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It’s finally the weekend – and the sun is shining. You want to enjoy a “little vacation in between” with juicy steaks, sausages, grilled vegetables and baked potatoes. You prepare your BBQ’s grill and spontaneously invite a few friends and family to your house. Luckily, there is still enough coal to use your charcoal grill. Gas or electric grills are also available in various sizes and with different additional functions. You can find out which grill is right for you in the following buying guide.

Grilling is not just about socializing with friends or family in a relaxed atmosphere, it is also healthy because grilling creates high temperatures that quickly close the pores of the food being grilled. This creates a nice crust and the meat stays juicy. The excess fat is released, so grilled meat dishes have fewer calories than fried ones. Thanks to the roasting substances that form and provide the typical grilled aroma, fish, meat and vegetables also taste particularly delicious.

The different types of BBQ’s grills

Grills come in many sizes and designs. The following overview provides information about the features and characteristics.

Picnic grill

A picnic grill is a light grill that you can take with you to the beach or the lake, for example. There are round or rectangular metal grill buckets in different colors into which the charcoal is filled.

Stand grill

A stand-alone grill is usually round and stands on three or four legs. A windshield also acts as a grill rack holder. In most types of grills designed for charcoal, the height-adjustable grill rack is located above a bowl for the coal. Alternatively, there are also electric grills and gas grills with legs. Higher-quality models also have shelves between the legs and two wheels so that you can easily change location. These devices are also called grill carts.

Fireplace grill

A chimney or column grill stands on a thick, hollow column with an extra-wide base for stability. A height-adjustable grate and wind protection plates are standard. The grate is round, square or oval, depending on the model. The ash falls into a box and can therefore be easily disposed of. Chimney grills are designed for coal , the column has adjustable ventilation flaps at the bottom and thus creates a chimney effect as soon as the coal burns in the grill bowl. The grill temperature can also be regulated by opening and closing the flaps.

Kettle grill

This grill shape looks like a ball on three legs, the actual grill consists of two hemispheres. In a charcoal grill, the lower hemisphere contains the height-adjustable grate, the container for the coal and ventilation flaps for a slight chimney effect. Alternatively, there are electric grills in the shape of a ball. In all models, the upper half of the ball acts as a lid, which contains ventilation slots and, in higher-quality models, a thermometer.

Tip: A kettle grill is suitable for indirect grilling with the lid closed, where the lid reflects the heat and creates an oven effect.

Smokers

A smoker is a mixture of a kettle grill and a smokehouse and produces a special aroma . Thanks to a generous grill area of up to 97.5 x 44 cm in the main combustion chamber, it is suitable for extensive BBQs with large quantities of meat. Smokers are usually made of solid steel and cast iron, so they can weigh up to 150 kg. Thanks to large wheels, you can still move them.

Swivel grill

A swivel grill is reminiscent of the original form of grilling. The grill grate hangs on a chain over a bowl of coal or over an open fire. The bowl can be used for a campfire without a grill grate. The height-adjustable grill grate has a diameter of 47 to 57 cm. With some models, you can swing the swivel arm to the side of the coal pan as soon as the food is cooked, so that everyone can help themselves without getting too close to the coals.

Table grill

Table grills are kitchen appliances that can be placed on the table due to their compact design. There are rectangular and round versions. Electric table grills are very common and can also be used indoors, even in bad weather. You can also choose from gas and charcoal models that you can use when traveling, in the park, in the garden or on the balcony. Models with a larger grill grate can be upgraded to a freestanding grill with a stable base.

Electric grill

Electric grills run on electricity and require a power outlet to operate. This means that they do not produce any smoke. The range extends from small grills for one or two people to contact and teppanyaki grills and larger devices with two independent grill plates for preparing meat, fish or vegetables at the same time. There are also many freestanding grills with a large grill surface and a hemispherical lid for indirect grilling.

Gas grill

Gas grills usually consist of a grate and a base in which the gas bottle or, in the case of table grills, the gas cartridge is stored. They are equipped with two to eight main burners and up to two side burners for keeping sauces and side dishes warm. The storage areas on both sides are also typical. Table grills and compact freestanding devices are around 65 cm wide, powerful devices with many burners for larger grilling groups are up to 2.25 m wide and equipped with base cabinets. All models have a lid and are easy to operate like a gas stove.

What you should look out for in your grill

When buying a grill, in addition to the type of heating such as coal, gas or electricity, other criteria such as size, material, range of functions and accessories also play an important role. Below you will find an overview of the most important features.

Size of grill grate or grill plates

There are grills for singles, for families or for large parties. Small contact grills or picnic grills with a grilling surface of 300 to 400 cm² usually offer space for two steaks or four small sausages. Table models and small electric grills have a surface area of around 900 cm² – so you can grill for up to four people. Standing and kettle grills have surfaces of 2,000 to around 3,000 cm² , so there is space for up to six people to grill at the same time. For large parties with up to 20 people, devices with a grilling surface of around 5,000 cm² are suitable, i.e. either large gas grills with at least three burners, side burners and warming rack, powerful smokers or particularly large charcoal grills. 

Tip: If you regularly grill with friends or family, choose a larger device. This way you have more space for different grilled foods, you can experiment with new foods and all guests can enjoy their meal at the same time.

material

Grills that use charcoal or gas have a metal housing and grates. Chimney models also have weatherproof casings made of steel-reinforced concrete or clay. Powerful devices such as gas grills or smokers, which generate temperatures of up to 850° C, are made of steel. Electric grills are equipped with metal grates or grill plates made of ceramic or non-stick cast aluminum. Their housing is made of either stainless steel or robust plastic.

Ease of use

Charcoal and gas grills as well as smokers often have individual temperature controls, thermostats and temperature sensors. Other convenient features include warming racks and work and storage surfaces. Many electric grills allow you to set the grill temperature individually. Some grills have a sensor that automatically regulates the grilling time and temperature based on the thickness or type of food being grilled.

Which grill is right for you?

When buying a grill, it’s not just your taste that matters. Also important are ease of use and the right features and size of the device. You should also think in advance about what fuel the new device should use.

The original barbecue pleasure

Many people enjoy grilling outdoors with a charcoal grill. The time required to heat up and cool down the coal is part of the ritual. Even if the charcoal itself doesn’t give off any flavor, the typical grill smell is created when grilling, which gives sausages and steaks their unmistakable aroma. Grilling with charcoal doesn’t require a lot of technology. You can choose from compact and mobile models, kettle grills for direct and indirect grilling, and garden fireplaces that you can also use to bake, smoke or smoke pizza.

Charcoal-based picnic grills are available from €10, folding or collapsible models for camping trips including tenting are available from €45. From a price of €35 you can get a round or kettle grill heated with charcoal with a diameter of 40 cm. Generously equipped models with a thermometer, additional storage space, a charcoal capacity of up to 2.4 kg and a grill area of around 54 cm in diameter are available from €100. For swivel grills.

Grill quickly and conveniently

For anyone who wants to get things done as quickly as possible but still wants to grill over an open fire, gas grills are a good choice. All you need is a gas connection or gas bottles and the grilling fun can begin. The devices are as easy to use as a gas stove. The temperature is easy to regulate and remains constant. There is no smoke when grilling and the devices are easy to clean after eating.

Compact models with a width of up to 120 cm cost between €100 and €400, depending on the features. Prices for powerful grills with up to eight main burners, a particularly large grill surface and many extras start at around €1,000. Mobile gas grills that can also be used as a stand-alone grill are available.

Grill safely indoors and outdoors

If you don’t want to deal with gas or coal when grilling, electric grills are the right choice for you. With these devices, the energy comes from the socket. The electricity activates the heating elements under a metal plate or the grill grate and thus provides the necessary heat. Electric grills are safe to use because you do n’t have to deal with flammable materials and are ready for use immediately after being connected to the power grid. Since they don’t produce any annoying smoke, you can also use them on the balcony and in the house. Electric grills are available in various formats, so that depending on the model, you can also prepare Asian delicacies on teppanyaki plates and panini, burgers or steaks in the contact grill to perfection. Many types of grills can also be stored very space-savingly.

Compact table grills with removable grill grates and heating elements for easy cleaning are available from €20. Contact grills with a movable top plate that you can adjust to the height of the food you are grilling, or foldable models that offer twice the grilling surface as a table grill, are available from €40. Height-adjustable contact grills with various cooking programs and a larger grilling surface for up to eight people are available.

Cleaning and care

To ensure that you can enjoy your grill for a long time, the device should be cleaned every time after grilling. Here are a few tips:

• The drip trays in electric or gas grills, as well as the grill plates, are usually removable and can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
• After the grill has cooled down, crusts on the grate can be removed with a damp cloth and some grill ash.
• For particularly stubborn residues, wrap the grate in damp newspaper overnight and remove the last residues with oven or grill cleaner.
• If the gas grill gets splashed despite using a drip tray, heat it up to the highest setting and wait until all the grease has burned off. The soot can be removed with a brush.
• You can clean the storage areas and the outside of the grills with a damp cloth and a little washing-up liquid. Please also read the manufacturer’s instructions.

Tip: If the grill is to remain outdoors for the entire grilling season, it is worth buying suitable protective covers or covers as grill accessories that protect the grill and the gas bottles from dust and rain.

Conclusion: Enjoy the summer in good company

Whether you’re having a picnic in the park, in your own garden or on the balcony: summer is barbecue time. Choosing a barbecue depends not only on personal preferences, but also on the type of food you want to grill and how often and where you want to use the barbecue. Here are some tips to help you make your purchase decision.

• Original charcoal: For two people, charcoal grills with a small grill surface are suitable, for four to six people, swivel or kettle grills starting at around €40 are suitable and for parties, large and well-equipped stand grills.
• Comfortable heating: If you want to grill over an open fire but without charcoal, choose a gas grill. Compact devices that can be used on the balcony, for example, cost €100 to €400, while large-format models with up to eight burners are available.
• Clean and safe: If you don’t want to use coal or gas, you can use an electric grill – even indoors if necessary. Space-saving models for small households are available, while powerful stand-alone and contact grills with a large grill surface and various cooking programs.