Barbecue grills, or BBQ grills, are cooking devices designed to heat food items from below. Comprised of a surface for holding food and a fuel source that supplies the heat necessary for cooking, barbecue grills are common household fixtures available most often for outdoor use. First created as wooden structures that allowed for the slow cooking of meat, barbecue grills today are typically differentiated in three categories based on their heat source ranging from gas-fueled to charcoal and electric grills. Though most barbecue grills are produced for use at home for backyard grilling, barbecue grills are also available in portable sizes that make it possible to transport them for camping trips.
From ancient times, humans have cooked food over open flames. Initially, this was done using simple methods like skewering meat on sticks or placing it on flat stones. As societies evolved, the art of grilling was refined, leading to the development of basic grates placed over fire pits. By the 19th and 20th centuries, as people moved towards more urban lifestyles, the design of grills became more compact and portable. The post-war era saw a boom in backyard grilling, with the introduction of innovative designs like the kettle grill, making outdoor cooking a popular pastime.
Barbecue grills are evolving with today's lifestyles. Modern designs lean towards convenience, with smart grills offering app-controlled temperature settings and cooking alerts. Multi-function grills that can smoke, roast, and sear are gaining traction. As urban spaces shrink, there's a trend towards compact, balcony-friendly models. However, sustainability is a challenge, prompting a shift to eco-friendly fuels and energy-efficient designs. With increasing apartment living, safety regulations and smoke concerns also play a part in influencing grill designs and user preferences.
Factors to consider in building a BBQ grill include deciding between gas or charcoal as well as the availability of electrical outlets, running water, lighting, and storage space. The grill should be mounted on steel supports and made of inflammable materials with a removable head and space below the grill. The basic structure for a grill head is a block U shape. If building a charcoal grill, a pair of metal grates are needed to hold both the coals and the food and layers of firebrick need to be lined around the grill area.
A general recommendation in the maintenance of a BBQ grill is to use a wire brush on the grates after every use and a thorough clean at twice a year or so depending on the amount of use the grill gets. A wire brush dipped in soapy water should do the trick in scrubbing off all the carbon of a gas grill. In the case of a charcoal grill, the old burned coals need to be thrown out. The next step is to take the grates along with any other removable part and place them in a bucket of soapy water to be scrubbed with a sponge after being soaked. Use a towel to wipe down the outside and begin re-assembling the parts once dry. The last step is to connect the propane tank and turn on the grill, allowing it to heat up enough to burn any residues from the cleaning process.
When cleaning rust off of a BBQ grill, use soap, warm water, and detergent to scrub the grill. It is best to avoid steel or wire wool and use a softer material such as a cloth or sponge for this. Make a paste out of vinegar and baking soda and apply this to the grill with the sponge or cloth, rinsing it with warm water after letting the applied paste sit between 20 and 30 minutes. Soda is also a solution to use in the removal of rust. Any removal part of the grill can be left soaking in a bucket of water overnight, then rinsed and scrubbed.
