BBQ & Grill Guide
Making the most of your BBQ season
Cook Up Summer Fun And Save
Nothing says summer in Canada like the savoury scent of food cooking on an outdoor grill. The barbecue is a staple of our culture: a versatile tool you can use to cook a surprising number of food items - maybe not just the ones you'd expect! No home should be without a barbecue to get the most out of summer, so let this buying guide help you find the right model for your budget and your lifestyle.
Purchasing a barbecue isn't as simple as picking the first one you see. Just as in your indoor kitchen, it's important to consider exactly what you want out of your outdoor cooking arrangement to suit your everyday needs. Do you have a big family or regularly entertain large groups of friends? Would you like to be able to bring your primary barbecue with you on trips, or do you prefer a stationary model? What about fuel - are you a propane cooker, is natural gas your ideal, are you partial to charcoal, or do you want a plug-in electric grill? How often do you tend to use your outdoor grill - do you cook rain or shine every week, or just a few times a month during the summer? And what kind of accessories do you see yourself using in your day-to-day cooking: rotisseries, side burners, smokers? Answering these questions will help you determine what kind of grill is best for you, what kind of accessories you’ll require, and you might even surprise yourself by wanting to experiment with new ways of cooking! But it's best to start with the basics, so let's break down our price points in terms of your budget. This guide will list your choices under three categories: Value, if you're just starting out; Economy, for an established household; and Luxury, for those who enjoy the finer things in life.
Flame On!
There are four major types of barbecues available for purchase: charcoal, wood, gas and electric. Each of these fuel types has benefits and drawbacks depending on how you use your barbecue, so let's look in greater detail at each. Before purchasing a barbecue of any type, make sure to check your local property bylaws, and consult with your property management company (if you live in an apartment or condominium), to determine what kind of grill is legal for you to operate in your area. In addition to fire regulations, outdoor cooking is sometimes limited due to the smoke and odours it generates, so it’s definitely a good idea to check first and avoid disappointment later!
1) Charcoal BBQ's
Famous for the unique flavour it brings to cooked foods, charcoal is a good all-round choice for a Value or Economy budget. Charcoal units generally cost less at the outset and are generally easy to assemble (fifteen to twenty minutes for most models), and although the briquettes they use for fuel tend to be more expensive than propane, their light weight make them easy to transport and ideal for camping. As with other grill types, charcoal grills come in a variety of sizes: the portable versions are perfect for couples who enjoy fine dining in the outdoors, and larger models - while falling into Economy and Luxury budgets - are favoured by backyard connoisseurs who settle for nothing less than that authentic charcoal flavour.
Charcoal typically comes in two varieties, both available in a variety of flavours: synthetic, the less expensive alternative made from wood ash, and natural, made from hardwood. Both of these will burn hotter than normal wood, but take some time to heat up, so remember to allow adequate preparation time before starting your meal. Care must be taken when cooking on charcoal grills: they are slow to heat and tend to heat up unevenly depending on how the charcoal is distributed, so it’s important to ensure your grill is fully heated - once it is, you’ll find your cooking surface is more evenly heated than a budget propane grill! Charcoal is renowned for imbuing food with singularly delicious flavour, and a skilled backyard gourmet can make the most of its exceptional properties to create sensational meals no matter what foodstuffs are being used. If you’re looking for an outdoor dining experience to titillate your taste buds and challenge your culinary skills, a charcoal grill is definitely for you!
2) Gas BBQ's
The most common and popular barbecue unit on the market, the gas barbecue has always been a patio standby. Two fuel alternatives are available: propane, which is provided by an external tank, and natural gas, which can be accessed through your home's gas line. Fuel is gauged by a measurement called a BTU (British Thermal Unit), and is used to determine efficiency and heat: the higher the BTU, the hotter the gas burns. What does all this mean? The higher the BTU, the better! A higher BTU rating means the barbecue will heat up faster and generally cook more evenly. Propane barbecues are usually more expensive at the outset, and the tanks need to be replaced. The replacement schedule depends on how often you use your barbecue: if you're a frequent outdoor cooker, natural gas may be more economical for you. No matter which fuel source you use, the options available to gas barbecue buyers are extensive.
Both propane and natural gas barbecues feature unprecedented cooking control: temperature indicators allow you to maintain exact cooking temperatures for a variety of foods, and side and auxiliary burners mean additional surfaces to cook your whole meal at once, all in one place! Budget and Economy models tend to be simpler: both fuel types heat up quickly, but less expensive models may be subject to uneven heat distribution including "hot spots" on the grill. A seasoned outdoor chef can compensate for uneven distribution, or you can choose a model with higher-quality grill surfaces made of porcelain-coated cast iron, as well as better quality burners: both will provide more even heat distribution.
Gas grills are available in a wide variety of sizes, from portable models that range between 120 and 280 square inches of cooking surface rated at 12,000 BTUs, to deluxe models that feature over 800 square inches and over 50,000 BTUs plus warming racks and additional burners.
Construction materials also play a role in gas grills: Budget models are designed to trade durability for light weight, whereas more expensive models will be built of high-quality cast aluminum that is less susceptible to rust damage and the stress of constant heating and cooling. If you're a part-time outdoor cook looking for summer fun, a Budget or low Economy model will suit your needs, but if you're a hardcore barbecuing connoisseur who cooks several times a week, you will want to invest in a higher-end Economy or Luxury model to accommodate all that delicious barbecued goodness!
Remember: whatever grill you decide on doesn’t come in one piece: a small grill will take only fifteen to twenty minutes to put together, but if you're investing in a Luxury king-size grill, be sure to set aside a few hours for construction (or better yet, have the store you’re buying it from assemble it for you), and always pay careful attention to the safety protocols in your owner's manual!
3) Electric BBQ's
Of all the grills out there, electric grills are the most versatile: they can be used wherever an outlet is available! Electric grills are easy to clean: they are often made of non-stick materials and can be easily wiped down once cool. The grill is heated by an electric element instead of an open flame, reducing heat loss to almost nothing, and fat drippings from meat are drained off into a reservoir, dramatically reducing fat content during the cooking process. Electric grills are also the most versatile in price: small units designed for individuals or couples fall well within a Value budget, but have a small cooking surface and limited temperature control - many simple grills heat automatically to a preset temperature. Larger outdoor units are available at Economy prices, beautifully designed to complement your patio or deck. And for the true grilling connoisseur, large high-tech grills with multiple presets and cooking surfaces will allow those on a Luxury budget to build entire meals for large groups on their grill.
In addition to traditional electric grills, many specialized options are available, including powered grill pans, sandwich grills, electric griddles, and skillets!
While electric grills provide a different flavour experience than their gas-powered cousins, their flexibility and healthy grilling style make them a great addition to any griller's arsenal!
4) Wood Burning BBQ's
Nothing beats the authentic flavour of cooking over an open fire - that’s where your wood-burning barbecue comes in! These barbecues come in two varieties: the first burns wood directly and the second uses wood pellets for fuel. Wood-fired grills are very similar to charcoal grills in their functionality, whereas pellet grills use a combustion system to superheat compressed hardwood pellets in a very short period of time, turning them into hot coals fast and efficiently. Wood grills are widely considered environmentally friendly because they don’t give off the same pollutants as propane or charcoal, and they come in a variety of sizes, from portable grills to units with larger cooking spaces. But the biggest selling point of wood-fired or pellet barbecues is the flavour: choosing different kinds of wood and pairing them with different meats and veggies means an endless variety of flavour experiences! See our section on Smokers for more information about wood choices.
But wood barbecues are only the beginning: if you’re a fan of homemade pizza, bread or just about anything else you’d cook in a conventional oven, you’ll love the traditional taste offered by an outdoor wood-fired oven. Usually constructed of clay adobe, fire-refracting brick or refractory concrete, these standalone ovens are the ultimate in outdoor cooking year-round. When a fire is built inside the oven, the heavy walls absorb the heat and radiate it evenly around the interior. Best of all, there’s almost no cleanup compared to conventional ovens: just sweep the hearth of ashes when you’re done! While these ovens are typically expensive, they are a must-have addition to any Luxury patio for the outdoor connoisseur.
If you love the outdoors and want the genuine taste of outdoor cooking at its best, a wood-burning grill or oven is definitely for you!
More Fire, More Fun!
Now that you've chosen your barbecue, it's time to start cooking! But before you fire up that shiny new barbecue, let’s make sure you're fully outfitted with everything you'll need to make your summer barbecue a success!
BBQ Protection
Outdoor barbecues are left to the ravages of the elements during the summer months - rain and other inclement weather can damage your new pride and joy even in the pleasant seasons. Protect your investment with a quality weatherproof cover in colours to fit your patio decor, with adjustable sizing to suit any model barbecue. If your barbecue is going to be on a wooden deck you’ll want to get a barbecue mat to protect the wood from grease stains. These mats are made from durable material that will last several seasons before needing to be replaced - better to replace a small mat then to risk damaging your expensive decking.
Maintenance & Cleaning
In order to get the most from your grill, you'll need to keep it in good condition, and that means cleaning! No matter what grill you have, cleaning supplies are easy to come by and inexpensive to purchase. For your electric grill, simple soap and water will suffice - the non-stick surface makes clean up a snap. But for fire-based grills, it's important to have the right tools. Keep a nylon brush or steel bristle brush handy to scrub the grill when you're done cooking: it is also helpful to keep the flames going for a little while after the food is removed to burn off the excess remains. It’s important to remember that dirt, grease, and even spider webs can accumulate inside the tubes of your gas barbecue, so keep them clean and clear with a specialized brush. And for all grills, you’ll want to clean your grill fully every 10-15 barbecuing sessions, as grease deposits will build up and become a fire hazard. Be prepared to pull out all the grill surfaces and use a heavy duty cleaner to get rid of any grease deposits. And ensure you burn off any remaining cleaning solutions before your first barbecue after cleaning!
Must-Have Utensils
When it comes to barbecues, there are a few must-have utensils you’ll need to pick up. To start you will want a pair of long-handled stainless steel tongs to accurately manipulate food on the grill and keep your hands out of the fire. Or, if you’re handling coated surfaces like Teflon, keep a set of silicone tongs on hand to prevent scratch damage. For flipping everything from burgers to burritos, a stainless steel spatula is easy to clean and safe to use. Your final must-have is a good-quality long handled basting brush to apply barbecue and other savoury sauces to chicken, ribs and more! Whether you're flipping, turning, basting or serving, these utensils will have you covered! And to keep your hands on all your tools, why not check out a crafted tool holder that attaches directly to your barbecue to make sure everything is only an arm's length away.
Cooking Accessories
The kinds of meals you can cook on your barbecue are limited only by your imagination! For meat dishes, like Cornish hen, Prime Rib Roast, Chicken and other roasts, invest in a good rotisserie kit that will give you restaurant-quality barbecued meats. For juicy, succulent dishes, try a marinade injector that will let you infuse meat with saucy marinades, bringing out the decadence in every meal!
And make sure everything is cooked to perfection with a selection of meat thermometers: from a classic needle-nose model to a super-high-tech Luxury talking thermometer. Yes, a talking thermometer: welcome to the 21st century of outdoor cooking!
But don't think meat is the only thing you can cook on your new barbecue: vegetables are just as at home on the grill as their meaty cousins! Stir fry up some Eastern goodness with a variety of woks, from a basic Value model to a more advanced Fire Magic model ideal for Economy budgets. Or cook large volumes of roasted veggies in a custom-made vegetable basket designed to keep your greens crisp but cooked for an ideal side dish. Feel like fish? Roast up a seaworthy feast with a non-stick grill basket perfect for grilling seafood of all types!
And you can even make breakfast on your barbecue: pick up a griddle that fits over most grills and fry bacon, pancakes and eggs all at once! Gourmet chefs can try out high-end pizza stones for mouth watering homemade pizza, and cedar boards for cooking delicious fish entrees!
Summer just isn't summer without a proper picnic or campout, where your portable barbecue will be most welcome - but how to get the tasty leftovers home, or provide beverages and side dishes for your meaty feast in the wild? Portable coolers are a great investment: even the best models are inexpensive, lightweight and carry large volumes of food and drink: check out soft pack coolers that can be slung over your shoulder, a larger family picnic set with greater carrying capacity, or a wheeled 50 quart cooler from Coleman. In fact, why not go all out and invest in a picnic blanket package for any budget? Try a basic rolled blanket or even a traveling bar set to go with the beverages in your cooler.
But coolers aren't just for on the road, of course: they can be incredibly useful on your patio too! Wine and beverage coolers let you and your guests refresh yourselves without going back and forth to your main fridge or bar area, and there are multiple models available - from Value to Luxury! Try a wine cooler that holds up to eight bottles, a larger model that will hold twelve, or for the true wine aficionado, a luxury twenty-bottle chiller! You'll never have to go inside to whet your whistle again, no matter how long your barbecue lingers on.
Smokers
Your barbecue is sizzling and you have all the accessories you need to tackle the most savoury dishes. And now for the main course: delicious home-smoked meat!
Like barbecues, smokers come in several varieties, including charcoal, hardwood, propane, electrical, and wood pellet. In each case a wood variant is smouldered or burned, producing smoke which flavours, cooks and/or preserves the meat. Charcoal, hardwood and wood pellet smokers burn the fuel directly, while electric and propane smokers use these power sources to indirectly heat and burn wood fuel. Which version you choose is a matter of your personal taste: some purists swear by the authenticity of direct fuel, while others prefer the convenience and temperature control afforded by propane and electricity.
What makes the biggest difference in your smoker is the kind of wood you choose to use: different wood produces different flavours in the meat. The most popular North American choices include hickory, mesquite, oak, pecan, alder and several fruit-tree woods, each of which provides a unique flavour experience depending upon the type of meat you’re smoking. For example, alder and fruit-tree wood like apple and cherry are preferred wood types for lighter meats like fish and poultry, while stronger flavours like mesquite and hickory are often used for heavier cuts of red meat such as ribs.
Feel free to have fun and experiment - one thing the experts agree upon is that there’s no ‘right’ flavour combination when it comes to smoked meat. It’s all about what you and your family enjoy best!
Once a strictly Luxury item, smokers are now available for all budgets: a double grid charcoal smoker for the Value set, a seven-in-one smoker at an Economy price, and an 18.5” slow-cooking smoker that spells Luxury in each delicious bite!
Fire up the Fun!
Cooking outdoors is a great Canadian tradition, and you'll find everything you need to create your own outdoor kitchen in our barbecue & outdoor cooking section. Remember to choose accessories that will suit your lifestyle and your budget - the sky is the limit no matter what your price range. From couples, to young families, amateurs to connoisseurs, there's a barbecue set for everyone who loves the smell of fresh food on the grill. What are you waiting for? Start cooking up some fun today!
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