Here’s How to Choose the Best Barbecue

Canadians love celebrating warm weather with a delicious backyard BBQ. In fact, many of us enjoy outdoor cooking all year round.

Whether you need a compact portable barbecue for moveable backyard feasts or a large grill to anchor your outdoor entertaining space, there’s no shortage of features and options to consider.

Our selection of barbecues includes a wide variety of propane, natural gas, pellet, electric and charcoal models. Here’s a look at what they have to offer, along with some tips to help you pick the right one for your use.

Turn up the Heat with a Propane Barbecue

A portable propane grill is a convenient option if you want to move your grill closer to poolside, or safely away from any other outdoor activities. Along with portability, many backyard grill enthusiasts prefer propane over natural gas because it burns at a hotter temperature.

Along with a secure tank storage cabinet, many propane barbecues have multiple burners to grill and cook an entire meal all in one place. Opt for an outdoor grill with large side shelves for plenty of workspace. Shelves equipped with hooks will provide easy access to barbecuing accessories.

Portable gas grills can include many convenient features such as: electronic ignition for quick and reliable start-ups, rear rotisserie burners, middle and side burners, and secure tank storage cabinets.

Pros:

Ideal for deck and patio use
Fast heating for quick weeknight dinners
Propane tanks are portable, widely available and easily refilled
Individual temperature controls regulate heat for different foods
Environmentally friendly; produces water vapor and carbon dioxide with low GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions
Small carbon footprint

TIP: Like cooking for crowds? A grilling surface of 550 to 650 square inches provides ample space for larger gatherings. Side burners are great for making side dishes and sauces.

Enjoy Uninterrupted Grilling with a Natural Gas Barbecue

If your home already has a natural gas line, this type of barbecue makes a lot of sense. A natural gas grill connects quickly and easily outside your home, and it offers a wealth of cooking and grilling options.

A natural gas barbecue is perfect for frequent grillers. Many models have patterned cast iron cooking grids that sear meats for optimal flavour. Griddle-style side burners are also often included for cooking vegetables or warming sauces.

What’s a big BBQ without bells and whistles? Some additional features to look for when buying a natural gas grill include: automatic push button igniters, multiple burners, rotisserie burners, and lighting.

Pros:

Quick start up with constant flow of fuel for uninterrupted grilling
Produces less smoke providing better air quality for family and guests
Natural gas is generally less expensive than propane
No need to refill a tank
Small carbon footprint

TIPS:

For an average size family of four, you’ll need a cooking surface of 450 to 500 square inches
Be sure to check the size of your home’s natural gas connector to ensure compatibility with the grill you purchase

Invite Wood-Fired Flavour with a Pellet Grill

Pellet grilling works by exposing wood pellets to intense heat where they combust and emit heat and smoke. An internal fan distributes the heat throughout the grill. Pellet grills need electricity to run, with digital control boards that ignite the grill and a dial that controls temperature readings.

The biggest advantage to using a pellet grill over a gas barbecue grill is that convection heating allows you to bake, roast, and smoke. That means you can cook up everything from baby back ribs to wood-fired pizza to your world-famous homemade apple pie.

Wood pellets are available in a variety of flavours, such as; alder, apple, cherry, hickory, maple, mesquite, oak and pecan. Each pellet brings its own unique accent to foods.

Go Old School with a Charcoal Barbecue

A nostalgic favourite, the charcoal grill is a must for the master griller who wants an authentic grilling experience and rich, barbecue taste. Charcoal briquettes are the standard fuel source. They’re easy to find and simple to use.

A charcoal barbecue offers an inexpensive option for on-the-go grilling. Choose a compact, tabletop model for camping trips, picnics or tailgate parties. Look for a portable charcoal grill with a no-rust aluminum vent for long-lasting durability, and ash catchers for a quick post-cook clean up. All-weather wheels will make for easy portability from beach to cottage.

Pros:

Reaches temperatures up to 370 °C
Portable design is ideal for camping or picnics in the park
Less risk of flare-ups as drippings on charcoal convert to flavour-infusing vapours

Grill in Small Spaces with an Electric Barbecue

If you live in an apartment or condo, an electric barbecue may be your only option for outdoor grilling. All you need is an electrical outlet and you can get grilling right away.

An electric barbecue heats up quickly and requires no fuel or prep time. Ideal for days when it’s too hot to use the oven, these small grills are available in many portable and space-saving tabletop models.

Pros:

• Ideal for patio or balcony grilling

• Heats up quickly and cooks food evenly

• Environmentally-friendly

• Grills everything from vegetables to meat

TIP: For 1-2 people, you’ll need about 200 square inches cooking space.

Maximize Flavour with a Smoker

When it comes to flavourful food and outdoor cooking, a BBQ smoker provides a distinctive smoky flavour to vegetables, seafood and meats.

Smokers use both heat and smoke to cook food. They are available in charcoal, gas, wood or electric models. Generally, smokers have a basin for wood chips or pellets that provide smoky flavours.

Pros:

Charcoal and wood smokers produce authentic smoky flavour
Electric and gas smokers are easier to use for beginners
Cherry wood, maple, mesquite, and charcoal offer delicious flavour options
Slow cooks meat from 3-12 hours for extreme tenderness

What About BTU’s?

The BTU (British Thermal Unit) is a common measurement to describe how much energy it takes to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by one degree (1°F).

Generally, the BTU rating on your grill indicates the maximum output of the main burners under the cooking grate. So, the higher the better, right? Not necessarily. A large, quality grill with heavy cooking grates might have a lower BTU, but if it’s better at holding and trapping heat it can cook your steak better than a cheaper grill with a higher rating.

Grills with infrared burners heat up fast and generate higher temperatures than normal grills. The BTUs should be more in the 60 to 80 BTU per square inch range.

Look for a barbecue with a snug fitting lid and heavy grill components. Grills with 80 to 100 BTUs per square inch will heat up quickly and maintain efficient cooking heat.

Barbecue Covers

A barbecue cover protects your grill and keeps it looking great through years of use. It will prevent fading due to sun exposure, and inhibit rusting due to rain. A proper cover will even stop birds and insects from making your barbecue their new home. Look for covers made from durable, water resistant materials for the best protection.

Pros:

Mesh venting in wet areas allow air flow so moisture doesn’t get trapped inside
Velcro closures provide a snug fit
Rubber handles make covers easy to remove

Tongs, Turners and Grilling Baskets

Unlike regular kitchen cooking utensils, barbecue tools are made especially for grilling. Tongs and turners have long handles to keep hands away from the hot grill. Designed to grab, flip and remove food from the grill, tongs often have convenient hooks so they can hang within easy reach.

Grilling baskets corral foods like vegetables, seafood or smaller pieces of meat that might fall through the grill slits.