Outdoor BBQ/Grills
Determining Grill Size

Although one might think choosing a grill based on size would be easy, grill size is actually the hardest to gauge and the hardest recommendation to make.

The physical size of the grill's primary cooking surface is not always a good indication of whether or not the grill will be big enough to handle the type of cooking you do.

Physical Size
Obviously, the larger the grill's primary cooking surface the more food that could be cooked at any one time.

When looking at different size grills take into consideration what types of foods you will be cooking the majority of the time. Hamburgers and hot dogs take up less space, and can be cooked on a smaller grill. Steak or poultry requires a larger grilling surface.

What size is it really?
Determining the size of the grill is harder than one might think.

Manufacturers often include the warming rack and/or side burners in their cooking area measurements. If the tag doesn't state the size of the grilling area, ask the sales person.

The best way to measure if a grill is large enough for the foods you normally grill, is simply to stand in front of it and visualize what you usually cook, then ask yourself the question, "Is it big enough?".

When sizing a grill take into account the number of burners as well as the physical size of the cooking grate.

Number of Burners
Primary burners (those at the bottom of the grill) are used for grilling. Side burners provide options for preparing sauces, side dishes, coffee and desserts. Back burners are designed for rotisserie cooking, which seals in natural juices and evenly browns meat.

• Small or average-sized family: 2 to 3 burners
  
• Families who grill often: 4 burners
  
• Large families or for entertaining: 5 to 6 burners
  

Most manufacturers offer a basic 2-burner gas grill, in 2 sizes, one bigger than the other by about 20 to 25 percent.

If you are considering a grill with 3 or more burners, you will have a wider selection of sizes and options.

The heat output of the grill is more important than the physical size of the cooking surface. Unfortunately, BTU ratings are not a true measure of a grill's heat output.

BTU
BTU (British Thermo Unit), is a standard measure of energy is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water from 60° F to 61°F at a constant pressure.

BTU Ratings
Grill models are individually designed to operate at specific BTU ratings.

The total (maximum) BTU rating of the grill is a measurement of how much heat the grill will generate in one hour, with all its main burners turned on high. This rating can generally be found on the grill's nameplate.

However, getting this information can be confusing at best.

The nameplate data may state the BTU rating in two different ways - per burner or as a total rating for the grill. (i.e. 40,000 BTU total, or 20,000 BTU per burner).

Some models incorporate a "dual" burner which is manufactured as a single unit with each side individually regulated by it's own control knob. In this case each side would have a 20,000 BTU rating for a total of 40,000 BTU's.

Tthe BTU measurement is related to the size of the burner. Gas grills can range from 5,000 to 200,000 BTU's, and most 2-burner grills do not exceed 40,000 BTU's

The actual BTU output is determined by the pressure of the gas supplied, volume of gas which is regulated by the valve and by the orifice fitting hole size.

Orifice Size
The hole size of the orifice fitting will be larger for natural gas supply models than propane because of the lower natural gas operating pressure.

Altitude also affects the BTU rating making it difficult to safely and effectively operate gas appliances. Lower air pressures at higher elevations can produce flame shutdown due to lower atmospheric pressure. Depending on the model, a high-altitude orifice may be needed to overcome this problem.

If you live in a colder climate, look for a higher BTU rating to maintain proper cooking temperatures in cooler weather.

BTU's alone are not Enough
Do not buy a grill simply because it has a high BTU rating.

You may be surprised to learn that BTUs are not a measure of cooking power. They simply indicate the volume of gas a grill can burn for an hour, when you turn all the burners on high.

Smaller more compact grills can actually produce higher cooking temperatures with lower BTU's. Larger grills require more fuel.

Design also plays a part in the equation. Some grills contain a large grilling surface but the burners are small in proportion to the size of the cooking area. This reduces amount of heat that can actually be used for cooking.

If the burners deliver too few BTU's for the cooking area, it will take too long to cook the food (increasing the chances of drying it out) and it will be impossible to get a good sear on a steak.

On the other hand, too many BTUs can burn your food before it is cooked through, damage burners and reduce the life of the grill.

A better way to measure
A better way to determine how well a grill will heat is the number of BTU's per square inch.

To calculate the BTU's per square inch, divide the total BTU's of your grill (ignoring side and rotisserie burners) by the total square inches of your grill. For example:

A grill with a primary cooking are that is 15" x 26" has 390 sq in of cooking space, and a BTU rating of 40,000 BTU's, will yield 103 BTU's per square inch.

(40,000 BTU / 390sq in = 103 BTU's per square inch)

While another grill may have a total grilling area of 1,120 square inches, and a BTU rating of 100,000 BTU's will yield 89 BTU's per square inch.

(100,000 BTU / 1,120 sq in = 89 BTU's per square inch)

The higher the BTU's per square inch, the hotter the grill and the better the searing capability. A good rule of thumb is to find a grill with at least 95 BTU's -115 BTU's for each square inch of grilling area.

A general guideline is 10,000 BTUs per 100 Sq. Inches of grilling surface - this assures you of the right amount of heat for every cooking application, from searing to slow-cooking.

Obviously, as the number of BTUs increase, so does the amount of fuel used. Cooking grids that retain heat can also reduce the number of BTUs needed.

Gas Grill Features

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