Why Outdoor Charcoal Grills Are Better Than Gas Grills

It was June 2004. We were camping on beach side forested land in India. The beach was sun kissed and not very far away, some friends had gone fishing. I lay in an hammock reading Great Expectations. The convict is shivering of cold and a little boy offers him food, which the former asked the latter to steal. The convict wonders how nice it would be to have a party only if he had warmer clothes. The shack close by has got a gas grill.

If you catch a fish, you have an option to use a charcoal grill or a gas grill. We had not decided which one to choose from after the boys returned with five large tuna fish, a fish which generally swims in areas closer to the Indian Ocean. We choose the charcoal grill. It retains the flavor a friend said who believed himself to a master chef. He could whip a seven course meal in ten minutes flat he said. Whatever the truth may be. We lit the charcoal. It resembled the fading sun. The fishes lay quiet now next to the fire, fresh out of water. Forgive us dear fishes for we must kill you to survive I remember reading in the old man and the sea.

Indian spices are among the best in the world. It was rare commodity five thousand years ago as well. The fish is cleaned up with a knife and marinated with all the spices. Finally, it is grilled. Apart from the fun you have in making your own food, deciding how to cook your fish can sometimes be quite the dilemma. I prefer charcoal grills because I think it is healthier than gas grills. Charcoal grilling helps preserve the spices. It adds to the texture of the food and give you an option to decide how much of cooking happens at various parts of the body. Gas grills are those boring indoor activities but not something you would want to do after you return from fishing, would you?

Beef Steaks, Roasts, And Hamburger - A Brief History of Beef With Recipes

A little beef history...

Beef is the culinary term for Bovines (cows). If you have never seen a cow before you need to get out more often. There are somewhere around 800 different breeds of Bovine worldwide. Around 55 B.C. it has been recorded that the Red Devon cattle were being raised and used in south-western England, thus are one of the oldest breeds of cattle on the planet. That is what you call well aged steak or a lot of milk. Cattle were first herded and domesticated about 6-7000 B.C. The remains of domestic cattle have been found in and about Turkey.

Now we know that beef is not native to North America. It first arrived in Mexico via the Spanish and the French in the mid 1500s. It was around the time of the American civil war when beef started to appear on the dinner plates around North America.

Argentina knows where the Beef is, they consume, per capital, more beef than any other country in the whole world. They consume 65.2 kilograms per person. Argentina is BAR-B-Q CENTRAL for the whole planet. Also among the worlds largest consumers of beef are USA, Brazil, Japan, and China.

Beef, what do we do with it? In most cases that I am aware of, WE EAT IT! If there is any other uses for it, I am not aware of them.

There are many different cuts of beef that are used in home cooking and there are a number of cuts that you would normally find in a restaurant. Most popular cuts being steaks, roasts, and ground beef, (hamburger). There are not very many pieces of beef that taste quite like a properly grilled NEW YORK STEAK.

1-Start with one steak per-person. (cut to the weight of your choice), and at least 1" thick.

2-In a zip lock style plastic bag combine the following ingredients: 2-3 table spoons minced garlic cloves, a couple of tablespoons each of Worcestershire sauce, hot mustard, soy sauce, olive oil, and red wine vinegar.

3-Place the steaks into the zip lock bag and marinate for at least 1 hour at room temperature or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.

4-Grill at a high heat for about 6-7 minutes on each side for rare, 10 minutes or more on each side for well done. Medium will be somewhere in-between 6 to 10 minutes.

Roast Beef

1-Start with your favourite roast whether it be a Prime Rib or a Sirloin Tip roast it is all the same to the oven.

2-Lay carrot sticks, celery sticks, and thick slices of onion on the bottom of your roasting pan. You can add a little olive oil to this pan if you want.

3-Place the roast, fat side up, onto the vegetables.

4-What you season your roast with is you choice, salt and pepper are all that is really needed, though some fresh garlic is a natural with just about all beef.

5-Place the whole pan into a preheated (400 F) oven for about 20-25 minutes, just to sear in the juices.

6-Turn the oven down to 350 F and let the roast cook for about 20 -30 minutes per pound. If you are using a meat thermometer the internal temperature should be no less than 140 F at the center of the roast.

7-Let the roast sit for about 10-15 minutes before you serve it. Letting the roast sit helps makes it easier to carve.

How to Protect Your Barbecue Using Grill Covers

Grill covers protect your grills and prolong their life. Not keeping your grill covered, particularly if it is part of your outdoor cooking equipment could expose it to extreme weather and damage it. Added to this, there is the problem of debris, dried leaves, dust and bird droppings settling on the grill, making it quite tedious to clean.

A barbecue grill cover is an essential accessory for your grill regardless of whether you have just a basic charcoal grill or a state of the art gas grill. Outdoor grill covers are best bought from the barbecue grill manufacturer or dealer from whom you purchase your grill, mainly so that you can get the right fit, preventing the cover from coming off in a strong breeze. There are also several outdoor barbecue covers available in the market that could work just as well. You will probably have to get a cover that comes with the facility to hook it or cinch it to the grill to hold it down securely.

Barbecue grill covers are available in different sizes and come with straps that you can adjust and use to ensure a tight fit to your grill so that if there is a really wild wind, you do not want to go searching for your grill cover.

In terms of material outdoor barbecue grill covers can be made from a variety of materials and priced accordingly. Covers can be in fabric, vinyl and polyester as these are the most commonly used materials. Polyester is considered one of the best when it comes to grill covers as it is lightweight, while being very durable and can be used in any season, be it winter, summer or during heavy rains. Even when it snows, a polyester cover will not become stuff at minus 40 degrees. Your barbecue grill will stay safe under its polyester cover all through winter. What makes polyester so special is that it is treated with chemicals that make it resistant to water and ultraviolet rays. It does not fade. Even though polyester is a woven product, it is highly water resistant because of the polyurethane lining inside.

Vinyl barbecue grill covers, on the other hand must always be at least of 12 gauge vinyl although you are likely to get a lesser gauge in the market. These tend to wear out fast and worse still, in very cold weather, can become brittle and break.

An important component of the outdoor barbecue covers is the inner lining that gives it the strength to withstand different weather conditions. Some grill covers are made of fleece, which is not a very good idea as it can just fall apart. Moreover, if it becomes damp or wet, it can take a very long time to dry out, making it prone to mold and mildew. Worse still, it attracts pests that like to reside in it.

Compared to vinyl, plastic and fleece, polyester grill covers always score high because they dry quickly, stay durable and do not attract pests.

All grill manufacturers offer grill covers for the barbecue grilling equipment they sell. Some top names are Weber, Vermont Castings, Charmglow, Broil King, Char Broil, Duane, etc. Weber grill covers are made of premium quality heavy duty vinyl for their charcoal grills, gas grills and smokers. When it comes to the largest complete barbecue, hearths and stoves Vermont Castings ranks among the top three manufacturers. Vermont Castings Grill covers are custom made to fit their bbq grill models and can be purchased by quoting the model number of the bbq grill. Charmglow is another manufacturer of grills that offers vinyl covers with felt backing and Velcro closures. You can find Charmglow gas grill covers by model number online from several sources.

Natural Gas Grills

Over the centuries, man has used a number of ways to cook his food. The cooking method called barbecuing has long been a favorite. In modern times, people use modified grills for cooking or barbecuing. Grills can be classified based on the igniting substance that is used such as charcoal, gas or wood pellets. Amongst these, gas grills are the most reliable and are further classified into natural gas grills and propane grills.

Natural gas grills have many benefits when used for cooking, since natural gas is cheap and costs one-third the price of propane. Also, natural gas burns a lot cleaner than propane and is therefore better for the environment. It is directly supplied to people's home and removes the hassle of refilling gas tanks. It is also very convenient to use natural gas grills. There are many companies that manufacture natural gas grills that are ideal for cooking food, especially at outdoor events such as barbecues and backyard parties.

Buyers should carefully evaluate the features before purchasing natural gas grills, since there are many branded companies, which claim their products to be the best. They should analyze their needs such as the required size of the cooking surface, requirement of side shelves, warming shelves, a side burner or a grease catcher. They should also consider the appearance of the grill and ensure that it matches with the surroundings where it is likely to be placed. For instance, it is necessary to select a model based on whether it has to fit into an outdoor kitchen or match the décor of the interior of the house.

Natural gas grills are ideal for people looking for barbecues that offer great convenience and ease. The other frequently used grills are the charcoal grills, but they take a long time to heat up. While using natural gas grills, users do not have to worry about running short of fuel, as the barbecues are connected to the natural gas supply piping of the home, which ensures a regular supply of fuel.

Fire Magic Charcoal Grills 30 Inch Legacy Smoker Grill - Built In

Fire Magic Charcoal Grills 30 Inch Legacy Smoker Grill - Built In Review

Fire Magic Charcoal Grills 30 Inch Legacy Smoker Grill - Built In Overview

The Fire Magic 30 Inch Smoker Charcoal Grill features 540 sq. In. Cooking Surface (30 x 18 Cooking Area), All stainless steel construction, Heavy-duty stainless smoker hood with precise oven thermometer, Adjustable air shutters for temperature control, Adjustable cooking surface and Easy-access charcoal drawer for adding charcoal and smoker chips. Opening Reguired (in inches): 32. 25 W x 19. 75 D x 12 H. Allow 10-12 inches from the back of the grill to the backsplash/wall for lid clearance when lid is open.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Apr 17, 2010 22:41:26

18 Inch Portable Open Flame Grill with Adjustable Cooking Grid Portable Barbeque

18 Inch Portable Open Flame Grill with Adjustable Cooking Grid Portable Barbeque Review

18 Inch Portable Open Flame Grill with Adjustable Cooking Grid Portable Barbeque Feature

• 18 diameter
• Tough baked enamel for durability and easy cleaning
• Chrome plated cooking area
• 3-way adjustable grill
• Dimensions: 47 x 11 x 66 (cm)

18 Inch Portable Open Flame Grill with Adjustable Cooking Grid Portable Barbeque Overview

18" portable folding grill. Heavy-duty steel construction. A 3-position adjustable cooking grid allows for food to be closer/further away from flame. This allows the food to come out just the way you want it! Convenient handles for easy grill moving. Legs fold for easy storage and portability. Take this grill with you on your next trip! 210 sq. inch cooking space.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Apr 16, 2010 20:45:01

How Grilling Accessories Can Simplify Your Barbecue

Outdoor cooking equipment in the form of grills and barbecues enhance the value of a home, while being a great source of enjoyment. When you add grill accessories, it can make your task a lot easier, as well as assist you in producing fabulous food that your family and guests will appreciate. Not all grill accessories are must haves, but most of them do serve a purpose in making life easier with your cooking equipment. After you buy your grill, check out the accessories that are available, both with the manufacturer and online, so that you have a good idea of what could be useful to you.

What follows is a brief look at the barbecue grill accessories available in the market. The most commonly used accessories are rotisseries. People who enjoy grilling and barbecuing simply love this. What makes rotisseries so popular? A rotisserie can cook your meat to perfect tenderness, just the way you like it. Your meat will be roasted rather than grilled and you will enjoy the delicious flavor. You will get two types of rotisseries. One is used with an outdoor grill. The other is a standalone indoor rotisserie. Rotisseries come with a spit and a rod on which to put the meat. The rod rotates the meat. A motor turns the rod above a heat source. Rotisseries can be used as gas grill accessories, charcoal grill accessories or electric grill accessories.

Most manufacturers like Weber, Char Grill, Char Broil, Brinkmann etc. offer grill accessories with their barbecuing equipment. Weber grill accessories include rotisseries that range from $ 40 to $ 800 depending on which model you buy.

Another excellent grill accessory is a grilling tool set available with basic tools as well as more advanced kits. The large sets come with a variety of tools. You will most certainly find a fork, a barbecue turner or spatula, tongs and a grill brush. Tongs are used for flipping food and kindling the charcoal, wood or grate. There are a variety of brushes available as grill accessories for different purposes. Basting brushes are used to smear sauce and marinades evenly on the food. Cleaning brushes help in clearing up the grill after cooking. Skewers help you cook kebabs with ease. Thermometers help keep track of the temperature of the food enabling you ensure that the food is done exactly how you like it.

You will find rib racks are very handy to cook tasty ribs and chicken. Directly placing several ribs on the grill can be a hassle as the food could topple on to the heat source. Instead, investing in a rib rack that is durable is a better idea. You can simply arrange the ribs together on the rack and grill them. Gourmet chefs suggest that you must smoke the ribs to get them right, although grilling is fine, too.

You can also go in for extra burners with manufacturers like Weber and Char Grill and accessories like these burners can be very convenient to warm starters or the side dishes while you concentrate on the main dish. These manufactures identify their grill parts by part number to make it easier for the user. Ensure that you have information about your grills make and model number in order to choose the right fit.

As one among the most popular brands in for outdoor cooking, the Weber grill accessories range is quite wide. Char Grill, another reputed manufacturer offers warming racks, side fire box tongs, fork covers, bbq hook and so on. No matter what your budget, you can always enhance the functionality of your cooking equipment with grill accessories.