Did you know that people started grilling food as early as the 17th century? The concept of grilling all began with a tribe in the Caribbean. This tribe would make grills out of sticks placed over a fire, and then the people would slowly cook food over the sticks until tender.
The idea of grilling food became popular throughout the world only when the conquistadors of Spain saw what this tribe was doing and took the knowledge back with them to Europe. Today, the concept of the best grill goes far beyond a row of sticks over a fire and can include gas grills, charcoal grills, and more. But when it comes to cooking a killer steak in particular, you might be wondering what kind of grill might be the best grill for steak.
The answer depends on what kind of flavor you want from your steak. Do you want the meat to be clean and pure or do you want it to be smoky? Let’s first see what a charcoal grill can do with a steak.
Grilling Steak on a Charcoal Grill
When it comes to how to choose a grill, if you want your food to be smoky and rich, you should choose a charcoal grill. A charcoal grill can not only give your steak an extra layer of flavor, but it can also impart a smoky aroma as well. So, if you are having guests for dinner and want to get everyone’s mouth watering before the food is even ready, the smell of a smoldering charcoal grill can do just that.
Operating a charcoal grill is quite easy as well. Once you light the charcoal within the grill, you can control the flames and overall temperature with an air intake valve. This valve will allow a certain amount of air to flow in and out of the grill.
The more air you give the grill, the hotter it will get. On the other hand, if you want to cool down the grill, you will have to deprive it of air. Depending on how you want your steak to cook, you need to have complete control over the air intake valve.
The great thing about charcoal grills is that you can also control how smoky you want your steak to be. If you want it bold, you should leave the steak inside the grill for a longer period of time. This way, the steak will be able to marinate in the smoke within the grill.
On the other hand, if you want only a slightly smoky steak, you can cook it at a higher temperature for a shorter period of time and then take it out before it absorbs too much smoke. But for some, operating a charcoal grill is too much work which is why gas grills exist.
Grilling Steak on a Gas Grill
Gas grills are very convenient and can cook steak in ways that charcoal grills can’t. One of the best things about gas grills is that you barely need to wait for them to preheat. This is unlike charcoal grills which can sometimes take as long as an hour to fully preheat.
Gas grills allow you to adjust the temperature in a variety of ways. For example, many grills give you the option to cook your food with direct or indirect heat. By changing the heat, you can change the way you cook your steak.
Some of the more high-tech gas grills like the Weber grill or the Nexgrill even come with certain gadgets that other grills don’t have. For instance, some of these grills can tell you when your food is cooked while others come with individual heating elements and cooking surfaces. Of course, you might not need all of these additions, but they can make your job at the grill a lot easier.
Gas grills will not give your steak a smoky flavor. For some, this is a bad thing, while for others it may be great. Gas flames are very clean and won’t leave any kind of smell or extra flavor on your food or even in the air surrounding the grill. So, if you’re not a fan of smoky steaks, it might be best to learn more and invest in a gas grill.
However, for some, the cleanliness of a gas grill can leave some flavor to be desired. If you want something between a gas and charcoal grill, try a pellet grill.
Cooking Steak on a Pellet Grill
Many people love pellet grills because they are more or less as easy to operate as gas grills. Also, similar to gas grills, they can get very hot in a very short amount of time. However, unlike gas grills, pellet grills can impart a delicate smoky flavor to the food cooked inside.
But don’t be fooled because pellet grills don’t use charcoal. Instead, they use pellets made of sawdust, hence the grill’s name. These sawdust pellets are able to give steak and other food a very gentle smoky flavor and aroma. So, if you find the smoky flavor from charcoal to be too strong, the flavors from a pellet grill may better fit your taste.
You can try to cook your steak slow and steady if you want a flavor that is a bit stronger. On the other hand, you can sear your steak fast and get it out of the grill as fast as possible, depending on what kind of flavor you want.
How to Choose the Very Best Grill for Steaks
Choosing the best grill for steaks is really more about what kind of steak you want rather than what kind of grill you want. But whatever the case, choosing the right grill can make all the difference when it comes to cooking up a killer steak.
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