If summer is approaching and you are not exactly a foodie, you may wonder what is a grill. Folks always boast about the best grills out there, but what are these contraptions, how do they work, and what do they do? Keep reading to find out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Barbecue grills are outdoor cooking appliances that are great for cooking up burgers, hot dogs, large cuts of meat, and more, offering a quick cooking time thanks to radiant heat.
- There are various types of grills out there, with the most popular options being charcoal grills and propane gas grills.
- A pellet grill uses small wood pellets as the primary heat source, making a pellet grill great for smoking via indirect heat.
What Do Grills Do?
The better question is, what don’t grills do? A modern barbecue grill can handle a full range of cooking tasks, from, obviously, grilling up meats like chicken and steak to preparing pizzas. They can even slow smoke large cuts of meat, such as barbecue pork, though you may have to research the various smoker grill parts and pellet smoker parts.
Insider Tip
Make sure you clean your grill before using it, especially if it has been a while since your last use.
What are Grills For?
Grills are for, well, grilling. These appliances take summer relaxation to a whole new level, allowing you to chill outside with your friends and family as you grill up some hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken breasts, skewered vegetables, or just about anything else you can imagine. There are many types of different grills if you are wondering what you need for a charcoal grill.
Types of Grills
There are many different kinds of grills available for modern cooks. Tons of brands and model grills exist in the USA, and they often use various woods for different BBQ grills to get the best flavor for your meats.
Charcoal Grills
Charcoal grills use hot charcoal bricks to heat your ingredients. They feature an air intake onward the bottom that is adjusted manually, allowing for precise temperature control. The more air that is allowed in the grill, the hotter it will get. Charcoal grills are a great choice for cooking large cuts of meat, such as steaks, and traditional outdoor fares like burgers and dogs. There is a more portable version of a charcoal grill called a charcoal kettle grill. A popular charcoal variant is called a kamado grill.
Gas and Propane Grills
Gas grills work similarly to charcoal grills, but instead of manually lighting a fire underneath the charcoal bricks, you simply provide gas as the primary heating element. Gas grills are convenient and easy to use, though replacing the gas can be a slight frustration.
Pellet Grills
Pellet grills use small wood pellets as the primary heating source. This allows these grills to act as both a traditional grill and a high-grade smoker, as the wood pellets create a lot of smoke when heated. Pellet grills are the go-to choice for slow-smoking brisket and large cuts of pork, among many other items. Some pellet grills don’t get quite as hot as their charcoal counterparts, so they may not sear meat as well.
F.A.Q.S
What to cook on a pellet grill?
A pellet grill is a fantastic type of grill that is great for smoking and cooking just about any item you can think of, though the intense heat will be slightly cooler than a charcoal grill. They impart a smoky flavor to items such as pork shoulder though.
What is a sear station?
A sear station is the hottest part of the cooking surface, typically where three burners are located in close proximity to one another.
Who started all this grilling anyway?
Ceramic grills date back to around 1,600 BC, though there is some evidence that grills have been used for thousands of years before that.
STAT: Grilling is often presented as a healthy alternative to cooking with oils, although the fat and juices lost by grilling can contribute to drier food. (source)
