A grill is a piece of cooking equipment that you use on top of a heat source such as an open flame or electricity. The cooking surface is typically a grate or a rack where you can cook all types of food, including meat, seafood, and even vegetables.
Since grilling uses dry heat, the food you grill should contain a lot of moisture to avoid burning. There are so many different types of grills available in the market, the main differences being the fuel and build of the grills. Some of the best grills you can find online are:
Flat-top Grills
A flat-top grill’s cooking surface is a flat sheet of carbon steel, fueled typically by propane. Most flat-top designs are for outdoor use and can use it for cooking food like pancakes, steak, and sliced vegetables traditionally cooked on a griddle or charcoal grills. Flat-top grills don’t have a grate, so you can place pots and pans on top of the cooking surface to cook food indirectly on a flat-top grill.
The large cooking surfaces of flat tops make them incredibly versatile and ideal for cooking large quantities of food. Flat-top grills are also hygienic, easy to clean and maintain since they come with a flat surface. It even comes with a lid so you can keep it covered when not in use.
The flat-top grills’ versatility lets you steam, sear, or smoke your food according to your preference. The best part about smoking in a flat-top is that it is a full slab without any grates, so it keeps all the juices and moisture in, making sure that the food soaks up the flavor in its entirety. One of the best flat-top grills in the market that offer all the best qualities of a flat-top grill is the Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill and Griddle Station.The Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill and Griddle Station is big enough to feed a large party and can even be used for catering at events. It is the perfect flat top to cook all types of meals with additional space below and on the sides for storing food and prepping meals. This flat-top grill is easy to heat up and takes less time. The best part about the Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill and Griddle Station is that it comes with a cast iron cooking surface, which is non-stick. If you want a pre-seasoned cooking space, you can do this with the Blackstone flat-top grill, which will give your food a unique flavor. It is also built with extremely durable stainless steel, which is easy to clean and maintain. This grill is quite heavy and sturdy, so you know that the product is durable and will withstand rust and other environmental changes. It also comes with foldable legs, which is also convenient for transportation.
Pros
- It comes with four caster wheels, which makes it is easy to transport.
- The Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill and Griddle Station is easy and quick to start with an electric button.
- It has four burners that can be controlled independently
Cons
- The Blackstone 36 inch Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill and Griddle Station is almost entirely made of steel, making the grill a piece of hefty equipment that needs many workforces to move. To counter this, however, it comes with four wheels to make it easier for transportation.
Portable Grills
Portable grills are the best grills for transportation. Especially for an outing with the family or a gathering, you can fold it up and carry it anywhere you want. Since they are compact and functional, they are commonly used for camping and hiking purposes. Portable grills give you more flexibility when compared to a built-in grill. They have been ergonomically designed to be lightweight and easy to use and maintain as well. You also find that portable grills can use almost every type of fuel- gas, charcoal, wood, or briquettes. Another crucial part of a portable grill that makes them more desirable over built-in grills is their versatility. There are portable grills that can double as a smoker, oven, or as a flat-top grill.
One of the best portable grills available online is the Weber Q 2200 Portable Gas Grill. The Weber Q 2200 Portable Gas Grill is a genuine portable grill with 280 square inch cooking area. It can fit in a balcony easily and serve at least 5-6 people. This grill is ideal for camping and small outdoor spaces. The grill looks very modern and sleek, making it very desirable.Since its shell is made of aluminum, the grill holds more heat inside and produces an evenly cooked meal. It also comes with a hood-mounted thermometer that helps you manage the heat in the grill. The gas system in this grill runs on disposable LP gas cylinders, making it portable and convenient. Despite its compact size, this grill also comes with functional shelves on the side where you can store or prep food.
Electric Grills
Electric grills are the safest way to cook outdoors because they don’t use fuels that may harm the environment. They are also smaller than other traditional grills, making them easier for transportation, and can be used indoors and outdoors. One significant benefit of using an electric grill is that you don’t have to buy charcoal, propane, or other fuel types since it gets its power through electricity. You also don’t have to worry about fuel exhaustion since you will have an unlimited electricity supply, except when there is a blackout, which is unlikely.
Another great feature of electric grills is their temperature controls. Unlike grills with open flames that make it challenging to manage, mostly out, electric grills have a guaranteed consistent and even heat supply.
Electric grills don’t emit any fumes in the environment, so it is safer for the body and a conscious alternative to protect the environment. Electric grills are also more affordable as compared to other grills.One excellent electric grill available in the market is the George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill. The best feature is its fat draining system. This feature makes the grill a healthier option than other grills that don’t have a fat collection and draining system. The George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill comes with a dial indicating if it’s on or not and shows the grill’s temperature. This feature makes it easy to manage the temperature while cooking. The George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill also comes with a large lid in a dome shape that provides enough room for air circulation and even heating. The best feature of the George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill and any other electric grill, for that matter, is that it can be an exception to those apartments and neighborhoods that have a no-fire policy. Since electric grills don’t require a flame to cook, it is safe for those places where a fire is a hazard.
Charcoal Grills
As the oldest and most popular choice of grilling, charcoal grills provide you with the possibility of a higher temperature as compared to electric or gas grills. Charcoal grills also tend to be more affordable and portable. You also have the freedom to make as many cooking spots as you want by strategically placing the coals wherever you want to cook on the surface. Unlike open flame gas grills, charcoal grills don’t flare up, so it provides an even and consistent heat for cooking. Charcoal grills are also capable of reaching high temperatures since charcoal can burn hotter than propane. The most popular reason, however, for purchasing a charcoal grill is the taste. The taste that comes from burning the charcoal is a signature aroma in any barbecue. The food’s flavor gets blended in the charred parts of the food, making it the best barbecue’s epitome.
As with the aged refinement of the charcoal grills, a company synonymous with barbecuing and grills is the Weber company. Their Weber original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill is one of the best there is. It is a 22-inch charcoal grill with an impressive cooking area that aids you in cooking your best meals extensively.The Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill is rust-resistant and very durable, so you get your money’s worth with this grill. It also comes with a built-in thermometer that helps you manage the temperature more efficiently. This charcoal grill is compact but still large enough to cook a meal for a small party.The lid in the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill is made of porcelain, which keeps the heat inside for a longer time. This feature aids in the even heat supply and cooking food evenly. The most innovative feature of this grill is the BILT app’s 3D view interaction to assemble your grill the correct way.Another feature of the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill that stands out is the hooks installed on the grill side that allows you to hang your grilling equipment such as the tongs, spatula, etc. This grill also comes with an ash catcher that makes it easy and convenient to clean up after use.