Barbecuing is an art form.
You know good barbecue when you smell it and taste it, but it can be a little daunting to get started with the process if you’re new to it.
The following will explore a few key considerations you might want to keep in mind as you seek out your first barbeque.
Of course, everyone’s cooking needs will be different.
Be sure to include an awareness of what you want to learn to cook and how many people you think you’ll regularly be feeding.
As well, take the time to research what different fuels cost in your area. Sometimes the price of fuel can help you break a tie between two different barbecues.
Can You Care For It?
When purchasing your first barbecue, you want to think about what it’s going to take to maintain it.
Yes, barbecues get hot enough to kill bacteria, and this means you might not have to clean the device religiously, but not cleaning your barbecue will really influence the flavour of the meals you cook.
For this reason, you want to ensure that you’re selecting a model that isn’t too much of a pain to clean.
This way, you’ll be more likely to do it between each meal.
You also want to think about storage and weather protection.
Many barbecues have a cover that protects them from the rain, but depending on your climate, you might want to be moving your barbecue into storage during the wilder months, and this means it has to be something you physically can move and that you have space in your garage or shed for it.
It is vital that you don’t ever use the barbecue indoors. Every year, people die from doing that.
Thinking about maintenance can help you extend the life of your barbecue.
If you’re putting in the time and effort to pick the right make and model for you, you probably want the device to last as long as it can. Proper maintenance is a vital component of this.
The manufacturer will give you instructions that should be followed.
What Features Do You Need?
Depending on what your barbecuing goals are, you’ll want to check out what features different barbecues have.
For instance, if you’re looking to do some serious smoking, you might consider buying an offset smoker.
If you’re really stuck in this area, watch a few recipe videos to see what tools people who make what you want to make use of.
Fuel Types Influence Flavour
The fuel you use to heat your grill can dramatically influence your flavour. As well, some fuel types are easier to use than others.
Again, you might want to study the different barbecue styles that are common to help you decide what option is right for you.
You can also let your palette decide and try a whole bunch of different types of barbecue before making your choice.
Different fuel sources require different barbecues. Charcoal briquettes, hardwood lump charcoal, natural gas, propane, wood pellets, wood and electricity, are all examples of fuel that a barbecue can use.
Electric grills tend to be smaller but expensive to run (particularly if you’re cooking something like brisket that takes a while).
Wood-fuelled grills produce some brilliant smoky flavour, and you can get really into trying different types of wood for different aromas and tastes.
Of course, different terrains mean that not everyone is going to have an easy time accessing wood.
Wood pellets are often a bit more expensive than standard wood but offer lots of variety, just like regular wood.
Cheery and apple woods typically flavour white meats quite nicely, whereas hardwoods like hickory and mesquite tend to work well with beef.
Fish combined with cedar or alder wood pellets can be lovely.
Propane barbecues are probably the most common (and therefore least expensive) grills available.
Propane tanks need to be bought and plugged in, and they can be on the heavier side, so this option isn’t always ideal for people without a vehicle who have a long walk or public transportation trip between their nearest propane source and their home.
Gas grilling can be relatively inexpensive as well if you already use gas for your home.
The grill can be hooked up to your residential source. Just be sure to factor in getting a professional to come and do the hook-up.
Similar to wood, charcoal options are among the favoured by barbecue artisans. Charcoal adds to the flavour and can help keep things smoky.
The above information should have given you an idea of the factors influencing your barbecue choice.
It’s worth noting that certain times of year tend to have barbecue sales (often early spring and clearance sales at the end of fall). If you’re able to wait, you might get a stellar deal.