, baking, roasting, or cooking! You can try lots of recipes and cooking methods with them.
Easy to use - Just load the hopper with pellets, plug in your grill, and you are ready to go! No messing around with charcoal or wood.
Real wood taste - Pellet grills give food that authentic, smoky wood flavor!
Pellet Grills are easy to clean
Needs electricity - If you don't have an outlet near your pellet grill, it won't work. That makes them inconvenient to use away from home or if your deck doesn't have an outdoor outlet.
Lacks grill marks - Pellet grills use indirect heat, so your food won't have those gorgeous grill marks.
Electronic malfunction - The more technology you have, the more pieces there are to break. There is a chance that the electronic technology in a pellet grill could break down or malfunction.
Electric grills don't burn physical fuel—they run on electricity. They are typically smaller, lighter, and easier to move than gas or charcoal grills.
The smaller size also sets an electric grill apart from a conventional stovetop.
Electric grills are useful for weekend camping - you can cook with ease all weekend, provided you have access to electricity.
No need to store fuel - Because they run off electricity, there’s no need to store physical fuel.
Easy to control - Electric grills are as easy to run as an electric stovetop!
Easy to clean - These grills won’t have any carbon residue. They are usually simple to take apart and wipe down.
Portable - You can easily take your electric grill anywhere you like! They make for wonderfully easy cooking on camping trips.
Small - Even the largest electric grills may not be big enough to cook things like whole turkeys. They work best for smaller meats like hamburgers and hotdogs.
Needs an outlet - While it’s nice not to store fuel, you need access to electricity, which can be inconvenient for things like camping.
Doesn't perform well in the cold - Even the best electric grills simply don’t perform as well in cold temperatures.
Infrared grills emit infrared energy directly into the food, making these grills fast and efficient.
Outdoor Grill, which type do I choose? is the Infrared GrillPowerful and fast working - Infrared grills can reach temperatures in the range of 700 degrees Fahrenheit! And they cook food faster than any other grill.
Makes juicier food - Because they cook fast and don’t break the moisture barrier, infrared grills make incredibly flavorful, juicy food.
Energy-efficient - Most infrared grills run on gas, and since they are so fast and efficient, they don’t use as much fuel as other grills.
Bulky - Infrared grills are bulky and often occupy a lot of space. You won't want to haul them places.
Easy to burn food - People sometimes struggle to get the hang of cooking on infrared grills because they are unlike traditional grills, and the temperatures are so high. Burning things, particularly delicate foods like fish and veggies, is easy. It may take a little practice before you get it right.
Expensive - Like most new technology, infrared grills can have high price tags.
Technology that breaks - Anytime you have more tech and more parts, there is more potential for malfunction. That is one advantage the simpler grills have over the high-tech grills.
The biggest difference between an outdoor grill and a griddle is the cooking surface. Unlike a grill’s grate which leaves food often exposed to direct flame, a griddle is a smooth, flat surface that food is cooked on, like a giant pan or skillet. A flat top Grill is perfect for pancakes in the morning as the sun is rising, stir fry or fish. The beauty of the flat top if that you can sauté all your vegetable side dishes right alongside the main dish.
A number of outdoor kitchens will include a gas grill and a flat top grill as well. Below are two of our favorites.
Outdoor Grill, which type do I choose? is the Evo Social Grill. A favorite for outdoor parties and your guests to gather around.
Outdoor Grill, which type do I choose? Le Griddle We hope we have given you enough options along with the pros and cons for some of the most popular outdoor grills.
Additional questions to consider...
Do you have, or will you add access to power outlets where you want to grill? If not, an electric grill is not for you. Neither is a wood pellet grill which requires electrical access as well.
Will you want to move your grill around or take it on camping trips? If so, you might want a small, portable charcoal kettle grill.
For your outdoor kitchen, how many people will you be entertaining? If you want to feed crowds, go for a large, fast-working grill like an infrared grill or even multiple grills so you can have several people making different menu items. Or, start your pellet grill early and monitor through your phone while you enjoy time with your guest.
Do you want a cohesive design in your outdoor room or a random look of multiple grills? A drop in grill with outdoor cabinetry is the look you are wanting to increase home value and aesthetics..
Do you want to grill spontaneously? If so, choose a grill that’s easy to fire up, like gas.
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After you have asked yourself these questions and made your decision, get ready to start grilling fantastic food and tons of outdoor fun!
Outdoor Grill, which type do I choose? You may want more than one type of grill. At the showroom of Riviera Outdoor Décor and our outdoor test kitchen, we have both a gas grill and the Evo Grill which is helpful in outdoor entertaining.
