From freestanding grills to full outdoor kitchen outfits, today's homeowners have unlimited options for serving it up al fresco. This stainless steel setup from Lynx Grills, Inc. includes a 36-inch professional grill with Lynx's ProSear infrared burners and a rotisserie, double side burners, a mini-fridge, a cocktail station, and convenient utility drawers for storing grill tools, towels, woodchips, and more.
Propane and natural gas-powered grills turn on easier and heat up faster than charcoal—two big reasons why they’ve become so popular. “We’re selling 85 percent gas, 15 percent charcoal,” says Scott Weber, Manager of the Barbeques Galore store in Columbia, Maryland.
Whether you’re burning charcoal or gas, it’s wise to plan backyard entertaining around “outdoor rooms.” For larger budgets, build an outdoor kitchen around a work triangle formed by the cooking area, refrigerator, and sink. Leave 36 inches of clear space around the grill and 18 to 24 inches around the sink.
If you’re not ready for a major patio makeover, use the sink and fridge in the house and leave a clear path from the grill to the kitchen door. To make your outdoor kitchen an outdoor living space, consider group seating around the grill, so the cook can interact with guests.
Since the grill will be a focal point, keep things easy on the eye. If you’re breaking away from charcoal and your house already has natural gas or propane, have a plumber bury an additional line out to the grilling area. If neither is readily available, you can buy propane in refillable 5-gallon tanks.
Courtesy Wolf
You can even work in a theme. Go with a tropical cabana bar, Western barbecue, or even something Mediterranean. Along with her husband, Renee Papavasilious of Perry Hall, Maryland planned a backyard that would remind them of Greece. Accent your outdoor room with furniture, lighting, art, and plantings.
When selecting your anchor for the space—the grill itself—think function and form. Functionally speaking, gas grills should produce 12,000 to 15,000 BTUs per burner. The burners are actually hidden below the grilling surface and are made of stainless steel or cast iron. Stainless steel burners will last longer, but you can also buy replacement burners if needed. Built-in storage and surface area is another plus. When it comes to form, grills made from stainless steel add a professional look to an outdoor space, even if you’re an amateur chef.
But the biggest decision is how big. Grills are sized by the number of burners, so get real and figure out how many people typically show up for the party. Weber says, “if it’s two or three people, you can use a two burner; four to five people, you need a four burner; and if you entertain a lot, get a five or six burner.”
If you’re cooking with gas but still crave natural wood flavoring, buy a smoker box and some wood chips. A built-in fuel gauge comes in handy when using propane tanks. Temperature gauges are also good, and if you like rotisserie chicken, get a grill with an infrared back burner.
Courtesy Viking
Maintenance can be greatly reduced by keeping the grill covered when not in use. If you go with stainless steel, use the appropriate cleaner and wipe with the grain of the metal. Keep your burners clean with a wire brush. Drip trays and prep surfaces should be cleaned as needed. Brush down the grilling surface with a grill brush after it gets hot and every time you use it.
Prices on grills range from practically nothing for a small charcoal grill to over $14,000 for a top of the line, stainless behemoth set into its own multi-compartment island. But you can get a nice, stainless, gas-powered, stand alone grill for $1,000 to $1,500. Specialty stores, department stores, home improvement stores, and hardware stores are all cashing in on the grilling craze.
Out in Perry Hall, Maryland, the Papavasiliouses are making good use of the grill they bought a year ago. Papavasilious says, “We use it a lot all year long, at least six times a month, except when it snows. We’re very happy with it, and the rotisserie chicken is amazing.”
Scott Sowers is a regular contributor to ChesapeakeHome.
Contacts:
Barbeques Galore: bbqgalore.com or 410-312-0150
Capital Cooking Equipment, Inc.: capital-cooking.com or 866-402-4600
Coleman: coleman.com or 800-835-3278
Dacor: dacor.com or 800-793-0093
Lynx Professional Grills: lynxgrills.com or 888-879-2322
Viking: vikingrange.com or 888-VIKING1
Weber: weber.com or 800-GRILLOUT
Wolf Appliance Company: wolfappliance.com or 800-332-9513
