Summertime means grills across the American are firing up and folks are enjoying plates full of delicious burgers, BBQ ribs and more. So as grilling in earnest begins, what kind of outdoor cooking is best?

Grillers have long debated the merits of their preferred method. Most will agree that while old fashioned charcoal is more time consuming and messier, it cooks hotter, smokes better and has more flavor.  (And let’s admit it, lighting and playing with fire does thrill our inner pyromaniac.) On the other hand, the ease, convenience and speed of the gas grill has converted many a traditionalists.  In fact today, 68% of grill owners prefer gas to other methods and that number is growing. 

New to the grilling world (and thus the debate) is The Big Green Egg™.  Made of ceramic, you can grill, bake and smoke for hours with a comparatively small amount of charcoal. Makers of The Big Green Egg say this is the only outdoor cooker you’ll ever need.  And given everything it claims to do – from appetizers to desserts – you may no longer need your stove! 

Whatever your chosen method of outdoor cooking, safety should always be your number one concern.  Here are a few important tips to remember before you grill:

1 – Your grill should be at least 10 feet away from your house or any other structure.

2 – Never light a gas grill without first opening the lid and letting any built-up propane escape.  Failure to do so could result in an explosion.

3 – Always keep a fire extinguisher handy at your cookouts.  Every year, outdoor grilling causes thousands of injuries and produces millions of dollars in damage.