You’ve decided to take the plunge and buy your own grill. We have a checklist of questions you should be asking yourself. The answers will quickly help you make a buying decision on the right grill for you.
1. What Am I Planning to Cook On My Grill?
This goes a long way to determining how much grill space and how many heat zones you’ll need.
2. What Kind of Fuel Source Will My Grill Use?
The most common fuel sources available for grills are liquid propane, natural gas, and charcoal. Pellets are also an option, but it’s more difficult to find them.
Propane and natural gas are both clean-burning fuels. You’ll have more control over the grill’s temperature with these two options.
If you have a natural gas line, you can get a hookup for a grill. If you don’t have a natural gas line running to your house, propane is the way to go.
Charcoal burns with a natural flame that brings a smoky flavor to food. Natural fire starters like hardwoods such as mesquite can bring new aromas and flavor to old recipes.
3. How Much Cooking Space Will I Need?
The answer to this question determines the overall grill size. While you may think that a smaller grill is fine because you’re only planning on cooking for two people, the types of food you’ll be grilling play a bigger role in choosing a grill that meets your expectations.
This will also determine whether you should consider a stationary outdoor kitchen station or a portable grill. Determining the amount of cooking space needed can be complicated, but there are many resources available to help you make an informed decision.
4. How Many Heat Zones Does My Grill Need?
Simple proteins require less space and fewer heat zones. If you’d like to grill side dishes, your grill will need more heat zones, burners, and space.
Note which way the burners run. They could be running front to back or left to right. Gas grills usually run front to back, this helps to divide the zones and optimize your cooking times.
5. What Kind of Materials are The Grill Burners Made From?
The materials that make up the burners go a long way towards determining how long the grill will last.
Brass and stainless steel are the top choices, while aluminum burns out quickly and cast iron rusts faster than other materials.
6. Does The Grill Have Heat Diffusers?
These not only help distribute the heat evenly across the grates, they also protect the burners from all the food and grease that falls through the grates.
7. Are Replacement Parts and Covers For The Grill Easy to Find?
Determine what parts may need to be replaced in the future to get a better idea of how readily available the parts are and how expensive they will be to replace.
8. How Will The Grill Be Delivered To My Home?
Some budget stores expect you to load the grill into your pickup. Others will offer free delivery while still others also offer assembly services.
