Summer is just around the corner and you’ve promised not to embarrass yourself before your avid griller buddies. Or maybe you’re just looking for a good recipe for a good glaze to put on your ribs. I’ve got your back, my friend. After this day, you’d no longer call a barbecue a grill. And next time you’re firing up your smoker, you’d know how to put that extra oomph into that smoking hot piece of meat. Today, here at Grills Forever, we will talk about the perfect glazes for the different types of meat, charcoal grilling techniques and all that is good and holy in the world of a grillmaster.

Grilling Isn’t Barbecuing, Nor Is Smoking

There’s a prevalent misconception about grilling, even among some grill masters. They throw around the term “grilling” willy-nilly even when referring to barbecue techniques. Make no mistake, barbecuing and grilling are different. You might have been grilling for years, and might have been barbecuing for even longer; but unless you’re doing it without knowing the difference, you don’t know what you’re doing.

Obviously, if you’re at this stage and reading on advanced grilling tips and techniques, it’s safe to assume that you’ve mastered the basics and know the differences well. However, we believe that it’s better to leave all the cards on the table before we move on to sharing our more advanced techniques with you. So, let’s look at the obvious differences between Grilling, Barbecuing, and Smoking (We’re not talking about pot).

Grilling works by providing direct heat to the meat. The surface of the meat gets more exposure to the direct heat than the center or the other side. You flip your meat to get that even cooking and the perfect grill marks on either side. So, the next time you’re looking to ‘grill’, opt for grilling instead of barbecuing by keeping the lid off and cooking under open air.

Barbecuing, in turn, is a slower cooking process. You limit the airflow by putting the lid on. In doing so, you’re trapping in the heat and smoke, getting a more even cooking. If you do it right, you won’t even need to flip that steak to ensure that perfect consistency. On the downside, you might not get those perfect grill marks.

Smoking is a completely different technique altogether: You use wood chips or soaked pieces of wood to create a flavorful smoke to enhance the taste. Smoking, like barbecuing, is also done under a closed lid, but unlike barbecuing, is done under a lower temperature with a longer cooking time.

Protips for Grilling and BBQ Techniques

Expert grilling isn’t just about putting the meat on a charcoal grill and searing them till they cook. There are a lot of charcoal grilling techniques that you need to keep in mind when grilling or barbecuing:

1. Age the Meat – You can grill a piece of meat on your grill and if the cut is right, it is definitely going to come out tasting great. However, if you want to go an extra mile and really reel in the flavor, you need to get yourself some aged meat. Now, whether you like dry-aged meat or wet-aged meat is completely up to your personal preference. But we prefer that you go for an aged piece even if it weighs a little heavier on your wallet. Even if the worst comes to pass, you still can’t go wrong with a lump of well aged meat.
2. Let it Settle – If you’ve just bought the meat from the cold section or pulled it out of your fridge, let it settle. Don’t shove it into the grill cold; otherwise, you’d end up with a charred outside and a raw center when grilling. Above that, you’re going to end up shocking the meat and end up with a tough and chewy product, even if you manage to get the correct level of doneness. It’s simple: If you want the meat to retain its juices and moisture, let it come to room temperature before throwing it into the grill.
3. Estimate the Doneness – There are two ways you can know when your meat is done: First is from your experience. An experienced griller is expected to have an idea about when the meat is rare, medium rare or well-done. With experience, you will know how long you have to set the meat to cook before flipping it over. Second, you use the rule of thumb: literally. You press down your thumb on your palm and do it again on the meat to check for doneness. Refer to the image below for reference. However, the simplest and easiest way is to get yourself a meat thermometer. Why guess when you can know for sure? Just probe the meat with your thermometer and if the outer layer is hot and the center is cold, you’ve cooked it to a rare. But if the center is warm, it’s medium rare. Lastly, if the center is hot, it’s well done (although, it’s not recommended). Get a wired meat thermometer – you don’t need to keep poking the meat.



4. Get the Grill Marks – Grill Marks might seem to be only an aesthetic detail on the meat, but it serves more purpose than just making it look good. Grill marks are a sign that the meat had been allowed to cook by itself without your interference and the meat had been made to set. And in order to get those perfect grill marks, you have to ensure that you flip the meat only once. Whether it’s a burger patty or a prime-cut steak, don’t fiddle with the meat too much. If you do, not only you’re messing up the grill marks, but also running the risk of squeezing out too much of the meat’s juices. Which brings us to the final tip.
5. Retain the Juices – One cannot emphasize the importance of this enough when one is grilling. To get a perfectly grilled meat, you’re going to have to ensure that the juices stay inside. If the juices stay inside, it’s going to cook the meat from inside as well, reducing your cooking time drastically. Above that, it’s going to keep the meat tender and juicy, and when you bite into it, the flavors are just going to explode in your mouth. In order to not let the juices out, never use a meat tenderizer. That’s for beginners; we’re dealing with advanced grilling techniques for grillers’ eyes only. Don’t poke and prod your meat. Pressing down on it just to see your grill flare-up is a strict “no”. And leave your fork to yourself until the steak is on your plate, all ready to eat. And last, but not the least, salt the steak just before you grill it. Salt draws out the moisture from the meat. And when you’re barbecuing, you can’t keep opening and closing the lid every time you want to check the temperature, nor can you keep poking in and with your thermometer and leaking the juices. This is where the wired thermometer comes in handy. Just jab it in and let it sit. You can open and close the lid without interruption.

Smoking Like a Pro

There’s not much to be said about smoking that you might not already know. But if you don’t, feel free to check out our article for beginners, learn some charcoal grilling techniques and get some cooking experience under your belt, because you gotta first have skills to hone them. You should also have a clear idea on the different smoky flavors that different wood chips or chunks offer and which ones go best with which kind of meats. here is a wood chip selection guide to get the desired smoky flavor in your meat.

There are a few precautions and warnings you need to take before getting into smoking:

• Soak your wood chips beforehand and throw it into the charcoal in batches. It might seem like common knowledge at this point, but you’d be surprised at how many people ignore this step and throw them in at the same time. Soaking your wood chips for at least an hour is recommended. Soaked chips burn for longer and smoke better. And the longer the chips are soaked, the more flavor it can dissipate. However, if you’re using a pellet smoker, skip this step altogether. You don’t need to soak the pellets and the pellet smokers come with a built-in feeder tray that controls the rate at which the pellets are burned.
• Glaze the meat well. Whether you’re slow cooking a brisket or smoking a pork belly, you have to be generous with your glaze. Just glazing your meat will give you the taste you are used to and always like. But if you’re looking for that extra punch in the taste, you have to be liberal with your glaze. Brush them on at a specific frequency. If you do, even if the glaze is too charred, you’d still retain the taste and have a crisp outer layer.
• Patience is the key to get a lump of great smoked meat. Resist the temptation to remove the lid and check on the meat every now and then. Only remove it when necessary (i.e. Glazing and adding more wood chips where applicable). The less time you are spending with the lid open, the more time the meat is being smoked.

Charcoal Grilling Techniques: Few Parting Advice

Even after doing everything you can, you might end up asking yourself “Should I smoke it for an hour more?” or maybe “Is the grill hot yet?” In such cases, remember this golden rule: when the going gets tough, just wing it. Seriously, it’s that simple. Of course, there are many difficulties involved in the process of grilling and cooking, but barbecue is favored by us Americans because of its simplicity. You can put a meal on the grill and party with your friends while it cooks. Even then, we wouldn’t suggest taking it lightly and advise you to stick to the points mentioned above for the optimum taste.

When it comes to grilling, a little goes a long way.

The post Charcoal Grilling: Advanced Tips and Techniques Unveiled appeared first on Grills Forever.

Smoking is just traditional BBQ. Basically, you cook your food at low temperatures on hot coals and add in hardwood for that special smoky flavor. Whether you have a standard kettle-type grill or a smoker, setting up a charcoal grill for smoking is easy. Just follow these 6 simple steps and learn how to set up a charcoal grill for smoking.

Gather Necessary Equipment and Ingredients

Before you begin, gather all of the necessary equipment and all of your grilling ingredients so that you have them on hand. Make sure you have the right charcoal smoker for the job. Grab your coal, wood chunks, and a water pan. You’ll need these for making food.

Steps to set up a charcoal grill

Step One: Heat the Charcoal in a Chimney First

Light an entire chimney full of charcoal and divide it in half.

Step Two: Add the Charcoal to the Smoker

This step is pretty self-explanatory.

Step Three: Enhance the Smoke with Wood Chunks

You can set up a charcoal grill to get that smoky flavor by adding hardwood. Using flavored hardwood will determine what kind of smoky flavor the meat ends up with. Mesquite, oak, and hickory build a bold flavor for meats like pork and beef. For more delicate meat like chicken there are fruity flavors like apple and cherry.

Step Four: The Water Pan

Fill the water pan ¾ full with cold water and put it in the middle of your coals.

Step Five: Place the Food on the Grate

Now you can place your food on the grate, making sure it’s over the smoke area.

Step Six: Set the Lid

The lid should be positioned so that the vents are positioned above the meat.

What to Do if You Need to…

Sometimes there are special circumstances when you’re learning how to set up a charcoal grill for smoking. In order to build your confidence, here’s what to do if you need to…

• Cook for a Long Time:

  

If you need to cook for a long time on a smoker, the best way to do it is called the burn down method. Fill your charcoal bed with unlit coals and light some of the ones on top. The coals on the top will slowly light the coals on the bottom, letting the smoker cook gradually over time, making sure your food smokes thoroughly.

• Cook in a Very High Heat:

  

If you need to cook in high heat, use a hot water foil pan. It will create a moist and hot environment as well as help in maintaining the temperature by retaining heat, which prevents any drastic temperature fluctuations during grilling.

• Use a Kettle Grill:

  

If you own a kettle grill, build a charcoal snake. In order to do this, lay unlit briquettes in a single row around the grill edges. Then add two more layers over the first. Also add wood chunks or chips for additional smoky flavor. Take a foil pan with hot water and place it in the center of the briquettes.

Light 6-8 more briquettes. Pile these at the beginning of the charcoal snake. This will allow the briquettes to burn slowly and for a longer period of time. Wait a few minutes and put your meat on for grilling. If you want a longer burn, add coal to the snake’s end.

Knowing how to set up a charcoal grill for smoking is simple with these 6 easy-to-follow steps. It sure beats having to buy a smoker if you already have a charcoal grill! Just remember not to peek at your food too often or you’ll let the smoke escape. Also, get in touch with us if you need to know more or any suggestions – Grills Forever team is always there for you!

The post How to Set Up a Charcoal Grill for Smoking Just in 6 Steps appeared first on Grills Forever.

In every new occasion and festival, new ideas of gift items need to be explored. Every year the diversity of gift item makes Christmas special. Our personal favorites are wood pellet smokers but they are impractical and expensive to be considered as a gift unless you’re giving it to your husband or someone very close. But a portable smoker grill can be a unique gift for friends and family yet you don’t need to spend a lots of money. People love gift items that have utility value and a smoker is a very useful thing to have. Let Grills Forever introduce some of the best portable smokers in the market at the moment.

1. Nordic Ware 365 Indoor/Outdoor Kettle Smoker

This smoker is beautifully designed and is perfect as a gift item. With it, smoking food gets a lot easier. If anyone wants to turn their ordinary food into mouthwatering meals, he or she should have one. This item should also be a great gift and people would love to have it.

2. Masterbuilt 20073716 Portable Electric Smoker

For those who are fans of electric smokers, Masterbuilt 20073716 Portable Electric Smoker is an ideal gift. It runs on fourteen hundred watts with a couple of chrome coated racks for smoking. It is never difficult to handle. It is also portable. The display shows the temperature. For camping this should be ideal.

3. Masterbuilt Portable Gas Smoker

This is a decently designed portable smoker that can be very useful for homemade dishes. However, for camping and road trips this can be used too. It has a display for showing the temperature. The legs are foldable so it is easy to move. This should be an excellent gift item.

4. Masterbuilt 20050116 Portable Gas Smoker

This one is perfect for the fans of gas smokers. It has burner made of stainless steel that can produce up to five thousand BTU heat. Unlike other smokers, it is easy to read the temperature on this device, thanks to its clear display. The legs of the smoker are foldable, so it is portable too.

5. Char-Griller 2-2424 Table Top Charcoal Grill

This is a black smoker that has a classic design. It contains an ash pan that is removable so that the owner does not have any problem washing or cleaning it. It is basically made of heavy steel and cast iron. Similar to other Char-Griller grills it is a powerful smoker and should be an ideal gift for the hardcore grill lovers.

6. Little Chief Front Load Smoker

This one is a uniquely designed electric smoker. It comes with an instruction booklet, wood fuel. It requires more than one hundred and sixty degrees Fahrenheit to operate. It is ideal for effective grilling and smoking. The building material of the product is basically aluminum. It should be a nice gift for grill lovers.

7. Weber 711001 Smokey Mountain

This unique capsule designed portable smoker contains a built-in thermometer which allows the owner to monitor temperature. The building material is silicone grommet, so it produces high temperature inside with less fuel. IT is also rust-resistant. The total package can be an excellent gift.

SEE MORE Portable Smoker Grills ON AMAZON

The post 7 Portable Smokers You Can Gift Anyone You Care About appeared first on Grills Forever.

Any barbecuer who has been around the block would tell you that the most important thing to look for when considering to buy a grill is to decide what matters the most to you such as speed, efficiency, convenience, and flavor.

However, everything comes down to personal preference and that’s why it’s important to choose a grill that fits your lifestyle perfectly and that will make every meal an amazing one.

Types of Grills

Gas Grills

Gas grills are the most popular grills being sold in the United States. Quick to reach optimal heat temperatures and efficient liquid propane consumption makes gas grills an attractive purchase for the casual barbecuer who likes to make some burgers and ribs for a family get together or a party without putting in too much time or effort. On top of that, they cool quickly and are easy to clean. There are a lot of different variations to the types of gas grills, let’s get started.

1.Freestanding Gas Grills

Freestanding gas grills have a major advantage over your classic big grilling that they can be easily transported and moved around without extra hassle. Easy, and convenient, like an outdoor high powered microwave.

2.Built-In Gas Grills

A built-in gas grill is much smaller than a freestanding or full sized gas grill. They are designed to take up a minimal amount of space and to sit soundly on top of an island cooking base. Perfect for barbecue aficionados who are limited by space but still want to experience the pleasure of delicious home cooked barbecue food! Generally, freestanding grills are less expensive than your standard grill. The flexibility built in gas grills provide is perfect for those who are looking to design a backyard cooking space.

3.Infrared Gas Grills

Infrared gas grills work by igniting elements such as propane or natural gas in order to head ceramic tile. The benefit of this is that the heat from the grill spreads equally across the entire cooking surface, allowing users to quickly sear and prepare their foods and cook burgers, steaks, vegetables, kebabs, veggies, fish, and sausages the same way a normal gas grill can.

4.Natural gas grills

Natural gas grills have been seeing an increase in popularity during recent years. Efficient, fast, functional, and easy to use. Natural gas grills are usually powered by the same pipeline that connects the gas line that you use inside your home.

Things to be considered

• Best for:Anybody who wants some delicious and healthy grilled meat, vegetables or fish fast and conveniently made without any extra hassle during a weeknight or weekend. Perfect for anyone who wants to pop out a tasty quick burger or steak without spending too much time on grilling.
• Disadvantages:The heat from gas grills does not get as hot as charcoal grills, also consider high costs. The general consensus is that foods cooked on gas grills carries less of a “classic bbq” taste than charcoal grills.
• What to Look for:We recommend looking for a grill that has various heat sources, good propane consumption. Pay attention to the grill material – is it stainless steel? Is it thick or thin? Does the size of the grill fit within your constraints?And of course, how many burgers you can cook at the same time.
• Price range:Gas grills can cost anywhere between 100$-2,000$+ Depending on the size, type, quality, and name brand.

Charcoal Grills

Charcoal type grills are the second most popular type of grill. They require store bought charcoal to function. The coal is lit with fire and lighter fluid, and burns out over the course of a few hours. These grills are best suited for people who have a little bit more time on their hands to mess around with the whole coal process. However, after getting their hands a little dirty, barbecuers get to enjoy fine, smoky, classical barbecue food of a unique quality that’s hard to match on other grills!

1. Charcoal Kettle Grills

Charcoal Kettle Grills are much smaller than your standard sized charcoal grill, and thus are easier to transport around. Ideal for those wanting to bring that classic smoky barbecue flavor with them wherever they go. Perfect for an on the go bbq.

2. Kamado Grills

Traditionally Kamado grills were designed to be a movable type of grill. The idea for these grills originated in Japan, though it has become rather popular in the United States as of recent. Sometimes known as the Kamado style cooker. It’s recommended that lump wood charcoal be used when utilizing these grills so that the food retains its natural taste and doesn’t get contaminated with metals or charcoal residue.

3. Traditional Charcoal Grills

Aah, the traditional charcoal grill. For those seeking the ultimate flavor. Usually made with thick cast iron. These grills are heavy duty, and the quality of the food made in these is pure mouthwatering pleasure.

Things to be considered

• Best for: Those who want a little bit of extra flavor once in a while and don’t mind spending the time or getting their hands a little dirty with charcoal for those extra elements of flavor to satisfy the taste buds. Definitely for the more serious and experienced grillers out there.
• Disadvantages: Takes longer than a gas grill to get started, usually followed with a messy cleanup process. Coals can take up to 30 minutes to heat up. Difficult to keep hot in cold temperatures and heavy winds. Charcoal can sometimes cost more than propane gas.
• What to Look for: When buying a charcoal grill, it’s important to not cheap out, as this is an investment. Keep your eye out for the type of grates your grill comes with, cast iron or stainless steel are the best. Make you sure you’re ready to put in the effort to clean these grills. And remember to always have some coal on hand!
• Price range: Small portable charcoal grills are usually cheap and cost anywhere from 20$-200$. You can get a standard grill anywhere from 150$ – 1,000$+. Depending on the size, type, quality, and name brand.

Electric Grills

These types of grills are easy and simple to operate. Perfect for people who would like to use a grill indoors. Traditionally, Electric grills draw their grilling power from a 120v or 220v power source, such as a power outlet. Generally, the 120 models are usually smaller and more compact than the 220 ones. But these grills are so easy to use, its literally plug and play, perfect for an in-house bbq.

Things to be considered

• Best for:Apartment dwellers, and for those who don’t want anything to do with the inconvenience of most traditional grills. Electric grills equal plug and play.
• Disadvantages:You don’t get the traditional bbq experience. And you can’t use these grills if you don’t have an outlet or power source nearby. So forget grilling in the middle of nowhere!
• What to Look for:Look for electric grills that are easy to start up, have a timer, doesn’t hog power, and matches your price.
• Price range:Most Electric grills can be purchased for below 200$, Depending on size, type, quality, and name brand.

Wood fire Grills(Pellet grills)

Wood fire grills were the first grills ever used by man. Probably because no barbecue tastes as good as a wood fire barbecue! Usually these types of grills are sold as open grills without a good. Wood grills provide a unique smoke taste to anything that they are used to cook. It’s hard to beat that flavor.

Things to be considered

• Best for:Anyone who is interested in traditional old style grilling and bbq’ing and being a little fancy and doesn’t mind spending time to get that irreplaceable woody, smoky taste.
• Disadvantages:Takes a long time for the fire to get roaring and to burn down well enough to start cooking. However, you need to constantly keep an eye out for when you need to replenish he wood. Can be costly.
• What to Look for:Wood grills are pretty easy to pick out. Make sure it’s safe and that the flame is easily controllable. Go by something stylish and within your price range.
• Price range:A Wood grill can cost anywhere between60$-1,000$ Depending on size, type, quality, and name brand.

Ceramic Grills

Ceramic grills have been seeing a growing increase in popularity recently. They work wonders retaining optimal temperatures, the air flow on these grills is usually more limited than on others, and thus the meat comes out juicier. Perfect for maintaining steady temperatures over many hours. These grills are ideal for cooking efficiently and fast.

Things to be considered

• Best for:Barbecuer’s who like to cook large amounts of food over a long period of time without having to go through a setup process over and over.
• Disadvantages:Ceramic grills are more expensive than most other grills on the market. They also weigh a lot so they aren’t easy to move, which can be a big drawback for many users.
• What to Look for:When buying a ceramic grill, you need to look for size and thickness of the material, and figure out how much food you are going to cook at the same time to make sure that the high cost of a ceramic grill makes sense.
• Price range:Ceramic grills can cost anywhere between400$-2000$+Depending on size, type, quality, and name brand.

Portable Grills

All general grills come in a portable size. Some are actually provided with inbuilt gasoline or charcoal heat sources.

Things to be considered

• Best for:Those looking to cook on the move or anyone who simply wants a smaller grill. Ideal for beach trips, parties, and tailgating.
• Disadvantages:These grills are much smaller in size compared to their counterparts, so the surface area would be limited affecting the amount of food you can cook at the same time.
• What to Look for:It all depends on preference and the amount of bang you can get for your buck. Pay attention to material, energy consumption, and surface area.
• Price range:Portable grills can range anywhere from10$ + Depending on size, type, quality, and name brand.

What’s your style?

In the end picking a grill all comes down to personal preference and style of cooking. For those who are looking for something quick, easy, and efficient, a gas grill would be the way to go. Want to enjoy a juicy steak or burger from the comfort of your apartment? Check out electric grills. Don’t mind spending some time to get that awesome smoky flavor to your food, consider ceramic, wood, and charcoal grills. Like to travel and cook on the go? Anything portable will fulfill your bbq needs.

Final words

There’s a lot to consider when picking out the perfect grill for your needs. Approach your decision with care! Hey, and if you pick one grill and decide that you fancy another, remember, there’s no wrong in having two grills if you have enough space! In fact, the most important thing is to enjoy your food and have fun – exactly what the Grills Forever team always cares about!

The post 6 Major Types of Grills: Which One Do You Want? appeared first on Grills Forever.

Grilling is a way cooking that uses dry heat application on the food surface, from below or above it. It makes use of a large amount of direct heat, and can cook food very quickly. The temperatures while grilling can often exceed 500 degrees Fahrenheit, which gives meat a distinctive aroma and flavor. For the true grill lovers, knowing the history of charcoal grill is one way of understanding how deeply rooted grilling is in the American culture.

From 500,000 years ago

Grilling has been present in America even before the Colonial Times. It all began with the Arawak, who belonged to South America. They used to roast meat on a wooden structure referred to as Baracoa (Spanish). However, the real origins of grilling can be traced as far as 500,000 years back, when fire was domesticated. Until the 1940s, grilling was restricted to picnics and campsites. It was only post to the World War II that backyard grilling caught on.

Man had to wait a long time before he could actually enjoy what we now know as the barbecue cuisine. While there have been many different grilling techniques, a large majority of those have connections to charcoal grilling- which is rightly known as a new era in grilling. The credit for the modern charcoal grill or briquette goes to E.G. Kingsford, who was related to Henry Ford. How all of that came about is an interesting story in itself.

To the 1920s

E.G. Kingsford was not only Henry Ford’s relative, but also worked for him. He was given the task of setting up a sawmill an a plant for the Ford auto parts, in the northern Michican area. While working there, the local community witnessed a lot of growth, which was renamed Kingsford to honor him.

There, it came to his notice that the production line of the Ford Motel T were leaving behind a large quantity of wooden scraps as waste.  Ford himself was always on the lookout for new ways to mix resources. This is when he gave Ford the suggestion of setting up a facility for manufacturing charcoal next to it, and selling the charcoal at the dealerships of Ford.

The Kingsford Compay  was originally called as the Ford Iron Mountain Plant. Later on, after his death, the company was sold to a few local traders and they named it as the Kingsford Chemical Company.

From here on, other people made various models of the charcoal grill. George Stephen created ‘Sputnik’, which was a hemispherical grill, which was later sold by the brand name of Weber-Stephen Products Co whose products have been reviewed by us. In his time, Kingsford did not use just charcoal. In order to make the appearance better as well as bring down the cost, he mixed a few more things into it- such as lime for making the ash white, sodium nitrate to increase the speed of ignition and sawdust for adding that woodsy odor.

The Ford Factory stayed in operation between the years 1920 and 1951. The same area was also the site of a saw mill that manufactured lumber that was a part of various Ford automobiles, including the Model T’s steering wheel, chassis and the wheels. That particular Ford Factory is not just a historic site in context of automobiles, but also for charcoal grills.

To Present Day

At present, Kingsford being a brand of charcoal is primarily used for grilling along with a range of other related products. The Kingsford Products are still the largest charcoal manufacturer in America, having over 80% of the total market share.  Kingsford Charcoal is made using pine, charred softwoods, spruce etc, which is then mixed with other ingredients, including ground coal to form the charcoal briquette. Currently, the constituents of Kingsford Charcoal are Wood and Mineral Char, Starch, Limestone, Mineral Carbon, Sawdust and Borax.

Charcoal grilling is not the only option these days- there are a number of other grilling techniques, including gas and electric. However, charcoal grilling continues to be one of the most popular techniques. It is not only more convenient, but also cost-effective and works with a range of meats. Many believe that charcoal grills are the ‘authentic grilling machines’. Whatever your choice may be, you have to eat charcoal grilled food to experience true gourmet and our proud Grills Forever team can help you with that!

The post History of Charcoal Grill: Starting of the New Era of Smoking appeared first on Grills Forever.

If you are interested in making delicious food in your own home, then having the right equipment is something of a necessity. The market is full of appliances that can satisfy your quest for delicious food, and one such thing that you can get are home smokers and grills. Any food that is cooked through smoking is not only quite healthy, but also helps meat and fish to retain the natural flavor, since in a smoker; they are cooked by indirect heat. There are a number of methods that you can employ for smoking, but using electric smokers is amongst the more popular ones.

One of the most known names in the market when it comes to smokers is Char Broil. Char broil smokers are electric smokers, which mean that these run on electricity without any fuel requirement.  You can use Char Broil smokers not only for smoking, but also to barbecue and grill your favorite fishes and meat. These smokers work using water, which is heated to vapors that smoke the meat.

However great it may sound, you need to know the basic pros and cons of a smoker before you purchase it, and the same stands for Char Broil smokers. Let us know go ahead and see what these smokers offer and where they lack to help you make an informed choice when shopping for smoker-grills.

Advantages of Char Broil Smokers

Ease of Use

The first and the biggest advantage that you get with this range of smokers is that they are not only extremely easy to use, but are portable as well. They are ideal for grilling as well as barbecuing any fish and meat with ease. A Char Broil smoker can be used in the garden; or carried along for a delicious trip. The quality of materials used in the construction of these smokers makes them durable, and the temperature adjustment dial helps ensure that you can cook at the precise temperature that you want to get the best results.

Requires Electricity to Work

Char Broil smokers are just like any other modern equipment- they run on electricity, and not on coal or any type of fuel. This means that once you have purchased this smoker, there is no need to make any additional purchase in the form of coal or fuel to use it, for it will work great with the electricity that you get in your home. It provides a large cooking area, along with water pans to covert the water to vapor for uniformly smoking the food. This easy use helps you create delicious food for as many people as you want to prepare.

Disadvantages of Char Broil Smokers

Complicated Assembly

When you get a Char Broil smoker, it not ready to use, and there is assembly that you have to perform. The problem here is that this is not as easy for novice users, and even those who have some experience with a smoker will find this assembly to be rather complicated. The water pan that is provided with the smoker will get damaged after using the smoker for a while. While you cook in this smoker, it will be essential that you control the temperature at the right amount else you will end up with uncooked meat or a dish that is not properly cooked. The smoker has only three points to help in temperature control, which is not enough considering how precise a control of temperature is needed while smoking.

Controlling the Amount of Smoke Required

There is no doubt about the fact that controlling the smoke is very important in a smoker, but this is quite complicated in Char Broil smokers. There is no good device in this smoker that can help you to control smoke. The only way to do this is to use the lid provided with the pan. However, this lead does not make it possible for the smoke to spread evenly in every direction, which will cause you many problems as you try to cook your meals in it.

Thus, with this, the most significant of merits as well as demerits that come with Char Broil smokers have now been covered. Never let advertisements or a single factor guide you as you shop for smokers- for the right smoker-grill will give you the best for your money and last for years to come, providing perfectly cooked meat every time you use it.

With these points in mind, you will be better able to determine if a Char Broil smoker is the best choice for you, and if you should prefer it or not. When you make an informed decision while shopping for home smoker-grills, you can be assured of getting the best that your money can buy in the form of a durable smoker. Also here at Grills Forever we have thoroughly reviewed Char Broil smokers to help you choose your best fit.

The post The Good and The Bad of Char Broil Smokers appeared first on Grills Forever.

A question that often comes along for many of us “flavor enthusiasts” is: Is Gas Grill Healthier Than Charcoal?

Here at Grills Forever, we will address many of the benefits and potential health issues between the two options so you can decide which you’ll use with confidence.

Why We Love Charcoal Grills

Charcoal Grills bring a unique, rich, smoky taste to the table that is unmatchable. They are cost effective. Charcoal grills really bring the authenticity and simplicity to the event of grilling that we can all love and appreciate. I personally love watching the charcoals turn grey. Charcoal grills make for a healthy option when trying to consume less fat. The fats on meats drip away from the meat rather than soak into it if you were cooking them in a pan or skillet.

Why We Love Gas Grills

Who doesn’t love the convenience of turning a handle and clicking a button to get things going? Gas grills are quite convenient to use. You simply get them going and have knobs to change the intensity of the heat. Typically, gas grills are available in larger sizes with multiple racks which provides you with more cooking space. Meats still produce natural smoke when sizzling on the grill which does in turn enhance the flavor compared to cooking in a pan or skillet. When it comes to temperature control and overall cooking control, gas grills are usually favored.

What Are the High Temperature Cooking Problems?

HCA’s (Heterocylic Amines) are produced when proteins are cooked at very high temperatures. HCA’s have been discovered to give cancer to lab animals. There has been no study indicating the same results for humans. This gives the gas grill a huge health advantage over the charcoal grill due to the fact that you are able to have much more control over the amount of heat and flame that the foods are exposed to. With charcoal grills, it is much harder to control this and therefore leaves it at higher risk of creating more HCA’s present in the food. Gas grills are favored when it comes to temperature control.

What Are the Dangers of Charcoal?

First off, if you are using petroleum-based lighter fluid, you are adding a health risk on the spot separate from charcoal. It itself produces Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) and leaves petroleum residue on the food and in your precious lungs! The average bear does use lighter fluid in order to get their coals burning so make sure you do some research for alternative solutions to get your coal burning. You can check out electric coal starters (typically $10-20) for a healthy approach of lighting your coals. Charcoals are also a little more unpredictable when it comes to the intensity of the flame which can put you or others at harm of fire and/or risk of burn. Charcoal also produces carbon monoxide, a deadly gas if inhaled directly. Make sure to separate yourself and be in a well-ventilated area if doing charcoal grilling to further decrease health risks.

Which One is Healthier?

As it may be known that many cooks prefer to use charcoal to cook to further enhance the flavor of their feasts, it is a route that should be less traveled. To prevent some of the harmful carcinogens and HCA’s, it has been a practice to marinate your meats for 30m or longer to reduce the negative effects absorbed into the food by cooking with charcoal. It may actually reduce up to 90% of the harmful chemicals absorbed that have been told to cause cancer. 10% is still more than I’d like to play with personally. On rare occasion, charcoal is a great choice for flavor filled entrees.

Gas Grills are much more healthy. There are no known chemicals being absorbed into your foods except the equivalent risk of HCA’s (when food is cooked at high temperature). However, the temperature control on gas grills gives you the opportunity to eliminate that risk entirely. Gas grills still provide the same benefit of charcoal grills when it comes to leaving the cooked product with less fat. However, there are less physical risks and many less health risks involved when using a gas grill.

Is Gas Grill Healthier Than Charcoal?

Is Gas Grill Healthier Than Charcoal? Yes. There are certain ways to minimize the health risks involved with charcoal grilling e.g. marinating, using alternative options to ignite the coals. However, there are too many factors that make it a health risk to actively cook with charcoal. If used in moderation, it is probably just fine to grill with charcoal. If you are a grilling enthusiast, using a gas grill is essential. You provide yourself with an overall superior product, especially when it comes to your health.

The post Is Gas Grill Healthier Than Charcoal? Get the Answer Now! appeared first on Grills Forever.