Did you know that 79.1 million Americans have grilled outdoors in the past year? It’s not hard to see why. Grilling is both a great excuse to get outside and an excellent way to impart a smoky flavor to your food.
However, if you’re trying to design an outdoor kitchen, you might be feeling overwhelmed by all the options out there. So, how do you find the best grill for an outdoor kitchen? Simple: by reading this article.
In it, we’ll go over everything you should consider before buying an outdoor grill. That way, you know for sure what’s the best product for your needs. Let’s get started!
Decide on a Heat Source
The first step to narrowing down the best grills for you is deciding on a heat source. The right heat source for you will depend on factors like how you like preparing your food and your experience level.
There are three main grills to choose from. They include gas, charcoal, and pellet grills. Let’s start with gas.
Gas grills either use liquid propane or natural gas. The advantage of this type of grill is that you can control the temperature precisely.
However, the fuel source is expensive. It’s also hard to move this type of grill around, and you won’t get that smokey flavor that comes with other types of grills. The next is charcoal.
The biggest advantages here are the smokey flavor and the ease of use. Charcoal is also much cheaper than gas. It’s also a great option for people who are new to grilling.
All you need to do is put the charcoal in the grill and light it. There are no confusing knobs or lighting features to complicate things. The disadvantage is that it’s much harder to control the temperature levels.
The final option is a pellet grill that uses pellets of sawdust. This is by far the most expensive method, but it also yields some of the best flavors. What’s more, you can smoke meats with many pellet grills.
So, if you prefer slow-cooked barbecue, then this is the best outdoor grill for you.
Select a Size
The size of the grill will determine how much food you can cook on it at once. Size is determined by the inches of grill space. If you’re cooking for four or fewer people, then a small or medium grill should be fine.
These usually fall in the size range of four hundred to five hundred square inches. However, if you have a large family or you enjoy cooking for a crowd, you should get a larger one.
We recommend between five hundred fifty and six hundred fifty square inches. Keep in mind that some gas grills will measure size by how many burners they have.
If you want a small gas grill, then two burners should be fine for you. However, larger families should look for grills that come with five or even six burners.
Think About Grate Material
Next, it’s time to think about grate material. This is the material you will be cooking your food on, so it’s definitely worth some consideration.
There are three main types of grate material: cast iron, coated aluminum, and stainless steel. Let’s start with cast iron. Cast iron isn’t as conductive as the other material, but it’s best at retaining heat.
However, if you don’t take care of it, then thermal shock can damage it over time. Next is coated aluminum. The biggest upside to this is its strength as a heat conductor. It’s also the most affordable option.
But that affordability comes with a price. It’s also the least durable option out there. Finally, there’s stainless steel. This option is by far the most durable. So, if you want your grate to last, it’s your best bet.
That being said, it’s not as conductive as aluminum and not as good as retaining heat like cast iron.
Do You Want Extra Features?
Many grills these days come with extra features that can make cooking or storing easier. If you want a no-frill grill, then ignore this section.
But, if you want some more freedom with how you cook, consider looking for features like:
- Rotisseries
- Searing zones
- Smoking boxes
- Extra storage
- Side burners
- Electric ignition
- Precise temperature readers
Where Can You Find the Best Grill for an Outdoor Kitchen?
You can find grills both at brick and mortar stores and online. The benefit of visiting a brick-and-mortar store is that you get to see the grill in person and examine it.
You can also ask a representative what they recommend. This personalized advice can be hard to find online. However, there are a lot of benefits to shopping online for a new grill. First, you get a much wider selection of products and brands.
Don’t believe us? Just check it out for yourself. Most of the time, it’s just not possible for brick and mortar stores to carry this much product. What’s more, you can also usually find great savings on these grills online.
So, it’s up to you. If you like to see a product before you buy, go to a brick-and-mortar location. But, if you’re fine with shopping online, there is a much wider selection of grills you can choose from.
Want More Content? Keep Reading
We hope this article helped you find the best grill for an outdoor kitchen. Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this search.
That’s because it depends on factors like your budget, your cooking preference, and the number of people you will cook for. So, keep searching until you find a grill that ticks all of the boxes.
Can’t get enough content? If the answer is yes, then you’re just like us. That’s why we regularly release great new articles for our readers about the latest trends. So, keep exploring until you get your fill.
