The Charcoal Grill and the Cookout

If you were born in the good old US of A, or lived here for some time, then you've probably had a cookout or barbeque of some kind.  We tend to pride ourselves on these things. American family tradition and good home cooking resonate on our gleeful mugs at the sound of a grilled burger, hotdog or steak.  

Although gas grills are becoming more and more prominent, the old-school charcoal grills are still preferred by many of us. There's just something about that grilled flavor that's hard to let go. Those red coals fill the mouth-watering meat with an incomparable flavor that can't be forgotten.

The options we face when buying a grill are quite different than what our parents dealt with. Gas, electric, infrared, and portable just to name the basics. Personally I have used a charcoal grill since I was a child. These smoky, simplified wonders are hard to let go. While some friends tell me gas is all the rage these days, and the coal isn't as healthy as we once thought, I still can't abandon the taste.

Anyone who has grilled on gas and charcoal can tell you that there's a difference. When it comes to charcoal, the flavor is phenomenal. Charcoal grills are still widely available at stores such as Sears or Lowes, or a number of websites like Americasbestbbq.com. However, the variety is much nicer than it used to be. A certain advantage to using a charcoal grill is the price. A simple freestanding grill can be found for 50 bucks, while many gas grills range anywhere from $100 to thousands of dollars.

As a family man myself, I make use of a simple charcoal grill a number of times throughout the summer. What better time to cook out with family and friends. Anything from hotdogs to hamburgers to brats to shishcabobs can be flamed on one of these classic cookers. The heat and smoke from the charcoal add an amazing flavor to any meat of choice. There are even hickory chips that can be added for an additional enhancement.

When shopping around for a charcoal grill that's right for you or you and your family, make sure to take into consideration the size and number of people being fed. There are a variety of grills to suit the needs of an enormous family get-together or simply a single man or woman just looking for a change in the mundane daily meals.