Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?

There is something intoxicating about a grill. Memorial Day is the second-biggest day for grilling in the summer, according to a barbeque industry survey. So why do Americans seem so into grilling?

"It's the smells, the smoke," said one man grilling in front of his Minneapolis home. "It's all in it, you know?

"It's the fire, you know? It's all the way back with the caveman," said another.

According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association, almost 8 out of 10 of us own a grill. That's up 5 percent from five years ago.

The Fourth of July is the top grilling holiday (69 percent of Americans say they grill that day, according to the barbeque association), but Memorial Day is second (56 percent) followed by Labor Day (50 percent).

The primal urge to cook over a fire may go back to the time of the caveman, but the idea of having a grill in the backyard of our homes didn't really explode until 1952. That's the time Americans flocked to the suburbs, and a co-owner of a metal fabricator decided he could do better than the open-flame backyard fire pit he had been using.

George Stephen co-owned Weber Brothers Metal Works in Chicago, Ill. Weber Brothers fabricated metal buoys for customers on Lake Michigan. Stephen thought he could cut one of the buoys in half, put it on legs, put a wire rack inside and create a grill that cooked at an even temperature. It was a major change from the erratic flames of the open fire, and it was hugely successful.

In 1952, Weber started selling its kettle grill. Today, 85 million Americans own their own grills.

Times have changed and the charcoal grill is no longer the king. Nearly 70 percent of us own a gas grill, while just 37 percent own a charcoal. Some own one of each, of course, according to the HPBA.

In general, it's men doing the grilling. The man lights the grill more than 65 percent of the time, and does the cooking 59 percent of the time, according to the 2009 State of the Barbeque Industry Report.

"I'm an all-year-round man," said Mandela, an outdoor griller in Minneapolis. "I was out in the winter and my neighbor said 'You're crazy!' But I'm an all year round man."

Fifty-eight percent grill year-round, according to the report, while 45 percent use the grill once or twice a week during "grilling season."

http://wcco.com/local/grilling.memor...2.1018989.html :10_1_20::23_31_2: **good video next to link too**

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

My grill is right outside my kitchen; I think of it as the outdoors part of my kitchen. I grill, barbecue, and smoke year round.

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

Charcoal and year-round here.

Charcoal chimney is the secret weapon.

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

While we're here, we should share good recipes. I'm looking for a good chicken marinade if anyone wants to share!! And any others of course.

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

yep. :yes:

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

Charcoal isn't even close to the flavor you get from a good oak or mesquite fire, not trying to start an uproar and I respect your opinion. I have a buddy that owns a meat packing/delivery plant in Fullerton Ca. he swore by charcoal also until he had my oak B-B-Q a few times ....now he takes wood home with him when he comes to visit. A secret an old black man (Scottie) gave me about B-B-Qin before I opened my Bar-B-Que joint some years back....."ya gets good wood an let da wood do da woik fo ya"

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

The only problem is most people seem to always overcook the food they grill!

I love to grill but I always make sure to cook things as little as possible - rare or medium rare.

People go overboard and end up with a slab of nasty charred brown dry tastes-like-cardboard meat.

Also the charred parts are carcinogenic.

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

I agree. I was putting my information out there in offense of the propane guard. Talk about tasteless; I get more flavor out of cast iron on the stove.

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

:RockOn:

Cast iron pan ain't a bad way to do a steak either, get it smokin hot on the stove top throw your seasoned steak on it then flip it over after 6/7min. and into a preheat broiler for another 7 to 10 min. Best way to do a steak in the house

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

buddy and I have been trying natural hardwood charcoal since last summer. burns really F'n hot compared to normal briquets.

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

My BIL does all the BBQs for the young farmers.....donates all his time and the proceeds to them, at least 1 or 2 week for for 7 years now ! and these are large groups , 100-400 people......aaaaanyway they are using mesquite charcoal now instead of oak wood .They load up 4 40Lb bags of charcoal instead of a 1/4 cord of oak 500lbs.

It tastes good and it lights up and ready to cook on much faster and if they need to add some it's no biggie cuz there's no big flames....lifes a little easier for him now, he own's vineyard so it wasn't all that hard to begin with, though he likes to say different LOL

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

Anyone like carne asada on the grill?
It's probably only a southwest thing, but it is one of my favorite grilling meats.
Some hot tortillas, refried beans and rice and your in business. :tongue_ma:

http://www.xmasinyourmouth.com/wordp...carneasada.jpg

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

This is a great tip for flank or skirt steak. About 30 min.before grilling sprinkle generously with Italian dressing seasoning pack not the dressing the dry seasoning.
Every one if got to try this loves it , it's the only way I'll cook it . It doesn't give it some Italian meat kinda taste..... just a perfect flavor for asada or just a good BBQ flavor, I hope some of you try this.

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

I'll try it next time. I made asada last night...already had asada breakfast. :tongue_ma:

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

Please note most measurements are approximate (I cook visually). Both marinades also work very well with beef or lamb, especially # 2

Chicken kebab marinade # 1
1 onion, grated
4-6 cloves garlic, crushed
juice of 2 lemons
1 bunch cilantro, chopped fine
1/4 cup olive oil (more or less)
1 tablespoon sumac (can be omitted if unavailable)
salt & pepper to taste


Chicken kebab marinade #2
1 onion, grated
4-6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup plain full fat yogurt
1 bunch cilantro, chopped fine
1 tablespoon ground cumin
salt & pepper to taste

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

Propane guy here, but you'd never guess it when you eat it. I'll add some soaked mesquite for smoke and my grill is so broken in over the years that there's flavor in them there flames.

I agree that all wood or charcoal can produce an even better taste, but I fear I wouldn;t grill nearly as much due to the time it takes to get it ready.

About the only thing I haven't done with a grill is bake a cake. :biggrin:

Re: Good Question: Why Do We Love To Grill?
 

Not Americans. Men. Men love grilling. It's because it involves machinery.