Barbecue. Cookout. Grilling.
Whatever your preferred term for cooking over an open flame, the grill never fails to bring family, friends and a few hopeful neighbors bearing beer into one central location: the back yard.
This seasonal rite of passage often signals the unofficial launch of summer, right up there with Memorial Day weekend.
(Is it any wonder that May is National Barbecue Month?)
As a prelude to prime cookout season, we tracked down the latest in grills, gear and gadgets.
New grill selections include the Weber Genesis 330 series, which features Weber’s Sear Station, formerly exclusive to the Summit line. Fuego North America unveiled its Element Portable Gas Grill at the Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association’s Expo in March, marking a trend in the compact and portable category, along with a portable Brazilian slow-turn barbecue system from Carson Rotisseries.
The demand for grills and smokers in 2010 remained high, as evidenced by a 5 percent increase in shipments from 2009, according to the HPBA. This gives way to new supplies, including The Pony Express Smoker and Grill by Ace of Hearts BBQ Specialties.
Also new to the market are grill add-ons such as the Gourmet Barbecue System from Weber-Stephen, and the Fire Wire Entrée Skewer, for single-serve meals.
To protect the chief cook, the Pitt Mitt is supposed to withstand temperatures of up to 425 degrees, while the biodegradable Grill Pillow gives a green boost to cleanup.
This is not to discount barbecue basics: tongs, spatulas, rubs, marinades. Or the most important ingredient: friends and family.
According to a poll conducted by the HPBA, Americans prefer cooking out over eating out, as much to save money (70 percent) as to spend quality time with loved ones (64 percent).
“In this economy more people are staying home and reconnecting with family in their back yards,” says Tab Morse, a sales associate at The Home Depot in Totowa. “Grilling is America’s favorite food pastime.”
So get ready, take aim and fire it up.
There’s a grill for every lifestyle. Here are this season’s hottest.
* Weber Genesis E-330
The newest addition to the Genesis model lineup, the 300 features Weber’s Sear Station and can reach temperatures of 700 to 800 degrees. $949 to $1,119. At weberstephen.com, Home Depot and Lowe’s
* Weber Q140 Portable Electric Grill
Great for balconies where use of gas or charcoal is prohibited. Can reach temperatures of more than 600 degrees. $229.99 at Chef Central and weberstephen.com.
* The Big Green Egg
An egg-shaped ceramic cooker that can sear with temperatures of up to 750 degrees. Uses natural lump charcoal. $749.99 for large, $999.99 for X-large (at Chef Central). See biggreenegg.com.
* Stok Tower
Features include custom cooking inserts, pizza stone and grill grates, charcoal chimney. $159. At Home Depot stores.
* Char Broil Red Four Burner Infrared
Features 13,000 BTU outdoor stove with side burner, four separate cooking zones and porcelain-coated iron grates. Infrared heat sears in flavors. $549. At Home Depot stores.
* Carson Portable Rotisserie Grill
Portable Brazilian-BBQ-style rotisserie grill that can hold up to seven rotating skewers. $719. At carsonrotisseries.com.
* The Pony Express by Ace of Hearts BBQ
A combination smoker/grill for creating pit BBQ flavor. Features 576-square-inch cooking area (288 for grilling, 288 for smoking). $798. At aceofheartsbbq.com.
Enhance your grilling experience with some new gear.
* Fill N Grill Stuffed Burger Maker
A quick and easy way to stuff burgers. How it works: Put meat patty in the bottom tray. Place stuffing ingredients in the center and put a second patty on top. Close lid and press the “burger button” to seal the outer edges. Dishwasher safe. $7.99. Available at chefcentral.com (in stock at end of May).
* Emile Henry “Flame” Grilling Stones
Sear meats and seafood or make brick-oven-style pizza in the oven, on the grill, or over an open flame. Glaze prevents stains, allows cutting on the surface and makes stones dishwasher safe. $49.99. Available at chefcentral.com, williams-sonoma.com and emilehenryusa.com.
* Charcoal Companion Pit Mitt
Fibers form a barrier to prevent heat from entering inner cotton layer. Withstands temperatures of up to 425 degrees. Washable. $19.99. Available at chefcentral.com.
* Grill Pillow
Biodegradable; absorbs drip-pan grease from outdoor grills. Fits Weber Spirit, Genesis and Summit series. $9.95.
Available at grillpillow.com.
* Mr. Bar-B-Q Hydro Grill Blaster
Cleans and sanitizes with steam; the trigger action of the blaster controls water flow. $19.99. Available at amazon.com.
* Fire Wire Flex Skewer
A flexible, stainless steel skewer. $9.99. Available at chefcentral.com, bedbathandbeyond.com, williams-sonoma.com, acehardware.com, firewiregrilling.com.
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Article source: http://www.northjersey.com/shopping/122379154_What_s_new_in_grills_for_the_summer.html
