When choosing a reliable, sturdy cooking grill, it takes some time to find the right one for you. It’s easy to get distracted by big and shiny grills with all the bells and whistles, but those come with big price tags and frequent use to make the grill worth the money. You have to think about your intended use, where you’ll use it, fuel, and any specific features you’d want.
Take, for example, you’re looking for a cooking grill for camping. You’ll need something compact, portable, and uses propane tanks. The importance of a good cooking grill for camping is that it fills all of those requirements and you know that you’re getting the most out of the grill from what you paid.
In general, looking for a good cooking grill involves what your needs are. Ask yourself the following questions while browsing through different cooking grill models:
Warranty
- Does it have a warranty?
- How long is the warranty?
A longer warranty indicates the quality of the grill and that it has better construction that makes it last. Look for a warranty of 10 years or more to get the most out of your cooking grill.
Safety
- How sturdy is it? Does it tip over easily?
- Is it designed to reduce the risks of tip-related fires or other accidents?
- Are there any sharp corners or edges?
- Does it have a tight, snug lid that fits securely to reduce any accidents and retains heat?
- Does it have wooden or plastic handles to reduce the risk of burns?
Grilling performance is important to choosing the right cooking grill, but safety should also be a top concern. Make sure that the grill’s design implements safety measures to prevent any accidents.
Size
- How many people do you expect to be cooking for regularly?
- Where can you put it?
- Is it portable?
- Is there enough cooking space for your needs?
- How many gas burners do you need? Will you be cooking food at different temperatures?
If you’re looking for a grill to cook just for your family on a regular basis, then a smaller grill will work better for you. If you’re the host of regular summer barbecue get togethers, you’ll need a bigger model.
Fuels
- Will you be using propane tanks or natural gas?
Propane tanks work better for portability as well as burns at a higher temperature than natural gas. In the long run, connecting to your house’s natural gas line is more convenient and cheaper. But you lose the convenience of moving the grill around.
- What are the BTUs per square inch of cooking space?
More BTUs doesn’t always mean better quality. The more BTUs you use, the more fuel you’ll use. What’s important is having the right number of BTUs for the cooking space that you have. Aim to have 80-100 BTUs per square inch.
Features
- What kind of cooking are you expecting to do?
- What do you need?
- Is it worth the price?
Features look good, but if you know that you’ll barely use it, you don’t need it and you can save more money!
