Best Gas Grills for Cooking Outdoors This Summer

There’s something about summer that brings a man back to more primitive times. It engages some long lost fire building instinct and that first caveman who accidentally dropped a piece of meat on the fire he was using for warmth, brushed off the ashes, tasted it, and declared it was good.

In America barbequing began in the south when slaves were given the leftover undesirable cuts of meat, mostly pork. They learned to season it well and smoke it until it was tender in a fire pit. Most of the meat was chopped and then covered with a peppery vinegar based sauce. True barbequing still involves cooking over hot coals for a long period of time, although this is sometimes referred to as “smoking.” Searing a steak or other meat over a hot fire for a shorter period of time is really just grilling.

But no matter what you call it or how you do it; you still have to have the equipment to do it on. The development of the gas, or propane grill has caused another controversy: gas vs. charcoal. I remember back when most charcoal grills were cheap flat bowls on spindly legs that only lasted a couple of years at best before they rusted out. You could however, buy a Weber grill that was round and came with a lid which sort of turned it into a smoker. These things lasted forever. As a matter of fact, I still have one from when I was in my twenties. I’ve actually gone through a number of types of grilling equipment over the years. I remember the old cast iron Hibachis that were popular. I even had a gas powered one that operated off of those small cylinders that come with Colman lanterns.

I’ve really always been a charcoal man myself. The big fancy gas grills just seem to take away the outdoors factor. They make you feel like you are still in the kitchen. But a lot of people like them. My friend entered me into a drawing for one at Wal-Mart some time back and I won. The thing was huge with side burners and everything. I used it for a couple of years but lugging the tank down to get it refilled was a hassle and one summer right after I turned it on the glass window in the front blew out and shattered all over the place. I sold it to a guy up the street for fifty bucks.

But I have to say whenever I go into a Lowes or a Home Depot I usually go over to the patio department and check out the gas grills. They come in all shapes and sizes and designs now. Home Depot even has one that looks like a stainless steel rocket ship or maybe a robot. I’m not sure how functional it might be but it would sure look awesome sitting in your backyard. So if you’re in the market for a gas grill this year, here are a few of the top picks according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch. (www.stltoday.com)

The Weber Summit S-470 has four stainless steel burners and two stainless steel work surfaces. It also has six tool hooks, lighted knobs, and heavy duty locking casters. It retails for $1,799 and can be found at Hearthside Grill and Fireplace in Belleville.

The Jenn-Air Model 720-0336 is a three-burner gas grill that is made with commercial grade stainless steel with stainless steel main burners. The grill has two halogen lights and an infrared rotisserie burner. Lowes sells them for $799.

The Charbroil Red 4 Zone features attractive red, black, and stainless steel design with 100% infrared cooking technology. It has four burners and an electronic ignition and can be found at Home Depot for $899.

And finally, if you want top-of-the-line and state-of-the-art, then go for the Echelon E660. It features cast stainless steel burners, all stainless steel construction, and stainless steel cooking grids and warming racks. It also has internal halogen lighting and a nifty wood smoker tray. (The best of both worlds.) Add the side burner and the double walled smoking hood and you’ve got quite a package, all for the nifty sum of $5,142 at Forshaw on South Lindberg.

Or, you could just grunt, build a fire and put your meat on a spit.