A Portable BBQ grill is an essential instrument in the quiver of any carnivore. There are many different types of portable BBQ grills available on the market, but not all are created equal. Portable BBQ grills come in many shapes and sizes, from the simplest charcoal BBQ grill to sleek propane equipped digitalized works of art. Portable barbecue grills can range in price anywhere from $5.00 for a home-built DIY project to upwards of $200 for the most advanced portable BBQ’s in the world. Usually a grill is equipped with a lid, a grill basin which houses the heating component whether it be charcoal or gas powered, and a grill grate to place the food over the flames. There are some very distinct characteristics of each type of grill, and it is important for one to know and understand these characteristics before deciding to take step up and become a Portable BBQ Grill Master! Here are some of the most pertinent differences that you should pay attention to before taking the plunge
Portable Charcoal Grills BBQ Grills
Ranging from the simplest design such as a single-portion dorm-style portable bbq grill made out of a recycled Altoids’ container to larger versions capable of cooking twenty or thirty burgers at once, these grills all have one thing in common–They require coal for fuel! Luckily, coal is an inexpensive and widely available fuel source and is quite easy to use and clean up afterwards.
When looking for a portable charcoal bbq grill, be sure to select one with both a sturdy base and bbq grill grate. These are the two most important criteria for purchasing smaller portable bbq grills because these two elements of the grill are used most frequently. Buying a haughty grill will ensure a long life free from safety concerns. For this reason, it is also important to make sure that the grill uses a minimal amount of plastic. Due to the size of these grills and the proximity of handles and other similar elements to the heat source, it is very east for plastic to warm and/or melt and ruin your precious barbecued bounty!
Charcoal grills take longer to preheat, Once the coals are lit it typically takes about 10 to 15 minutes to allow for a thin layer of white ash to form over the coals, indicating that they are ready for your precious Meats and vegetables can be added to cook. Be sure to arm yourself with a meat thermometer to prevent undercooking meats. After your portable bbq grill soirée is wrapped up and you and your guests have had plenty of refreshments to wash down all that wonderful food, cleaning is as simple as dumping and dousing the leftover coals in a safe location and giving the grill and grill basin a quick once-over with a sturdy grill brush.
Portable Gas Powered BBQ Grills
Gas powered Portable BBQ Grills are quite convenient in that gas canisters are usually quite small and light in weight, leaving you less bulk to lug down to the site of your BBQ. Gas canisters are usually quite cheap; ranging from $3 to $4 dollars per canister. Usually one canister will last for at least 2.5 hours of consecutive use, or 7 or 8 grill sessions.
Similar to choosing the right portable charcoal bbq grill, choosing one which is gas powered draws on our two most important criteria again: A strong grill grate to support grilled foods and a haughty grill basin to hold the coals. Because gas grills can carry more heat than charcoal grills it is even more important when purchasing this style of grill to ensure that the BBQ does not make use of plastic pieces which easily warp with heat and can lead to the portable bbq grill needing a premature replacement.
There are many advantages that gas powered portable bbq grills have over portable charcoal bbq’s; They can be more precisely controlled because of gas-flow knobs which control the size of the flame. They can achieve a higher temperature at a faster rate of time, which means less of a wait for those rumbling bellies! Typically these grills have either a push button ignition which creates a spark, or require the use of matches or a grill lighter. Once the burners are lit foods can be added in a matter of minutes. Be sure to check meats with a thermometer to ensure that they are fully cooked. After foods have been cooked, cleaning up is easy as turning the grill off and allowing it to cool, and taking a sturdy grill brush to the grill grate. Be sure to check and recheck that the knobs which control the gas flow are switched to the “OFF” position to prevent fires.
Armed with this information you are now more than capable of researching and purchasing a portable bbq grill to add to your culinary equipment and enjoying the portability of their use. Now you can enjoy one of these types of grills whether you are camping, tailgating at your favorite sporting event, or just want to reconnect to Caveman deep within you, Happy Barbecuing!
