Are you thinking of buying a barbecue, but don’t know how to decide which one to pick? To make it easier for you we have prepared a guide to help you choose the one that best barbecue to fit your individual needs.

Why Buy a Barbeque?

There are many benefits to buying a barbecue. Here are just a few:

• It’s a great way to liven up any meal and get the family outdoors in good weather to play and be together.
• Spending time outdoors is always beneficial for you and your family’s health and mood.
• Grilling encourages family and group activity as everyone can pitch in  to help with the meal (adult supervision is always required if small children will be around the grill).
• Barbeques are ideal for socializing with friends and family. A barbecue allows you to serve a large number of guests quickly and easily, making hosting large parties and gatherings much faster and easier.
• Barbequing is not only for beef these days, but is also great for all kinds of foods: chicken, fish, seafood, vegetables; even certain fruits, like pineapples. You can easily vary your healthy diet with delicious grilled foods.
• Used according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, they are safe and easy to use, clean and store.
• Safety is always important, especially since you are dealing with heat and flame: Read and follow ALL instructions and warnings in product manuals prior to use! 

What you Need to Know Before Buying a Barbecue

It is important to consider the different types ofbarbecues and portable barbecues that are available, their size, the type of fuel they use, durability, etc.

The two main types of barbecues are determined by their fuel : charcoal or gas.  Let’s take a look at the advantages of each type:

Charcoal Barbecues

• A portable charcoal barbecue is lightweight, and you can take it almost anywhere (Always use on a solid flat surface, per the manufacturers safety instructions, to avoid dangerous tipping, burns and fire).
• Many have extendable legs, so you can adjust the height for ease of use. Always make sure extendable legs are locked and stable before use, for better safety.
• They are made ofdurable metals designed for high temperatures.
• They are very easy to set up, use clean, maintain and store (follow manufacturer’s instructions).
• Charcoal grilling can provide its own unique special smokey flavors to  BBQ’d foods.
• To protect the grill and your family, use charcoal only – using firewood or other non-charcoal materials (like excessive amounts of lighter fluid) with open flames is against manufacturer’s safety guidelines and is dangerous to you and your family’s health. Open flame can damage the charcoal grill, reducing its strength and durability, and increases out-of-control fire risk;  It can also chip and peel the paint on the unit, causing an additional risk to children and pets. Never cover the charcoal grate more than 80% with charcoal, as this can result in restricted airflow through the grill, cause excessive heat, and can result in burns and other injuries.

Gas Barbecues

• They are verysafe and efficient (when used according to the manufacturer’s instructions), as they heat up much more quickly than charcoal BBQs
• Gas BBQs allow you to adjust the heat and intensity of the flames more closely, according to your needs (again, always make sure you are following the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines, and only responsible adults have access to the grill).
• They are easy to clean after each use. Make sure you clean your grill (charcoal or gas) between each use, as grease fires can occur if you do not properly clean grill before or after use, or if you are cooking with excess grease or oil or lighter fluid.

• Some models also have a “prep” area to cut and chop meat and vegetables before grilling
• Most models have a drip pan for easy cleaning – again, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions and clean the drip pan and grill of greases and oils after each use, to avoid food contamination or explosive fire danger.

The Model that Best Suits your Grilling Needs

Now that you know your choicesaccording to fuel type, it is time to establish your priorities when decidingon one model against another. The most frequent factors other consumers consider when choosing a grill are:

The Best Value:

Outsunny Charcoal barbecue with wheels, shelves and grill

• Its wheeled and designed to be portable, you can take almost anywhere you want.
• It has two side grills and a raised grill for management of different amounts and types of food.
• It has a lid thermometer on the lidfor easy monitoring of temperatures and better estimating of the best cooking times.
• It is made of stainless steel and metal with a durable graphite finish.

The Most Economical:

Outsunny Portable tabletop barbecue made of enameled iron and with non-slip legs

• It is quick and easy to set up on almost any firm, level surface (follow manufacturer’s directions).
• The lid has a low-slip, easy to grip handle for ease of use and safety (use as directed)
• It has a compact design for you to take it almost anywhere with ease.
• It has a built-invent with three different smoking settings.
• It ismade of durable materials and has three non-slip legs for extra stability.

The Most Popular:

Outsunny Portable charcoal barbecue with two side shelves

• It is made of high quality stainless steel, so it is corrosion-resistant and durable.
• It includes chrome grills and a drip pan for easy cooking and cleaning.
• It has two side trays for meal prep and accessories.
• It is very easy to set up almost anywhere you have a level firm surface (follow manufacturer’s directions).

FAQ

Is it better to opt for a charcoal barbecue or a gas barbecue?

It depends on your tastes. Many people like thetaste of barbecues using special charcoals (like mesquite) better. On the other hand, the gas BBQs are easy to clean and you do not have to wait long for them to reach the ideal temperature, and propane gas can be more expensive to purchase and dangerous to handle than simple charcoal (always read the manufacturer’s safety guidelines first when handling propane or using a gas grill).

BBQ Grill Maintenance

Barbecues, as a rule, don’t need a lot of difficult maintenance.  However, if you want them to stay in good condition longer, you will want to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines and suggestions, as well as these tips:

• Store it in a clean anddry area to minimize corrosion and damage to any paint or enamel.
• Periodically check thescrews and fasteners to make sure they remain tight and secure.
• Check that the finish is still in good condition. You can minimize corrosion with metal sanders and enamel paint.
• If it is agas barbecue, always check thecondition of all hoses, connections, gaskets and burners on a regular basis, following the manufacturer’s guidelines. Replace them if they have cracked, corroded or come loose.
• If you are putting your grill away for the season, you will want to put a manufacturer-recommended cover on it, to minimize possible corrosion, and keep dangerous dirt, debris and animals out of the grill.