It’s hard to meet someone who doesn’t appreciate spending time outside and grilling delicious foods. While it’s easy to assume that all grills provide the same cooking experience, there are actually noticeable differences between the available grill styles, how they operate and which foods stand out with each. If you’re looking for ideas that will get compliments from your family and friends, Tractor Supply can help point you in the right direction with some insights and must-try recipes.
Cooking on Charcoal Grills
Charcoal grills are some of the most common grills you’ll find. They provide the traditional grilling experience, as you flip meats and veggies over heated charcoal briquettes, leaving beautiful grill marks and a mouthwatering flavor with each bite. A staple at cookouts, picnics, tailgates and other social functions, charcoal grills come in several different styles, including:
- Barrel grills, which resemble barrels and offer a large cooking area
- Kettle grills, which provide a classic appearance
- Kamado grills, which feature a versatile design for cooking plenty of different items
- Cart-style grills, which have wheels for easy mobility
Charcoal grills give you the ability to cook at temperatures up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, offering consistent heat distribution. They also add a smoky taste to your favorite foods, even allowing you to smoke foods when leaving the lid closed.
Must-Try Recipe: Pork Chops with Cherry Sauce
To make this recipe, you’ll need:
- 2 bone-in center pork chops (around 1 inch thick)
- 2 teaspoons of kosher salt
- 1 can of sweet dark cherries with syrup
- 1/4 cup of port
- 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
- Olive oil
- Fresh cracked black pepper
Cooking Instructions:
- Salt each side of the pork chops and refrigerate while loosely covered for 2 to 4 hours.
- In a medium saucepan, mix cherries (first burst them with a spoon), port, brown sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and red pepper flakes.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, while occasionally stirring. Reduce the heat and simmer.
- Season the pork chops with black pepper and brush them with olive oil.
- Grill pork chops at around 325 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 8 to 10 minutes on each side. Chops should reach an internal temperature of 140 degrees when using an instant-read thermometer.
- Pull the pork chops from the grill and loosely tent them with foil, allowing them to rest for around 5 minutes.
- Serve them with the sauce.
When to Opt for Gas Grills
Gas grills are another very popular option thanks to their push-button operation, ability to heat up more quickly than charcoal grills and simple maintenance and cleanup. They feature knobs to help control temperatures, allowing them to easily regulate heat. Even more enticing, they can come with multiple burners, enabling you to set different temperatures for separate zones. What’s more, certain models allow for use with charcoal or wood chips to give foods a distinct taste.
You can look to flat-top grills or griddles if you’re in the mood for something special, as these options are great for breakfast foods or grilled desserts. Meanwhile, traditional propane grills require you to attach propane tanks, which will need to be refilled occasionally. Last but not least, natural gas grills need to be connected to your home’s gas line, which limits their placement.
Must-Try Recipe: Cedar Plank Salmon with Charred Creole Marinade
This grill recipe serves eight, making it great for get-togethers. It requires the following ingredients:
- 8 salmon fillets with the skin on (6 oz. each)
- 6 tablespoons of avocado oil
- 3 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning
- 4 tablespoons of finely chopped chives
- 2 medium-sized tomatoes
- 1/2 medium-sized onion
- 1/2 bell pepper
- 2 celery stalks (chopped into thirds)
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2 teaspoons of kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme
You’ll also need two to four large, soaked cedar planks, tongs, a cutting board, a fish spatula and a blender.
Cooking Instructions:
- Soak the planks for about 2 hours to provide the necessary moisture.
- Preheat your grill to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Toss tomatoes, onions, bell pepper and celery in a large bowl and mix with 2 tablespoons of avocado oil. Place the veggies on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes before moving them to the cutting board.
- Chop up the vegetables and mix them with garlic, salt and thyme in a blender. Use the Pulse function on low for approximately 20 to 45 seconds. Shorter times will create a chunkier creole sauce.
- Rub each fillet with 1/2 tablespoon of avocado oil and season them with 1-1/2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning. Place 2 fillets on each plank, set them on the grill, close the lid and cook for three minutes.
- Open the lid and spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of your sauce over each fillet before closing the lid and cooking for an additional three minutes or until the fish flakes easily.
- Serve with a scoop of your grilled creole sauce.
Considering Pellet Grills
Pellet grills are a nice mix of the benefits of charcoal and gas grills. These grills use electricity to burn wood pellets, creating heat and smoke to infuse your meats. Most units contain a hopper that automatically drops as many pellets into the grill as necessary, which helps to maintain your chosen temperature. Because they feature digital temperature control, you can expect consistent heating. Perhaps the most exciting benefit, these grills leave foods with a rich, wood-smoked flavor.
Some other advantages of pellet grills include:
- The ability to grill, smoke, bake, roast or braise food items
- Utilizing a wide temperature range (from around 160 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Using pellets made from woods, such as hickory, apple, pecan and mesquite, to add distinct flavors
- Adjustable models that let you choose settings from your smartphone
Must-Try Recipe: BBQ Ribs that Will Fall off the Bone
For this recipe, you’ll need:
- 2/3 cup of brown sugar
- 1/2 cup of paprika
- 1/3 cup of garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons of onion powder
- 2 tablespoons of chili powder
- 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon of ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon of ground white pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cumin
- 4 racks of baby back ribs
- 1/2 cup of apple juice
- 1/2 cup of white grape juice
- Honey
- Barbecue sauce
- Apple pellets
Cooking Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, mix brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cayenne, black pepper, white pepper, oregano and cumin to create a rub.
- Season each side of your racks of ribs with the above rub.
- Set your grill to 275 degrees Fahrenheit and preheat it with the lid closed for 15 minutes.
- Set ribs bone-side down onto the grill grate, close the lid and cook for 45 minutes.
- While the ribs are cooking, mix the apple juice and grape juice in a spouted liquid measuring cup.
- Take ribs off the grill, placing them bone-side down on a sheet of aluminum foil or in a foil pan. Cover the ribs in the juice mixture.
- Drizzle a liberal amount of honey over each rack, wrap the ribs in the foil, set them on the grill and cook for one hour with the lid closed.
- Take the ribs out of the foil and place them directly on the grill. Increase the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook them for 30 minutes with the lid closed.
- Brush barbecue sauce over the ribs and cook for five more minutes.
- Place cooked ribs on a cutting board and slice between the bones.
Are Electric Grills Right for Your Cravings?
For those looking for a simple grilling solution, electric grills might be the answer. These convenient models only require an electrical outlet to get going, so you won’t need to stock up on fuel. They also heat up fast, offer even heat distribution and are often more compact than other options. What’s more, their simple maintenance and cleanup leave more time for grilling and enjoying time with loved ones.
Must-Try Recipe: Honey-Lime Grilled Chicken
This tasty and healthy recipe serves eight and requires:
- 5 pounds of chicken legs and thighs
- 12 cups of water
- 1/2 cup of salt
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 1/2 cups of honey
- 1/2 cup of lime juice
- 1/4 cup of soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- Chopped cilantro
Cooking Instructions:
- Put chicken pieces in resealable plastic bags.
- In a large bowl, mix water, sugar and 1/2 cup of salt and stir until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Pour mixture over chicken within the bags, remove air and reseal bags. Let it brine for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Heat your electric grill to sear or 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine the honey, lime juice, soy sauce, vegetable oil, garlic, ginger, crushed red pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a medium bowl to create the glaze.
- Cook the chicken skin-side down for 10 minutes before turning. Grill for another 10 minutes before turning again.
- Coat chicken with your glaze and grill for an additional 5 minutes. Turn the chicken skin-side up before coating again (about half of the glaze should remain), grilling until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Garnish with cilantro and serve with the remaining sauce.
Find the Ultimate Grill for You at Tractor Supply
The type of grill you choose matters, especially if you have specific recipes that you want to conquer. Whether you’re interested in the above options, want a gas and charcoal combo grill or thinking about a smoker or fryer, our selection has you covered. To get the outdoor cooking equipment you want For Life Out Here, shop online or visit your local Tractor Supply store today.