Don’t just grill outside this spring—grill with gusto!
“New home owners don’t just want an outdoor gas hookup for a grill any more, they want to know where they can put an entire outdoor kitchen,” says Michael Lindsay, store manager at Fire House Casual Living Store in Greenville. He has worked in the indoor/outdoor furnishings business for 20 years.
The ease of internet shopping has transformed the grill industry, he says. Whether purchased in-store or online, grills can now be customized down to the last detail. With the click of a few keys, online shoppers can compare features and prices and have their new grill shipped right to their front door.
The industry has grown almost 25% over the past two years, according to Lindsay. Searing stations, warming drawers, rotisseries and Wi-Fi integration are a few new popular grill add-ons. Traeger’s Ironwood 885 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker even comes with Alexa and WiFire smart home technology. Grill and smoker combo popularity has waned because of their lack of efficiency, but smoker sales have held steady and offer the same Wi-Fi integration options.
Marshall Cox of Craft Stove Store in Greenville says that even if high tech is making its way into the industry, grills don’t have to be expensive or complicated. Flat-top grills are popular sellers. Little Smokey Joe grills and smaller Green Egg models are affordable in the portable grill category and are popular for tailgating, camping, and grilling on the go.
One important tip from Cox: Be wary of grills that depend on electricity. If the power goes out, so does your dinner.
Accessories that add flair to your flare
MEATER Plus Smart Meat Thermometer with Bluetooth. Up to 165-square-foot wireless range for the oven, grill, smoker, rotisserie, or kitchen use.
Lodge Cast Iron Non-Stick Griddle. Turn that old-school grill into a flat top for whipping up a crowd-pleasing brunch.
Qualitech Grill Basket stainless-steel non-stick folding barbecue grilling basket. Great for cooking wings, shrimp, fish, steak, and veggies over a wide range of grills.
Lavatools Javelin PRO Duo Ambidextrous Backlit Professional Digital Instant-Read Meat Thermometer. Perfect for a quick temperature check when deep-frying, grilling, smoking and even making candy.
