In order for grilling to become the most beloved hobby, it is important to choose a grill that allows you to enjoy both the process itself and the result.
Time to explore the grill and understand its anatomy: porcelain enameled cast iron grill, side burner, infrared burner, grease collection system, inner grill plates - these are not just technical terms. These are parts that every self-respecting grilling enthusiast should know!
Grill grills: four types
There are generally four types of grills: chrome steel, cast iron, porcelain enameled cast iron grills, and grills made of stainless steel. What makes these grills different from each other?
Chrome steel cooking grates are usually thin, made from 3-4mm diameter steel bars. The thin grill does not store much energy, so it cools down quickly after placing the grill. Chrome-plated grills are not long-lasting, and when the chrome surface is worn, it can rust.
A thick cast iron grill is a better choice. They store much more energy, they don't cool down suddenly when cooking - which means that food cooks much more efficiently.
Thick cast-iron cooking grates coated with porcelain enamel have additional protection against environmental influences, i.e. i.e. it doesn't rust like regular cast iron grills, but it can start to rust as the porcelain enamel layer wears away. Simple cast-iron grates require more maintenance and after cleaning with a metal brush, it is advisable to soak them in oil, which thickens in the heat and forms a protective layer against environmental influences and at the same time creates a non-stick surface.
The best choice is a thick, stainless steel grill. Typically, such stainless steel grills are made from 7.5-9.5 mm diameter stainless steel solid, environmentally resistant rods, i.e. i.e. they never rust and have no intermediate joints in the middle of the cooking area where food or fat residue can collect and burn.
The stainless steel, thick, one-piece grill grill makes maintenance much easier, because the cleaning instruments do not get stuck anywhere, and this type of grill is not at all afraid of frequent and intensive cleaning with coarse metal brushes.
All types of grills should be coated with heat-resistant oil or special "Non-stick" products to prevent the food from sticking.
Grill with GBS system
You like food from different cuisines of the world and often consider cooking a Chinese wok for lunch teriyaki sauce or seafood and don't shy away from improvising? You must buy a grill with GBS system grates!
GBS is it Gourmet BBQ System grill with removable inner part of the grill. You can apply various to this grill GBS supplements, such as a wok, a pizza stone, a chicken roaster and thus expand the possibilities of grilling and cooking to... infinity!
GBS system grills can be made of cast iron or stainless steel.
Sizzle Zone and Rotisserie: Additional infrared gas burners
When it comes to Napoleon brand gas grills, you should check out the infrared side or internal Sizzle Zone and infrared horizontal Rotisserie burners.
The Sizzle Zone Burner is a lifesaver for those who love their gourmet medium rare, well done or raw beef steak, but no longer want to dine at fancy restaurants - their garden or patio and their new hobby - grilling is much more appealing!
Conventional gas burners reach temperatures of 400-600°C, while the Sizzle Zone reaches over 800°C. It is true that it is best to fry beef steak - fattier pork is recommended to be fried at a lower temperature. Also, if necessary, the burner can be used as a stove.
Napoleon's main competitors, Weber, responded to this innovation no worse: they created an additional intermediate burner, which also creates enormous heat. For example, in the already mentioned area of the GBS system.
Meanwhile, the Rotisserie Infrared Horizontal Burner is designed for roasting larger items on a rotating spit system. It has a weight balancing system, so any larger product will cook and rotate evenly. The lower gas burners cook the rotating food, and the horizontal burner makes it deliciously toasted.
The horizontal Rotisserie burner is also perfect for heating the upper floor grill - especially when heating the cordierite stone placed on the grill. For example, on a heated cordierite stone, hamburger buns, hot sandwiches or even baked cookies and stuffed pies will be deliciously toasted.
The heating shelf is the grid of the second floor
If your grill has a second floor grate and you're not quite sure what to do with it, here are a few options. First of all, the grill on the second floor is suitable for slow cooking food at a lower temperature. It is also possible to toast hamburger buns, fruits, vegetables or put a freshly cooked meal if you are waiting for late guests and do not want the food to get cold.
Side cooker
Believe me, there is nothing more convenient than having to run back and forth to the home kitchen to grill. The side cooker is intended for preparing sauces, side dishes, as well as for heating up hot drinks - a grill with a side cooker will undoubtedly represent the home kitchen.
Grease collection system
Grilled for a good half day and no longer have the energy to take care of the grill? No problem. One of the most important parts of the grill is the grease collection system with a replaceable tray. It ensures several very important things: easier maintenance of the grill and healthier grilled food.
Don't believe? The truth is, if you grill a meat product, as much as 40% of the fat it contains melts away! The grease drains directly into the replaceable grease collection pan. So what do you do? Just replace the full container with a new one in just a few seconds.
Ash tray
Charcoal grills have an ash tray, which is usually open or closed. We recommend choosing a closed ash container: it is safer because the hot ash is collected directly in a closed, heat-resistant container and the ash is not blown by the wind.
Inner plates
In Weber grills, the inner plates are called Flavorizer Bars, while in Napoleon, they are called Sear plates. What is this thing and why do you need it?
The inner plates directly below the burners are specially angled to collect the fat dripping from the food and channel it towards the grease system. Those fats that manage to evaporate due to the extreme heat give the food a perfect smoky aroma, and the fats that don't have time to evaporate drain into the container of the fat system. This protects the burners and the food being grilled from direct fire hazards.
Side shelves, wheels, tool hooks
So that the grill represents a home kitchen and there is a place to store your favorite condiments, marinades, spices, spatulas, tongs and it is easy to move the grill - it is worth choosing a grill with side shelves, tool hooks and wheels.
Also, the side shelves are often folded down - this is useful in smaller spaces, when the grill must fit on your balcony or terrace.
A place for a smart thermometer
It will be easy to become a true grilling guru! Weber grills often have space left iGrill3 to integrate the smart thermometer module. The smart thermometer will allow you to monitor the temperature of the grilled food on your phone - without having to lift the lid. It is possible to retreat within 15 m from the grill. If you move further away, the thermometer will "sleep", and when you get closer than 0.5 m, it will "wake up" again. You will no longer have to wait for the food to be cooked, spend time together with the guests of the barbecue party!
The smart thermometer "iGrill3" on your mobile phone will allow you to monitor the temperature of food from the beginning to the end of cooking. As many as four sensors are connected to the thermometer - which means that you will be able to monitor the temperatures of different products at the same time! You will serve perfectly cooked grilled meals to your guests or family every time!
