Barbecue, an indispensable part of hot summer days and joyful moments, is one of the best ways to have fun with delicious food with your loved ones. Because it is an activity with a high social aspect. Whether you come together with your family or friends, barbecuing brings people together and offers amazing tastes. Therefore, the barbecue you will use at your picnics and barbecue parties should not let you down. Barbecue is actually the process of cooking meat, chicken, fish and vegetables directly over a fire or on a grill. This event, which is usually held in the garden, on the terrace or in picnic areas, can also become a social activity. However, “barbecue” is a term used not only for the cooking process but also for the cooker. Therefore, when we talk about barbecue, we commonly refer to devices that allow grilling over fire. Here are the barbecue models and tips you can use in choosing them!
What Are Barbecue Models?
Barbecue adds a distinctive smoky and ember flavor to foods. The slow cooking method ensures that meat and vegetables are cooked from the inside out, so that the food maintains its flavor and moisture balance. The fire of the charcoal and the texture of the grill leave a nice line on the food, making the food look visually appealing. Therefore, to prepare such delicious food, you need to choose your barbecue correctly. Before choosing a barbecue, it is important to learn about their types and what features they have. Here are the barbecue models to choose from!
Portable Barbecues
Portable barbecue can be easily transported and used in different places thanks to its light-compact design. This type of barbecue is usually designed for use on picnics, camping, beach trips, balconies or gardens. Portable barbecues are an ideal option for those who want to cook outdoors. It can run on different types of fuel such as coal, cylinder or electricity. Thus, you can decide on the type of fuel, taking into account the area where you will use the barbecue.
Charcoal Barbecues
Charcoal barbecue is the most classic model, it is the type of barbecue that cooks food using natural charcoal or special charcoal. These types of barbecues are very popular among those who love to cook outdoors, offering a traditional barbecue experience. A charcoal barbecue helps you cook food deliciously with the warmth created by the charcoal fire and embers. However, it is a much faster cooking method compared to stovetops. Because coal is a type of fuel that can reach high temperatures and maintain this temperature for a long time. Therefore, charcoal barbecues can grill quickly – effectively.
Gas Barbecues
A gas barbecue is a type of barbecue that cooks food using liquid gas (usually propane or butane) fuel. These types of barbecues cook food with the flame and heat created by the combustion of gas. Gas barbecues are one of the popular options due to their advantages such as fast heating, precise temperature control, and ease of use. Because it usually has adjustable heat controls. Thus, it allows you to precisely adjust the cooking temperature and use different cooking methods. Additionally, thanks to its grill zones with different temperatures, it is ideal for cooking meat and vegetables at the same time. It can also be preferred for indoor use, as many have smoke propulsion pipes.
Electric Barbecues
Electric barbecue, as the name suggests, is a type of barbecue that cooks food using electrical energy. These types of barbecues carry out the heating – grilling processes through electrical resistances or heating elements. Electric barbecues, just like gas models, are designed to be used in different areas such as indoors or outdoors and offer easy-to-use advantages. However, since it does not use gas or coal fuel, it provides a cleaner and more organized grilling experience. It is known as the most sustainable barbecue model as you can cook food without creating smoke, ash or flame. Since there is no ignition process like coal, it can heat up immediately and save time.
Hybrid Barbecues
A hybrid barbecue offers a versatile cooking experience by combining different types of fuel. These types of barbecues allow you to combine various cooking options, often using different combinations such as charcoal – gas fuel. In short, you can use various cooking methods such as gas and fast grilling, as well as traditional methods such as slow cooking with coal, smoking or cooking on embers. Therefore, you can benefit from the advantages of both fuels and barbecue whenever and wherever you want. However, hybrid barbecues come in a variety of sizes, usually chosen according to the number of people. Additionally, thanks to its various surfaces, it helps you cook at both high and low temperatures.
Ceramic Barbecues
Ceramic barbecue has a ceramic or porcelain coated structure that is resistant to high temperatures. It is also often called “Kamado Grill”. Because it was inspired by “kamado”, a traditional Japanese cooking method. Ceramic barbecues are preferred due to their advantages such as high heat capacity, long-term and different cooking methods. It is often used with natural fuel types such as natural charcoal or wood pellets. In addition to the grill section, it may have different features such as a smoking rack, cooking stone, and heat distributor. Thus, it provides variety to try different methods.
Vertical Barbecues
A vertical barbecue is one in which food is placed vertically and cooking from the bottom up. So it uses the method of cooking meat or other food by attaching it to skewers or a special vertical rack. Vertical barbecue offers a different approach than traditional horizontal grill systems, it is especially preferred for cooking certain specific foods (such as shish kebab) to perfection. Its vertical position ensures that food is cooked evenly on all sides. In this way, both inner and outer surfaces of meat and vegetables can be cooked homogeneously. This cooking method can allow you to obtain different flavors.
What to Consider When Choosing a Barbecue?
Barbecue is an unforgettable event that combines taste, social experience and enjoyment in the open air. This tradition, which offers a fun cooking experience, also brings people together and allows pleasant memories to be shared. Enjoying the barbecue in the spring and summer months is the beginning of unforgettable memories for families and friends. However, the barbecue offers a large surface for cooking various foods.
You can create your own unique recipes by experimenting with meats, chicken, fish and vegetables, as well as marinades, sauces and spices. This gives you the opportunity to showcase your creativity outside of the kitchen. Because of all this, choosing the best barbecue for you may not be as easy as it seems. However, you can use the tips below to guide you in choosing a barbecue and get one step closer to having fun and crowded barbecue parties.
Size is at the top of the list of things to consider when choosing a barbecue. The reason for this is that barbecues are produced in many different sizes and these sizes are directly proportional to the number of people you want to barbecue. Because every barbecue has a limited cooking surface and the amount of meat cooked at one time may not be enough for the number of people. For this reason, if you usually organize crowded barbecue parties, it is recommended to purchase a large barbecue.
The area where you will use the barbecue is also an important factor in choosing the size. Because, while you can freely choose the barbecue you will use in your garden, the dimensions of the barbecue you will use in a more limited area such as a balcony or terrace are more or less certain. Therefore, it is important to choose a barbecue model that is the right size for your available space.
Barbecues generally work with coal, gas and electricity. You need to decide which type suits you better. For this, you can consider cooking speeds and taste. Because while charcoal barbecues offer delicious ember aroma, gas barbecues provide fast heating and ease of use.
Deciding what type of food and cooking methods you will use is also important when choosing a barbecue. You can choose from barbecues that offer methods such as grilling, smoking and slow cooking.
The ability to adjust and control the temperature during cooking is also very useful. Choosing a barbecue model that offers precise heat control helps meet your different cooking needs. Therefore, these features found in electric and gas options may be more useful for you. However, advanced coal models also have a thermostat, allowing you to control the heat manually. If you do not want to give up the taste of charcoal, you can also take a look at these models.
The structure, material of the barbecue affects its service life. Therefore, it is recommended that you check the environmental conditions you will use and the materials of the parts of the barbecue. Materials such as stainless steel, cast iron, or durable ceramic generally last longer. However, you can continue to use your barbecue for a longer time with a good waterproof barbecue cover that provides UV protection and can protect the barbecue at very high and low temperatures.
Another issue to consider when choosing a barbecue is ease of maintenance and cleaning. Especially cleaning and maintenance of cooking surfaces should be effortless. Features such as removable grates and grease collector trays make cleaning easy. Therefore, you can choose a barbecue by browsing its additional features.
Accessories that come with the barbecue or can be purchased separately may also influence your choice. For example, extra accessories such as side tables, shelves, special grill accessories can increase functionality. However, if your favorite barbecues do not have these features, you can create your own set by purchasing them externally.
Another criterion to consider when choosing a barbecue is the budget. Because barbecue prices can vary greatly. For this reason, you can first determine your budget and find the most suitable option for your needs.
