Grilling fans were recently surveyed for the top things they dislike about grilling and they came up with a few, namely uncontrollable flare-ups, grills that fall apart after a couple of seasons, and burnt food.
When your burger is burnt, most folks assume it's the chef's fault when in fact its really that cheap grill that caused it . You really get what you pay for when it comes to gas grills. The better the design and construction of the grill, the higher the chances of you getting a well cooked burger. Choosing the right grill can mean the difference between eating juicy steaks or charred cheeseburgers.
If you are buying that first gas grill or if you are ready to replace the one you have, try to follow these simple steps to ensure you are happy with your purchase:
Step 1: Wiggle it
Step right up, grab the grill by the sides, and give it a good shake. If it doesn't feel sturdy at the store, you can bet it's going to fall apart in your backyard. The best grills have carts that are welded, not screwed together, to make them sturdier.
The more fasteners used to hold the frame of the cart together, the less durable the grill.
Look for a grill that has solid steel welded construction.
Check the thickness of the metals. For stainless steel on a hood or trim pieces, you'll want thicker gauge that will be long wearing. Look for 304-grade at the least.
Check the wheels since this is where most manufacturers cut corners. Casters should be up to appliance standards. Wheels should be designed to survive extreme hot and cold temperatures so they don't crack or break.
Step 2: See What Is Inside
Lift up the hood. Most shoppers just do this and figure if its heavy, it must be ok. But that's like judging a car on the weight of the hood! Check what's inside to really judge how it will perform.
Avoid nickel or chrome-plated steel because they can rust. Look for porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates, individually welded porcelain-enameled steel, or stainless steel.
Check the distance between the handle and the hood to make sure you will not be burned as you open and close it. If you see heat and weather-resistant material like stainless steel or glass-reinforced nylon, then you are good.
If you are buying a gas grill with a stainless steel hood make sure it's double-walled. Double-walled hoods create an insulated air space protecting the outer finish from discoloration.
Step 3: Take Out The Grates and Look Underneath
All grills have a system for dispersing heat from the burners while making sure grease and food drippings are channeled away from the burners. Many grills use lava rocks or ceramic briquettes. But beware, drippings can pool on these surfaces until they reach a flash point and flare-up. The best design is an inverted v-shaped metal bar that rests on top of the burners to vaporize drippings.
Check where the grease goes. If drippings aren't properly channeled away from the burners, they can cause flare-ups or even worse, a grease fire in the bottom of your grill. Look for a system that funnels drippings down and away from the burners into a high-capacity catch pan. The pan has to be deeper than a cookie sheet, otherwise, gunk will end up on your patio. Also, look at where the catch pan is mounted and make sure you can remove it and get to it without having to turn your grill around.
Step 4: Take Out the Steel Bars
Time to check the burners under the steel bars. Lower priced grills will have only one burner or burners shaped like an H, a U, or a circle. Designs like these create uneven hot and cold spots when you grill. This is the main reason why steaks or burgers might be overcooked on one side while still rare on the other side. Independently controlled burner tubes are better, since they run the length of your cooking space, resulting in evenly dispensed heat.
The more expensive grills have separate controls for these tube type burners. Controls for each burner give you the ability to grill by the Direct or Indirect method. Also, check if the burners are spaced to provide even heat across the entire cooking grate.
Step 5: Think About Who Made This Grill
Make sure that the manufacturer is a reputable brand. Ask yourself if the company will be around when you need grilling advice, assistance, or spare parts for the next few years. Check if the grill is actually made by the company on the nameplate, you might think it's a quality product only to discover it's a cheap import hiding behind a well-known name.
Lastly, check online reviews and ask your friends, neighbors and family ! If they are happy with the product, odds are you will be too. It's the best way to evaluate how satisfied you'll be with your grill after you get it home.
Author Resource:
Allan works in technology at an investment banking firm. To make some money on the side, he has gotten into IM, setting up a varied collection of sites such as providing info on weber gas grills and other backyard must-have stuff like polaris pool cleaners .
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")