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    BBQ BASICS-101

In your search for your new BBQ you will come across some terms that seem fairly straight forward - but in fact are anything but.

Stainless Steel Burners- Stainless Steel comes in many different gauges (thickness) which will determine it's longevity.  To simply say a BBQ burner will last a long time because it is stainless steel ultimately doesn't mean much - most are, the key is how thick it is, check to see how long the manufacturer warranty's it for, that's about how long it will be before your going to have to buy a new one under normal use.  As with most anything - a little maintenance can go a long way in the life of your BBQ. 

Cast Iron Burners - Cast Iron Burners are right up there as one of the best for heat radiation, they generally will last a long, long time.  There aren't that many BBQ's out there that still use cast iron for burners as they are very expensive to manufacture and replace - if you find one and are considering it, check on availability of replacements and the cost.  Keep in mind that with these burner, like the grills that routine maintenance is necessary to maintain the life of the burner.  Surface corrosion will soon start to block the flame holes and will require brushing to keep clean.

Stainless Steel Cooking Grills - Come in various shapes, sizes and thickness.  Welded stainless steel rods would be about the best available.  You can also get a stainless steel stamped grill which is a large piece of stainless steel that has been stamped out with peaks and valleys.  Stainless steel is much better at maintaining and radiating heat than conventional porcelain coated steel and requires a fraction of the maintenance.  As with burners, the thicker the steel, the better.  

Cast Iron Cooking Grills - Sounds impressive, feels impressive with all it's weight, however without a thick porcelain coating and proper care it can be a real problem.  Cast Iron is one of the best conductors of heat and is arguably the best for searing steaks, you should however be prepared to take care of them.  If your capable of some minor routine maintenance take a good look at cast grills they're well worth the extra effort..

Porcelain Coated Cooking Grills - Porcelain coating is literally just that - a coating of porcelain over metal in order to protect it.  How that porcelain coating is applied and it's thickness is crucial to how much protecting it's going to do.  Porcelain is known for being shiny and hard, but it can also be fragile - Steel blades on BBQ brushes can make quick work of porcelain by chipping it off - the coating should be thick and even and it can last a long time.