Outdoor Grills – Stainless Is Not Always Best

Today’s outdoor grills are better than ever before. The use of stainless steel is commonplace, and this not only improves the look, but adds to the grills overall longevity. There is no arguing that stainless steel will hold up better than almost anything in and outdoor environment. It is used extensively for hardware and fittings on the finest boats due to its resistance to rust and corrosion.

Your barbeque grill is the perfect candidate for stainless steel. It sits outside all year long, and is exposed to high temperatures when cooking. Baked on food residue is also fairly easy to remove from stainless surfaces. Though corrosion resistance and ease of maintenance are important factors, they do not determine how effective a grill is at actually cooking food. For that we must look beyond the obvious advantages of stainless steel, and concentrate on the characteristics that make a grill perform.

For optimal cooking performance the grilling surface (grates) should radiate heat evenly minimizing any hot spots. As a general rule, the thicker the grills are the more evenly they will give off heat, and the longer they will radiate that heat. Although stainless steel is adequate, the best type of grilling surface has proven to be cast iron. Although it takes a little longer for cast iron to heat up, grills made of cast iron will retain the heat for longer periods, and radiate that heat more evenly than stainless steel. The problem with cast iron vs. stainless steel is that cast iron grills will eventually rust and need replacement. This problem is minimized by the use of porcelain and ceramic coatings that have been developed to protect the grills, making them last longer and be easier to clean.

At first glance you may be fooled into believing that the more stainless steel a barbeque grill has the better, but as is so often the case, too much of a good thing does not necessarily make it any better. Although stainless may be the best choice for some of the grill’s components, it may not be the best material for everything. Striking a balance between performance and longevity will assure that you get the most from your barbeque grill. Keep in mind that the grills (cooking grates) are the least expensive and most easily replaced parts of a barbeque. They are also the only components to actually touch the food, and have a profound impact on the overall quality of the cooking experience.

Continue reading...

Gas Grill Parts

If you've got a grill and you use it well then eventually you are going to be in the market for some gas grill parts. As with any product that gets regular use things wear out. When it comes to replacement parts the sky is the limit especially online.

So whether you need parts for a Weber, Charmglow, Coleman, Ducane, Fiesta, Sear, Sunbeam, Thermos, or Charbroil grill you can find a great selection online. And you can save a bundle of money too.

There are a variety of parts you may need to replace starting with:

1. Warming Racks
Warming rack sizes vary depending on the grill you have. They are also available with a stainless or porcelain finish.

2. Burners
Most modern grills have at least one side burner. Some have more. Eventually you will need to replace these burners. You can find all the brands and sizes online with little trouble.

3. Plumbing Parts
There are all kinds of gas lines and hoses on your grill. You should be checking these regularly for brittleness or wear. Replace as needed.

4. Cooking Grids
How long your grid lasts will depend on how much use it gets and how well it is maintained. There are two popular finishes for grills - stainless and porcelain. You can purchase all makes and models online.

5. Rocks and Briquettes
Some grills use rocks and briquettes while others do not. If your grill does it's a good idea to replace them every couple of years. They are very cheap so replacing them every season won't hurt your pocket book.

6. Igniters
Chances are all of you at one time have had an automatic igniter fail. It's very common and it's also very easy to replace but make sure you buy the correct one for your grill.

7. Rotisseries
Although these seldom wear out you can replace them if the need arises and you can also add them to many different grill styles as an accessory.

8. Nuts, Bolts, Casters, Other Parts
Your grill is made up of a variety of small parts that might break or corrode and need replacement. A quick search online and you'll have not problem finding those replacement parts. It's important that you correctly match these parts for size and material.

When it comes to gas grill parts the online selection is vast and the prices varied so do a quick search and you'll certainly find what you need.

Continue reading...