CNW - Everyone knows that men love to grill. Grilling is perceived by most guys as one of the few remaining male-only, testosterone-filled rituals - starting and maintaining the flame, watching the food sizzle and sear while enjoying a chilled beverage of choice, then presenting family, friends or neighbours with a finished culinary delight that generates a plethora of praise. No wonder that many families want to buy the ultimate gift of a gas grill for dad on Father's Day.
However, shopping for the right grill for your dad can be
challenging if you don't know some of the basics. Overall, keep
in mind that the top three things grilling enthusiasts want to
avoid are 1) uncontrollable flare-ups, 2) grills that fall
apart after a couple of seasons, and 3) burnt food (most people
blame burnt food on the chef, but often times it's the quality
of the grill).
It's important to make sure that a one-time bargain doesn't
turn into a long-term disappointment: Invest in a quality grill
so dad can focus on dinner and not his toolbox!
Here are some insider tips to find the right gas grill for Dad
that will be part of the family for years to come:
1.  Choose a Grill with pre-assembled or welded parts. It
will be much more stable and stand up to everyday use.
Look for easy-to-follow instructions and precision cast and die-cut parts for easy and accurate assembly. Even if the store assembles it for you, you want the least number of fasteners, which can come loose over the grill's life.
2.  Choose a grill with a long-warranty period. The best
manufacturers can afford to stand behind their products. The
warranty should be at least five years on all parts. Make sure
promises for long-term or lifetime warranties aren't shrouded
in fine print and caveats.
3.  Choose a well-known company with a reputation for
quality. Do you  know and trust the name on the hood? Look
for a company with a history of great customer service-one you
can reach later if you need accessories, service, and
(eventually) replacement parts. Look for a customer service
phone number and website address.
4.  Give it the "wiggle test." Grab the grill by the sides
and give it a good shake. If it doesn't feel sturdy at the
store, you can bet it's going to fall apart in your backyard. A
well-built grill feels solid and stable and is made of
high-grade steel, baked-on porcelain enamel, and heavy-gauge
stainless steel.
5.  Take a good look inside. Most grill shoppers stop at
opening and closing the hood. If it feels heavy, they think the
grill is good. But just like buying a new car, you need to
check under the hood and inspect the inner workings.
6.  Cooking grates. Look for durable cooking grates made
of porcelain-enamelled steel, stainless steel, or
porcelain-enamelled cast iron.
7.  Under the grates. Beneath the cooking grates you will
see some type of system to disperse heat from the burners and
channel away food drippings. Stay clear of lava rock or ceramic
briquettes. Drippings can pool on these surfaces causing nasty
flare-ups. The best design is a v-shaped metal bar that rests
on top of the burners to vapourize drippings.
8.  What about the burner system? Make sure the grill is
equipped with at least two individually controlled burners to
enable you to cook by the Direct and Indirect cooking method.
Burners should be made of high-grade stainless steel.
9.  Where does the grease go? Look for a system that
funnels drippings down and away from the burners into a high
capacity catch pan - at least one inch deep - that can be
accessed easily from the front of the grill.
10. Finally, check how the gas line is run from the tank to the
grill - is it a safe distance from the hot underside of the
grill? Are the wires for the igniter also tucked safely away?
Cheap grills from unskilled manufacturers don't always put
safety first.
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