What To Look For In A Portbale Charcoal Grill
If you are a true BBQ fan, one thing that is probably high on your list is to be able to grill ANYWHERE. Fortunately for you, modern technology has made it possible! Gone forever are the days where you had to lug around a heavy, bulky grill to a campsite or beachfront, or to a friend's house, just to do some grilling. Portable charcoal grills abound today, in a variety of designs and sizes. We hope the information on this page will be helpful to you in selecting your portable charcoal grill. Types of Portable Charcoal Grills The following types of charcoal grills are the most popular. We provide a description of each type, with the advantages/disadvantages of each -- The Hibachi portable charcoal grill - these models, usually constructed out of cast iron, are extremely popular with campers, beachcombers and even apartment dwellers. The compact design of these units make them perfect for those situations where you don't have much room to cook, or when you don't have much food to cook (smaller groups or couples) and don't want to fire up the big grill. Being made of cast iron, the Hibachi portable charcoal grill is almost indestructible, and clean up is a breeze. Some models have handles on the sides that allow the grill to be moved to a tabletop so the food can be served piping-hot. Downside? It's smaller size makes it impractical for serving large groups. The cart-style portable charcoal grill - these usually feature the grill on top of a 3 or 4-legged cart. The better units have wheels attached, allowing for easy movement. The cart with wheels is a great convenience, but watch out for the cheaper models - they can be poorly constructed and consequently wobble too much. The cheaper models can be downright dangerous (imagine a grill full of hot coals tipping over!). Small children must be carefully supervised when you are using any type of portable charcoal grill, or they may burn themselves or pull the grill over. Some cart-style portable charcoal grills may also be equipped with tables that can hold your food or seasonings, and fold down for travel and storage. The tripod-style portable charcoal grill - these are similar to the cart-style, but usually sit much lower to the ground, and are consequently much more stable than some other types. The tripod-style portable charcoal grill can get pretty large - 14-16-18 inches in diameter or even larger, making them great for cooking for larger groups. Which Portable Charcoal Grill Is Right For Me? Here are some things to look for when selecting a portable charcoal grill: 1. CAPACITY - will you be able to cook the amount of food you will need with this grill. Some portable charcoal grills are very small, so investigate models carefully if you will be grilling for a crowd or family. 2. CLEAN-UP - how easy is it to clean? When you are out and about, you don't want to have to take the time to do an extensive, detailed cleaning. Ideally, you should be able to just dump out the ashes and clean off the grilling surfaces. 3. CONSTRUCTION - portable charcoal grills are going to be knocked around a lot. Flimsy grills, thin metal, cheap plastic parts will mean that your portable charcoal grill will not go the distance. A compact, well-built unit is a better value than a larger-capacity unit of shoddy manufacture. Buy QUALITY. |
