Cooking tip

Everyone loves good
old fashioned charcoal grilling. Aside from being cheaper than other grilling methods
it adds a raw
distinctive taste to your sausages
burgers
ribs
and other grilled items. Some people prefer charcoal grills over gas grills because they are easier to transport and are safer to use than gas. While there are differences in opinion and preference among grillers
it still remains that charcoal grills are here to stay. So be it an picnic
or an outdoor grill
charcoal grills will more that make up their worth in usefulness and reliability. When choosing charcoal grills
however
it pays to know what your needs are and to know the pros and cons of having such a grill over the other available grills around.

1. Cooking Space

First of all
you have to determine how much space you need for grilling. If you are grilling for a small family of three
you will do well enough with a 75 square-inch grill. You will have to consider larger grills if you are cooking for more people. It doesn’t make sense if you bring a puny sub-75 inch grill to a large picnic. Remember that the size of your grill increases the amount of items you can grill exponentially. Just looking at the grill won’t give you a clear idea on how big the grilling area is. Some grills have a warming rack that increases the perceived size of your grill.

2. Portability

- Get grills that have wheels
- Try choosing grills whose parts are ergonomic and efficient
- Lessen the risk of damaging your grill when transporting
- Your grill also has to withstand the rigors of outdoor use
- It does not pay to purchase a flimsy looking grill - go for those that are durable and lasting

3. Convenience

Some charcoal grills come with their own igniters. Try choosing grills that have this option. Other grills need lighter fluid to fire up. With the built-in igniter
you will not need lighter fluid anymore. On the other hand
you may want to avoid lighter fluid altogether. Some people dislike the taste and smell this fluid adds to the grill. If you must
use alcohol instead. It burns odorless and does not ruin the flavor of your food. Choose grills that allow you to easily access the ash pan. This makes cleaning the grill a lot easier. It also lessens the amount of ash flakes that may settle in your food. Also
lids are a very important part of the grill. Choose a grill that has a lid to keep the heat trapped within the grill. This allows for faster and smokeless grilling.

4. Quality

The materials used in making the grill are also very important. Some grills are made of material that easily corrodes or does not stand up well against the elements. Stainless steel grills hold up remarkably well to both the weather and the heat of the grill. Try avoiding painted grills as the paint may easily flake of. Although lightweight
durable materials are hard to come by among grills
you would do best to look for such. Remember
though
that first and foremost
the most important built characteristic you are looking for in a grill is durability.