Grilling Season: Barbeques 101

Published July 19, 2012

Recently Weber-Stephen Products conducted a Canadian Grill Watch Survey of Canadian outdoor barbeque owners and it was discovered that an astonishing 9 out of 10 Canadians own a gas grill. This is a slight increase over 2009 numbers.

With grilling season coming upon us, it’s time to take a look at what is new and revolutionary in the grilling world.

Weber-Stephen Products has unveiled a new concept, which they refer to as “Grill Centers”. Specifically named the Weber Summit Grill Center with Social Area, this stainless steel “L” shaped outdoor grill is an affordable alternative to the outdoor kitchen concept that has gained popularity over the last few years. These outdoor kitchens typically run upwards from $20,000 whereas the Weber Summit Grill Center is in a much more affordable range of under $5000.

So what exactly is this concept? Well, imagine a 57″high x 112″ wide x 76″ deep grill (with the lid open) and a less-than-one day assembly, no building permit, masonry contractor, plumber or electrician. The grill center is built upon the company’s Summit 670 grill platform with matching, enclosed left and right cabinetry. The cabinets have adjustable stainless steel shelves with the addition of a right-return social area. The entire unit is portable with adjustable legs for leveling on uneven ground.

The left-hand cabinets enclose a built-in rotisserie system and paper towel holder. The right-hand enclosure has a new Weber dual-ring side burner for added convenience. The whole concept is neat and tidy and really suitable for most outdoor decks.

The Weber survey also unveiled that Canadians are not very diligent at cleaning their grills. Only 32% of us clean our grills once or twice a year. Weber offers some easy tips and advice for us to help clean our grills clean and running smoothly through the season.

It is generally agreed that as a rule of thumb grills should be cleaned before each use. To do this properly you should burn off any excess residue by turning the grill on high, and then brush the grates with a wire grill brush.

At least once a year the grill should be thoroughly cleaned. Grill parts such as cooking grates, burner tubes and exterior elements should all be inspected and cleaned. This should happen more than once a year if the grill is being used all year round.

Clean grease dripping on exterior surfaces with warm, soapy water. Never use an abrasive on stainless steel. If you have a stainless steel finish you are best to use an environmentally friendly stainless steel cleaner and a soft cloth. This should help to remove any fingerprints and give it a nice finish.

With the warmer weather approaching (we hope)… it’s time to pull out the grills and get them cleaned up for entertaining this season.

If you are interested in viewing the Weber Summit Grill Center visit Johnstones Barbeques & Parts, 165 Pemberton Avenue, North Vancouver.