Grilling season is upon us and we know that choosing the right grill for your needs can be both fun and overwhelming. There are many grills to choose from and multiple decisions to be made. Choosing isn’t as simple as just coming home and saying “honey, I bought a grill.” Here are a few tips that will help guide you to the best grill for your needs.
Power Trip – How Many BTU’s Do You Need?
The more BTUs your grill has, the more heat it will produce. True…kind of! Actually, BTU’s measure the rate at which fuel is burned…heat is only a result of this process. But is this the most important factor when considering how many BTU’s you will need? The answer surprisingly is NO!
The most important factor isn’t how many BTU’s your grill can produce…rather how much of the produced heat can your grill HOLD! Heat retention can only be accomplished by the utilization of high-quality parts and superior design.
A Good Warranty Goes a Long Way
It is more about WHAT a warranty covers rather than how LONG a warranty lasts. If you are going to spend a lot of money on an outdoor grill, make sure that the grill you purchase has a lifetime warranty on construction, manufacturers defects, frame, housing, cooking grates, burners, and valves.
Grill Material Matters – Choose Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is the top standard, but it’s not all the same. Be sure to look for the grade of stainless to ensure it isn’t the cheaper kind that rusts. The most common type is 304 which is higher quality and generally higher cost because it contains more nickel and less steel in the alloy. 430 Stainless is a ferritic steel which is known for its good ductility and resistance to corrosion. 430 contains more steel and magnets stick to it. 304 will not attract magnets. Most grills are 430 with the exception of some burners and grates. Another common stainless steel is 443. Like 430, it is a ferritic alloy that consists of Chromium and Titanium, and is very low in Carbon, giving this stainless a strong resistance to corrosion, especially against moisture.
Stainless tip #1 – an inexpensive grill that uses 430 Stainless generally uses a very thin layer of 430, which means lower quality and more likely to scratch, dent and corrode over time.
Stainless tip #2 – Stainless steel – just like any high-end material, if you don’t take care of stainless, it will rust! To maintain stainless, use only alkaline, alkaline-chlorinated or non-chloride cleaners. Avoice hydrochloric acid and always use a non-abrasive cleaning tool such as a soft cloth or plastic scouring pad.
Get Burning – The Type of Burner You Choose is Important
Grill burners come in a range of styles and are usually described by their shape. The most common is the H-Burner which is shaped like the letter H, the oval burner which is oval shaped, and the bar burner in the shape of a thin bar. The shape of the burner affects the distribution of the flame to the cooking surface.
A tube burner is literally just a straight circular tube you see in many low-end grills. Due to the ‘shape’, they don’t disseminate heat as well, and they are typically on a lower end grill and tend to burn out faster than higher end burners. On the other side of the spectrum, there are ‘Red Brass Burners’ – these can weight up to 30 lbs due to the quality of material (lifetime warranty) and are typically shaped in a large rectangle to distribute heat evenly.
Size Matters – Choose the Right Cooking Area
The cooking area on grills differs. If you entertain a lot, throw family parties or simply want to serve everyone around the same time, look for a larger grilling area. If you grill for a small gathering once or twice a week, you don’t need a large grilling area. Be sure to think about how often you will be grilling and how many people you will be feeding. Simple, but it will help you determine the grilling area you need.
Time to Accessorize
You’ve selected your go-to grill, now don’t you need some cool items that will help your grilling experience? From timers, to bristle brush grill cleaners, spatulas and kebob sticks, accessories enhance the experience. New York Magazine recently listed their top grill accessories.
There you have it! Get ready kick off Spring right – with a new grill that suits your needs.
Here at the Fire Farm, we chose to distribute Saber because of its unique cooking system. To see our different grills, click here: https://thefirefarm.com/fire-for-cooking/stainless-steel-grills/
Interested in learning more? Give us a call at The Fire Farm – 203.270.2900
Cheers,
The Fire Farm Team
