Get Cooking with Gas | There's a BBQ Grill for Every Lifestyle - By: Kathryn Dawson

Barbecue or barbeque, typically shorted to familiar terms like BBQ, Bar-B-Que, and 'barbie,' is a method and apparatus for cooking meat with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, hot coals of charcoal, cooking gas, or even electricity. The cooking process includes the application of a marinade, spice rub or basting sauce to the meat. Vegetables are also very much part of this somewhat ritualistic cooking process.

Commonly referred to as a grill, a barbecue (the apparatus) is generally a brazier fitted with a grill and sometimes a spit. The brazier can range anywhere from a simple fire bowl, which uses hot coals as heat, to an elaborate electric barbecue.

There are two main schools of thought for the techniques or the methods you can use for barbequing. The first method, and most popular with the backyard crowds, is food cooked directly over the source of heat. Food is cooked rapidly on a grilled suspended directly over the charcoals, wood, or gas burners. Using this method, the lid is rarely ever closed.

The second barbeque cooking method uses indirect heat and is more appropriate when cooking much larger or whole cuts of meat. When using this technique, the food is cooked away from the actual source of heat and use of a pan of water to maintain moisture is typically common. During the longer cooking time, the lid of the barbeque remains closed most of the time. The rule of thumb for this method is using a low temperature for a long period of time.

The term barbeque also refers to the food which is prepared on the grill, typically we mean meat, poultry, or fish which is highly seasoned and basted frequently to keep it moist. The word barbeque also conjures up the image of an informal style, outdoor gathering where barbecued food is served.

Gas grills come in a variety of styles with added features to suit every cook. Whether you're cooking for one or for a crowd, these grills are the perfect choice for any chef who loves to create authentic barbecue flavor. When you are ready to purchase, here are a few tips to consider when evaluating your options:
1. Function - Most consumers look for gas BBQ grills that will slow-cook their food to lock in juices and flavor. The gas travels through the gas lines up to the igniter switch; when the switch is ignited, the burner or burners are turned on, and heat and flame are created. The difference between a gas grill and a charcoal grill is that the gas flames are minimal and produce a slow, steady heat. Wood chips are placed at the bottom of the grill to add barbecue flavor.
2. Features – Gas barbecues will include the basic cooking surface; this is often a nonstick grate in porcelain, cast iron or chrome. Many grills offer a rotisserie or rack at the top of the grill to turn the food slowly while it is cooking. Temperature control and automatic ignition are added features. Some grills offer a vegetable griller inside so smaller food can be smoked or steamed as it is being cooked. Tiered cooking is common on most gas barbecue grills; this allows different food items to be cooked at different temperatures. Flat-surface grills accommodate smaller items that cannot be cooked on a regular grate. Hidden compartments to conceal the propane gas tank are also a popular feature. Some grills come with motorized hoods to free up the chef's hands.
3. Types – The function remains the same but grills types may vary to include combination cooking with gas and charcoal. Gas smokers provide a strong barbecue flavor by slow-cooking the meat in a dome-shaped grill filled with flavored wood chips. Full-size portable grills that fold up for easy transport are great for campers and those who travel. Small tabletop grills are great for hikers and those who are tent camping. Built-in gas barbecue grills that are a part of an outdoor kitchen area serve as a permanent fixture for backyard décor and entertaining.
4. Size - Grills come in a variety of sizes, from tabletop grills to built-in outdoor grills. The size of the grill depends greatly on how many burners the grill has; most grills have between one and five burners. The burners take up the length of the surface of the grill, allowing for variations in size, but the benefit to having multiple burners is that the food can be cooked at different temperatures in different areas of the grill.

To some barbecue is a lifestyle and to most it a way of life. Always remember the safety guides of using gas and let's get cooking!

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson writes articles for Flogas, a UK supplier of gas BBQ grills offering a stock of leading gas barbecues brands at fantastic prices throughout the year. The company prides itself in taking health and safety seriously, selling high quality gas BBQs only from leading suppliers.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Kathryn--Dawson/78883

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