Family Encyclopedia >> Home & Garden

A guide to buying a barbecue

Does summer also rhyme with plancha and grills for you? The summer season is not even showing the tip of its nose and yet I am already dreaming of very convivial barbecue evenings in my garden. I have even already ordered my device.

Fixed or mobile barbecue?

I've been using the same one for a long time. That's why this year I'm simply going to treat myself to a brand new barbecue. Only, as I have space in my garden, I hesitated a lot between a fixed or a transportable one. What's more, the idea of ​​having a fixed grill did not displease me. One of my neighbors built one near his terrace with pretty red bricks. I found the realization very aesthetic.

And insofar as work was necessary, nothing prevented me from fitting out a pizza oven. The children were delighted with this initiative. However, as soon as he listed the various constraints to be respected, not to mention any steps to take with the Town Hall, I quickly abandoned this project. For this time, it will therefore always be a transportable device.

The choice of fuel for the barbecue

Which energy is preferred? Charcoal is still the most popular with fans of this cooking method. Only the embers of this material give the smoky taste so much sought after on meats and grilled foods. In addition, these are the cheapest models on the market, since they are available at less than 50 euros for the first prices. Be careful though! This authentic flavor still comes with some inconvenience.

Already, you have to know how to light the coal. And for me, it's far from child's play, even though I've been doing it for years. But each time I also have to arm myself with a lot of patience. Indeed, half an hour is often necessary to properly heat the grill. Not to mention the cooking time which is generally long compared to other barbecue models. And do not also forget that by burning coal pollutes since it releases carbon dioxide. This gas is one of the main contributors to the greenhouse effect.

Hence my decision to replace my barbecue with a model that runs on butane or propane. To my great regret, as the weather is not suitable, I have not tried it yet. But I already know that the ignition of gas barbecues is instantaneous. The rise in temperature is also, it seems, very fast, with the possibility of adjusting the power of the lights. And above all the most important thing is the uniformity of cooking. I also opted for this type of barbecue because of its multiple functions. Mine, for example, is also equipped with a shelf that heats dishes.

As for electric grills, due to their minimal size, they are especially recommended for people living in apartments. Moreover, always with a view to saving space, models with vertical grilles are also sold on the market. Their major asset is of course the ease of handling. To prevent grease stains from becoming encrusted, it is advisable to clean the plate after each use.