Charcoal Grill: Selection Criteria

Cooking on charcoal is the most ancient way of cooking. It was used by our ancient ancestors. Juicy steaks and fragrant kebabs, baked vegetables and fish are considered to be delicious dishes. And in order to cook them properly, you should pay attention to the charcoal grill.

Almost every person has tried food cooked on a homemade grill (grill), whether it's juicy chicken, barbecue or non-calorie vegetables. And surely everyone knows that it is impossible to imitate the aroma with which foods are being consumed while cooking on coals. Coal grill is a unique unit in the field of cooking, which has not been replaced yet.

The main feature of food cooked on the charcoal grill is the aroma - the aroma of the fire, giving the dishes a special, unique smell and taste.The process of cooking on a charcoal grill itself can be called "delicious." It can also be used as a stove or tandyr - a roasting-stove, especially common in indigenous peoples of Asia.

Properly selected grill retains heat for several hours, which also saves coal consumption. Due to the rapid warm-up (20-30 minutes), the cooking process is reduced by almost 2-3 times. Do not forget that on the coal grill you can not only fry food, but also smoke.

In addition to coal, there are two more types of grills - electric and gas. Coal option, in addition to the unique flavor, has several advantages. For example, unlike electric, it can be used anywhere, since it is not tied to a power network. He is both street and home. It is several times smaller and more compact than its gas counterpart, it does not need gas cylinders that run a gas grill.

Grills are traditionally divided into coal, gas and electric.Each of these species is additionally divided into several subspecies. So, among the coal options there are several types:

• Tuscan grill. One of the easiest and easiest to use grills. The classic version is represented by a simple sturdy metal grill, which is put on fire. It can even be used in a fireplace or on an open fire, on a fire with burnt embers. There are some modifications of a similar grill, for example, with a double lattice or loops, various nozzles.

• Hibachi. This is a traditional Japanese grill, so popular that its modifications are used not only by Asian people. This is a very compact model, which is a solid metal firebox. The product is equipped with metal bars, under which the coals are located, and ventilation from the bottom. Grilles can be raised and lowered, changing the level of power and temperature, which contributes to the manual setting of the grill.

• Grill boiler. This option is not complicated, and simplicity in the case of a grill is always a plus. It is very easy to use such a device - coals are poured out on its bottom, and products are placed on the top grid. The fire does not go out due to the high walls, temperature control is done through ventilation, and the dome-shaped lid allows you to use this model as a smokehouse.

• Ceramic stove. It has a different name - ceramic grill smoker. This version appeared on the market in 1974, and is somewhat similar to the symbiosis of a ceramic coal grill and hibachi. The ceramic furnace consists of a fire chamber, a lattice and a cover in the form of a dome. It is economical - ceramic walls retain heat so well that coal needs very little. The temperature is controlled by ventilation holes at the bottom and top, and a tight-fitting lid keeps moisture and steam inside, allowing food to absorb them as much as possible.

• Table grill. This is a grill that is shaped and sized like a rectangular table with a box for coal. It is equipped with adjustable grids, which allows you to adjust the heat by raising or lowering the working surface (the processoccurs due to lifting mechanisms).

And according to the method of transportation, there are several types of coal grill:

• Stationary. Such a grill is installed at a certain place, it can not be transferred. As a rule, it has a medium or large size, a reclining lid, is placed on the veranda and, together with worktops, forms the whole kitchen set.
• Mobile or portable. This option is equipped with wheels or other equipment that allows you to move it from place to place. Dimensions of such models are not the biggest, often they also tend to fold. The beauty of this grill is that you can take it with you to the forest or to a picnic, which is very convenient.

There is a huge variety of coal grills on the world market, but most of them are made from three materials - steel, cast iron and ceramics. For example, ceramic grills are recognized by renowned chefs. They are lighter than their fellows by weight, warm up well and keep warm, and the food does not burn on them - they are easier to wash, since pieces of food do not get stuck on them.

In addition to the body, the grill has another important part - the grill. It can be made of cast iron or steel, including stainless. Cast iron grates are famous for the fact that they can withstand high temperatures without deformation, they are also durable and environmentally friendly, but also weigh more than their fellows.

The size of the coal grill depends on its purpose. Grills are traditionally divided into large, medium and small.

Large coal grills are suitable for people who often gather large groups of people, like to organize parties, meetings, or simply prefer to eat large portions. Such grills make it easy to cook large amounts of food (for 15-30 people). They are also often used in restaurants and cafes with high attendance.

Medium grills are the best option for a traditional family of parents and two children. Such models are most often chosen for home use.

Small grills are an ideal way out if there is not enough free space, but sometimes you want to make a kebab or steak. Such models can even be located on the veranda of a summer house or an apartment’s balcony They are suitable for cooking 1-2 servings of delicious meat or vegetables.

Production does not stand still. Coal grills are constantly undergoing changes aimed at improving them. The design sphere is also not lagging behind - the forms and appearance of many coal grills are so strikingly different that each customer will find something to his taste.

The question of choosing a manufacturer is always relevant. Most buyers want to save, and grills of proven brands often cost a lot of money. Therefore, it is necessary to choose between price and quality. After all, the cheapest unit made in China may stop working after a couple of uses,and even a little money in this case will be thrown to the wind.

Perhaps, when choosing a coal grill, you need to rely on the brand's fame. After all, popularity is gained not by advertising and marketing, but by customer reviews and their experience in using the technology of a particular company. Leading manufacturers have a guarantee - sometimes even a lifetime warranty, and the stores where they are sold, for 1-3 years, undertake to perform free repair or replacement of a product that has failed.

Among the popular and proven manufacturers of coal grills are several companies:

• Big green egg - This is a unique brand from the USA, famous for its egg-shaped ceramic grills, which are used even by famous chefs, owners of Michelin stars. In addition to egg-shaped grills, the company produces models and other forms, as well as various kitchen accessories and accessories for the grill - covers, thermometers, cleaning brushes, dishes - made of aluminum, cast iron, stainless steel and ceramics. The cheapest coal grill will cost 67–70 thousand rubles, and the expensive one - under half a million.

• Broil King. This company produces stainless steel grills and accessories.The most inexpensive representative of the line of this family is Porta-Chef 120which costs about 30 thousand rubles. The most expensive model is Imperial xlwhich cost is about 300 thousand rubles. The grills of this company are equipped with precise temperature control, there is a mode of roasting, roasting and stewing dishes, and the patented burner with the “tube in tube” design ensures uniform roasting.

• Weber - This is a budget option in comparison with the above companies. The cheapest grill can be purchased for 8 thousand, expensive - for 200 thousand rubles. The models of this company are made of steel, the grilles are made of stainless or chrome steel. Handles are heat resistant. Some more expensive models come complete with folding table-tops, as well as equipped with a porcelain coating, have wheels for movement. The legs at the grill are foldable, which positively affects their portability.

• CMI. The grills of this brand are made of cast iron. They are presented by mobile models with a cover on wheels. The kit also comes with a temperature sensor. CMI is a well-known representative of the budget segment.

When it comes to the shape of the grill, most often experts advise choosing the ovoid or rounded shape. Due to their shape, they retain heat longer, as well as cost less, they look neater, they can even become an additional art object. Due to the pronounced effect of preserving heat, they can be used with equal success as a smokehouse, as a bread maker, and as a pan for cooking borscht or pilau. You can cook any type of food in them, starting with meat and fish and ending with baking.

When choosing a grill, be sure to determine what will be prepared in it in the future. The choice of the thermal mode of the device depends on it. For example, for sausages or vegetables, a power of 180 ° C is sufficient. But for cooking kebabs and steaks the temperature should be higher. The best option would be a model with a temperature controller or with adjustable grid height. The temperature in such a simple way will be regulated by itself, and it is not necessary to flood the coals with water to lower the temperature. Portable models are ideal not only for the house, but also for the apartment.

Every buyer pays great attention to the price, which depends on the quality, size and manufacturer. So, small models of unknown manufacturers can cost about 5 thousand rubles, but they will last for a very short period. Often it is with such grills that a number of dangerous breakdowns occur, since they are made of fragile material, they are difficult to clean, and coal can flare up and not only spoil food, but also undermine peace of mind.

Grills of the average price can be purchased from 30 thousand rubles and above. In this category, you can find a quality unit. Most manufacturers produce grills in the middle price segment, so everyone is trying to please the buyer, to improve his particular product. As a result, today there is a huge selection of various models.

Premium charcoal grills are models of famous brands, mainly from ceramics. Each of which is characterized by a long service life, after all, well-known companies value their reputation.

Do not forget about the accessories that can diversify and facilitate the process of cooking.Among them are the wheels, and the spit for chicken or shawarma, and various nozzles. To protect the grill from the weather will need a cover, and for cleaning - a brush with a hard metal pile. And for the most comfortable cooking process you will definitely need gloves, paddles or tongs, as well as coal.

How to kindle a coal grill, look in the following video.