Setting the Stage

Most Americans know something about barbecuing and grilling (according to Barbecue Industry Association figures, 85 percent of American families own grills and fire them up more than 3 billion times a year). But everyone has to start somewhere, so imagine for a moment that you’ve never used a grill or even owned one before.

Grills are available in every imaginable size, shape, style, and price range. Before you can choose a grill, however, you need to consider your cooking habits. Do you usually just cook for yourself and perhaps a companion or do you like to share your culinary prowess with large numbers of friends? This will help you decide what size grill to buy. Do you tend to cook the same three dishes over and over or are you an adventurer? (I hope you will be after reading this book!) This will tell you whether to buy a basic no-frills model or a grill with all the latest bells and whistles. Are you convenience and result oriented, focusing on the outcome over the process? Or is the journey of live-fire cooking just as exciting to you as the ultimate destination? (And what’s your tolerance for uncertainty?) This will help you make the most important decision facing the fledgling griller: whether to buy a gas grill or a charcoal grill.