Grilling food may have, over the last couple of decades, become one of the most culturally significant pastimes in the United States – in some areas, the quality of a man's grill can impact his social status. However, some people just can't afford to spend thousands of dollars on a grill – this is where we come in.
Each grill on the market is going to be a bit different than its competitors, which puts a lot of selection available to you. How can you be sure which grill's going to suit you the best?
This makes it pretty hard to choose your unit at the store since there's rarely enough information available to make an informed choice – just a tag with a few numbers and statistics. That's why we've done the research for you and determined which grills are the best value purchases for under $300.
If you're comparing grills sheerly for the price, you're probably going to end up getting a best charcoal grill. They tend to be a bit cheaper than the old propane tank variety, but that doesn't mean they're any worse!
Charcoal has been used as a cooking method for a very long time – particularly for cooking meat, like steaks.
A charcoal-grilled steak conjures up great memories for lots of western people, and charcoal fans will claim that a charcoal-grilled slab of meat tastes better than anything else you could cook. Charcoal is a natural and renewable fuel source for your grill.
Why is that, though? What makes a charcoal grill so special?
A charcoal grill has a firebox (the containment unit) that holds the charcoal and the flame that heats up the charcoal. Once your flame's lit, the coal heats up and the heat spreads through the grill, providing enough heat for you to cook your food.
Charcoal grills are unique in that some of the smoke that rises off the charcoal helps to cook whatever you're cooking. This is part of the reason that charcoal grillers will tell you they have a completely different, more complete flavor in their food than gas grillers.
How do gas grills compare when looking for under $300?
Propane grills might be a little bit more expensive, but that's not without good reason. When you're playing with propane, you get these benefits – and drawbacks.
1. Propane grills heat up fast, whereas charcoal grills tend to heat up slower. Because of this, propane grills can be used to cook food quicker.
2. Propane tends to cost a bit more than charcoal. Charcoal needs to be replaced as well as propane, but you can still use a charcoal grill with old coals – you won't be completely at a loss, as you would be trying to use a propane grill with no fuel.
3. Gas grills tend to have a few more features than the alternative, which can make them more adjustable and better for the particular griller.
These are the basic differences between the two grills. Still, all grills follow the same basic foundation – they're metal surfaces that cook food with direct heat.
The important part and the reason that grills are different prices is what makes your grill unique.
1. Different grills heat up to different temperatures based on the thickness of the grate and the fuel source that you use.
2. Some grills allow direct adjustment of the grate itself. This creates more or less space between the flame and the food.
3. The size of your grilling space makes a huge difference! Many grills have a primary cooking area and a secondary area that keeps food warm.
4. Grills made of stainless steel will behave differently than ones made of cast iron.
5. Some grills have extra components that can provide different methods of cooking, but these are often on more expensive models.
To make sure you're getting what you want, you need to know what you want, which can be more complicated than people are aware of.
Are you expecting to be grilling for tons of people, or are you just going to use this for family gatherings on weekends?
Do you want to be able to make your food, or do you want grate-seared steaks prepped up quickly? Deciding what you want first is mandatory. In summary, I suggest you choose the best charcoal grill. It is the ideal choice.
