Barbecue season is just around the corner so why not upgrade your backyard grilling game this year and make your staycation even better? Where to start you ask? Well, we've got the answer. Below, we've explored the various types of barbecues available and the reasons why it could be the best match for you. There are a number of options these days so narrowing down the different types before heading into a store or online to shop is always a time saver.
Gas is by far the most common method of grilling, and there’s a good reason as to why: gas grills heat up faster and can cook food quicker than their fiery counterparts. There are two main types of gas BBQs – natural and propane – that are commonly used amongst barbecuers. Gas grills are relatively easy to light, you have more control over their heat distribution, they burn cleaner, and fuel costs are lower than charcoal. Gas BBQs also have a wide variety of extras and accessories you can add on to them to make your grilling experience complete.
NATURAL GAS
Here at Goemans, natural gas BBQs are one of the most popular types we sell. Natural gas BBQs are more convenient, as the gas line is hooked up directly to your home so you don’t have to worry about running out of juice in the middle of a grilling session. Many of the BBQs we sell, whether
freestanding or built-in, tend to have the capacity to run on natural gas. Natural gas BBQ fuel costs are also lower than propane as you don’t have to constantly replace the tanks. One downfall of natural gas barbecuing is that it isn’t necessarily available in all geographic locations, and you must have a permanent gas line to hook up to for the fuel.
PROPANE
Propane gas BBQs tend to cook hotter than natural gas BBQs, however, they produce a different taste and are more expensive to maintain as you frequently have to replace the propane tanks (manufacturers recommend having at least two on hand at all times). Despite the expense, propane is readily available and can even be purchased at your local gas station or grocery store.
CHARCOAL
Cooking on a charcoal grill gives your food a completely different taste compared to food cooked on a gas grill. Experienced pit masters might even argue that you haven’t lived until you’ve tasted a hunk of juicy meat that has been grilled on a charcoal burner – and they’re right.
Cooking with charcoal can produce delicious results, however, they do take a while to heat up (often at least 20 minutes), require regular cleaning, don’t burn as clean as gas grills, the heat isn’t distributed as evenly, and they can be more expensive to keep going, as charcoal fuel is more expensive than gas. On the plus side, charcoal BBQs tend to be less expensive to initially purchase than their gas counterparts, and are often smaller and more portable. If you’re in it for the flavour, this is the way to go.
SMOKERS
Cooking low and slow on a smoker produces food that is unquestionably moist, coupled with a rich, smoky flavour. Although cooking on a smoker is a slow and steady process, the results are worth it. Smokers can be charcoal, gas, electric, or pellet fuelled.
A major benefit of using a smoker to cook your food is how precise the temperature is – you can even bake cookies on it. The wood pellets are sold in a multitude of flavours (such as apple, pecan, cherry, mesquite, hickory, maple, and beyond) so you’re able to experiment with different tastes each time you grill.
ELECTRIC
These BBQs are perfect if you live in an apartment or don’t have access to gas or charcoal. They’re also much safer to use as there is no open flame, so you can grill indoors or outdoors. They heat up relatively quickly and the heat is distributed evenly. Despite their convenience, the taste of meat grilled on an electric grill is much different when compared to charcoal and even gas grills.
BIG GREEN EGG
Big Green Eggs are a class of grilling all their own. They’re essentially a ceramic cooker that serves as a smoker, grill, and oven – the best of all worlds. Those who cook on Big Green Eggs, otherwise known as “EGGheads,” know that once you’ve grilled on one of these, there’s no turning back. The construction of the BBQ is extremely durable – they’re made of kamado-style ceramic, the same tile used on the outside of space shuttles. That’s pretty cool.
Unlike other charcoal fuelled grills, the Big Green Egg maintains very precise temperatures while cooking by simply adjusting the vents. They come in five different sizes, from the mini to extra-large, and “EGGheads” keep coming back to our showrooms time after time to purchase bags of the famous natural lump charcoal that gives their food that amazing flavour.
