The Low-down on High-tech Grills
By Marlene A. Prost
What's hot in backyard cooking
Remember the backyard barbecue of your childhood? Come weekend, Dad would don an apron and stand guard at the sizzling grill, while Mom mixed lemonade and the kids swarmed over the yard.
Happily, the backyard barbecue is alive and well; more than three in four American households own an outdoor barbecue grill or smoker, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA).
America's favorite family pastime has gotten bigger, better and more high-tech. With today's models, a backyard chef can cook an entire meal outdoors, using multiple burners and even more than one fuel at a time.
"The new trend is increased functionality, expanding what you have in your backyard grill," says Shiva Noble, executive vice president of Cal Spa and Cal Flame, which manufactures high-end grills. "That includes expanding both cooking options as well as entertainment functions."
Shopping 101
When shopping for a grill, Noble suggests first looking at the basics. "Check for a grill light, temperature gauge, easy cleanability and features that match your grilling style, such as a rotisserie or smoke tray," she explains. "A grill light makes it much easier to grill in the evening hours; a temperature gauge on the outside of the hood will let you check the temperature without opening the grill and slowing the cooking process; and features like a slide-out drip tray will catch drippings for quick and easy cleaning."
Consumers should also check the unit's aesthetics: "Look for smooth design lines and knobs that stand out, making them easy to find and have designer appeal," she adds. And, of course, there's the grilling surface itself.
"A greater number of burners on your grill will allow you to cook easily for a large group of people," says Noble. "They are more functional when entertaining because you're able to serve your guests more quickly and cook a variety of items all at once. That means you can have hot dogs on one side of the grill, hamburgers on the other, corn in the center and buns warming above on the warming rack. "
The Versatile Grill
Additional features help make outdoor grilling more versatile than ever, which may explain why today's grills are the heart of the newest trends in outdoor entertainment—outdoor kitchens.
"The basic grill has morphed to a complete outside kitchen, with all the conveniences you have inside," says Leslie Wheeler, a spokeswoman for the HPBA, based in Arlington, Virginia.
A smart shopper can order a barbecue island with everything from a pizza oven to a cocktail center to an auto-rising TV, so Mom doesn't have to run back and forth to the house and Dad and his pals can watch the game while he turns the steak.
Today's features allow a grill to do more than just grill. Convection technology, for example, allows the grill to be used for reheating, baking, and warming; this is the same technology used in indoor ovens than ensures food is evenly cooked.
Special features abound. "Cal Flame provides a rotisserie standard with every 3-, 4- and 5- burner grill that gives owners the ability to cook rotisserie style without purchasing additional equipment and without requiring any additional power," notes Noble. An optional feature that's also very popular is the smoke tray to give food the smoker taste. The beauty about the smoke tray is that it's a small accessory that fits inside the grill."
Other available options include:
Charcoal grills. Many a backyard chef swears by charcoal. It's true that charcoal is versatile—it can create a high temperature for searing and is perfect for low, slow cooking. Charcoal grills come in various shapes and sizes, from a small covered cooker to a kettle grill with domed lids big enough to cook a whole turkey. If charcoal grilling is an occasional fancy, an optional charcoal pan accessory can turn some gas grills into a charcoal cooker when needed.
Smoking trays. One of the great pleasures of outdoor cooking is the smoked flavor of barbecued meat. You can achieve that flavor by simply replacing one of the burners in some gas grills with an optional smoke tray. Or you can replace the standard burner with an optional sear zone burner for a caramelized crust.
Side burners. Nowadays, it's not always enough to plate your steak with an ear of corn and serving of potato salad. Side dishes and sauces have become a creative and nutritious part of the meal. That's why side burners are a useful addition to the stand-alone grill or backyard island.
Pizza oven. And if the kids demand pizza, don't pick up the phone. Cal Flame offers a slide-in pizza oven stone that fits neatly under the island grill, adds Noble.
Infrared cooking. Imagine a grill that lets you grill a steak and roast a chicken at the same time. A welcome innovation in grilling is the infrared burner that comes in the back of many enclosed grills. The radiant heat source produces an intense heat that cooks the meat evenly. The result is super-moist, steakhouse quality meat that is still perfectly seared.
"Many manufacturers have incorporated infrared burners with a conventional grill to give a chef options," Wheeler says. "The technology is emerging. More people are catching on to infrared cooking. Before, people were scared [of the technology]; now people understand them more."
Island Countertops. The barbecue island evolved from the necessity of adding storage cabinets and prep space to the grilling unit. Today, island countertops come in a variety of configurations—J-shaped, L-shaped and U-shaped that can double as a dining area. The countertop can even make room for a fireplace, to warm a chilly evening, or a cabana top to provide shade at noon.
Accessories. The barbecue island can and does include most every household appliance, including the kitchen sink. Many manufacturers offer a drop-in cocktail center—complete with an ice bin, bottle opener, towel rack and compartments for garnishes.
Multimedia entertainment. Sometimes the hardest part of a family barbecue is prying the kids away from the TV indoors. The latest barbecue islands solve that problem by offering spectacular TV and stereo system options.
And when the sun goes down, the multi-colored LED lighting goes on, to create a party mood and allow the grilling to go past midnight.