Posted on: April 6, 2011

Go for the Grill

With more and more people firing up the flames and investing in the latest grilling gadgetry, this barbecue season is heating up to be the biggest one yet

By Jessica Royer Ocken
CTW Features

“It’s more fun to cook outside than inside,” says Leslie Wheeler, director of communication for the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, Arlington, Va. “Cooking outdoors and entertaining outdoors is more casual, and lifestyles are more casual these days.

“Shorts and flip flops outside are more appealing than being in kitchen.”

Continuing a steady expansion that can be traced back at least six years, about half of U.S. grill owners report cooking outdoors year-round, according to the 22nd Annual Weber GrillWatch Survey. That includes 37 percent of grillers who cook outside when the thermometer dips below freezing. Grillers are getting more sophisticated, too. U.S. gas grill owners report these top features on their current grill: 52 percent have a side burner; 27 percent have a rotisserie; and 19 percent have a “sear zone” of some kind.

Even in the blogosphere, this idea is catching on: “Instead of the ‘fire + ribeye = dinner’ why not use this year to take what you already have (a grill) and do some innovative twists?” suggests blogger Eric Yang, editor and founder of gearpatrol.com.

Grilling accessories are, well, hot. Wheeler attributes this to the broader range of foods backyard chefs are preparing. “People are cooking more than just burgers and hot dogs,” she says. “Cooks are more creative now. They’re doing fish, vegetables and there’s even a pizza stone for the grill.”

So, the plan for this season? Fabulous, flavorful meals, made right out back, all summer long. Need some inspiration? Read on.

Authentic Italian brick-oven baked pizza is a hot item on many a menu these days, and grill-ready pizza stones converts your grill into a fire-fueled oven. Look for one with a stainless steel base that also includes a thermometer for careful monitoring. Measure your grill before you buy to make sure the pizza stone fits.

For those with a budget to burn, the new outdoor artisan pizza oven by Kalamazoo, ($6,495) a high-powered countertop gas burner, boasts an open front, so diners can watch the dancing flames.

Besides taste, another benefit to cooking on the grill is reducing oil or fat. “People seem to feel comfortable that food cooked outside is healthy and good for you,” says HPBA director research Don Johnson. Meatball grill baskets are a popular new option, allowing grillers to cook 10-12 meatballs in a stainless-steel basket that drains away grease for healthy results.

Grilling menu options for skewers run the gamut from lamb, pork and chicken to a deluxe veggie medley. Flexible grilling skewers made from stainless steel,bend easily without breaking, which makes marinating in a bowl possible. Good news for the hungry, too: they hold nearly twice as much food as the traditional skewer.

To take your show on the road, invest in one of the new options in portable grilling. Available as electric, charcoal or gas units, they are perfectly sized to ride in the car and still provide ample room for a whole fish or a bevy of brats – and kids. Most models offer 250-300 inches of grill space.

Beyond BBQ

Basics

Take backyard barbequing to the next level with whiz-bang options

Today’s gas barbeque grills offer more features than ever. In fact, manufacturers are incorporating so many bells and whistles that it can be difficult to understand what all those added conveniences actually do. Here’s a short list of some of the options you’re likely to find burning up the showroom floors this season.

Infrared Burners

These burners entered the mid-priced grill market in the last year or so, when a key patent on their technology expired. Propane (or natural gas) heats a ceramic tile designed to emit infrared heat – the same kind of heat the sun emits. These burners can reach 900 degrees F. to sear meat on contact. Watch that timer, though. Those steaks will be done in half the time it takes a standard gas grill to do the job.

Rotisserie Units

These gadgets let you make your own rotisserie-style chicken or duck outdoors, without smoking up your kitchen. Higher-end models may offer baskets instead of forks, so you don’t have to worry about fragile foods falling off the tines. Smaller models may be powered by a battery, but larger units will require an electrical connection, so you’ll need to have access to a nearby outdoor plug if you’re keen on creating your own outdoor deli.

Smoker Boxes

Sometimes removable, these stainless steel containers can hold wood chips or chunks to add that delicious smoky flavor that comes from cooking over an open fire. Removable models can be taken off the grill to create more room for quantity cooking.

Side Burners

With side burners, a grill is transformed into a complete outdoor appliance, eliminating the hassle of minding both indoor and outdoor cooking devices at the same time. One space-planning tip to think about, however, is that these burners often take the place of one or both side shelves, so you may need to consider other options for resting food and utensils when creating your own outdoor kitchen. – Chuck Ross

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