BBQ has always been an integral part of American food culture. The popularity of grilling continues to grow and grow from one year to the next, and has become the most popular trend to kick off the spring and summer seasons. Certain events have become synonymous with the BBQ, like tail-gating for the big game, family get-togethers, birthday parties and much more. The gas BBQ grill is being used to spruce up backyards everywhere, and making the decision to purchase one for yourself can be a pretty exciting task.

While thinking about improving an outdoor space, one may be considering purchasing a new gas barbecue grill. With so many options on the market today, it can be difficult to make a the best choice. Manufacturers list a great deal of information about square inches, ignition style and types of burners; however, it can be hard to determine what is truly important. If you have made the decision to purchase a new gas BBQ grill for your household I offer you the following steps that you can take to ensure that you are getting the best bang for your buck.

Step 1) Determine your budget. Gas grills come in a surprising range of prices. Some grills can cost less than $100. However, top-of-the-line models can cost more than $5,000. Decide how much you are willing to invest on purchasing a new gas barbecue grill and you can narrow your search immensely. Having a firm budget in place gives you a great starting point to begin your research from.

Step 2) After determining your budget for a new gas grill you should decide if you want to make an in-store or online purchase. There are pros and cons to both; the biggest pro to making a purchase online is that you will have a greater market conveniently located at your fingertips. The options are vast and you can search all over the web to find great deals read reviews from other buyers. This will allow you to gain some insight on how certain grills perform before you decide to purchase one. The downfall to purchasing a gas grill online is the shipping; both the cost and the time it takes to arrive at your house. If you decide to purchase in-store you can take the grill home immediately after purchase, and many retailers even offer free delivery so that you don’t have to do any of the work. The downfalls to an in-store purchase is that you will have a limited number of choices to choose from and you will be relying heavily on the word of the salesperson to determine the quality of any grill that takes your interest. Take both online and in-store buying options into serious consideration and determine which one suits your needs the best.

Step 3) After you decide to shop online or hit one of your local retailers, you will need to determine which features are important to you on your new gas grill. Some of these newer models are very high-tech and sophisticated well beyond the needs, and cost, of the buyer. Flashy doesn’t always translate to higher quality so try not to get too caught up in the bells and whistles. You already know your ideal price range so concentrate now on choosing exactly what you want and don’t want. One of the most important features is the number of burners on the grill. A good gas grill should have at least two burners to ensure that there will be a place for high heat as well as for low heat. Some grills have three or more burners. The surface area of the burners is important as well and should be determined based on the number of people who normally eat at one time. Tall lids will be immensely important should you ever decide to roast a large turkey or other large proportions of food. Choosing the right material is important as well, you don’t want to purchase a new gas grill that is going to rust; stainless steel is always a great option. Never settle for things you don’t need or won’t utilize, especially if they come at a higher cost. Stick to your guns and get exactly what you want.

Step 4) Protect your new investment. After determining your budget, deciding where to shop, and finding a new gas grill that suits all your needs and wants, it is time to make the purchase, but before you fork over the money you should be absolutely certain that your new gas grill comes with a warranty. If the factory warranty isn’t that great or an extended warranty is offered at a low cost through the retailer, I suggest grabbing one. Things happen beyond our control in life and protecting the investment you just made for an appliance that you will rely on for years to come is not just a good idea, it is a necessity. This doesn’t mean you should let a salesperson bamboozle you into an outrageously priced warranty that doesn’t offer any extra protection beyond the factory warranty, it just means you should shop smart and protect your purchase.

There are many different options to consider when purchasing a gas barbecue grill including the cost, physical size, the amount of features, the food capacity, the amount of assembly required and so on. With the abundance of information available to the consumer the task might, at first glance, seem a little overwhelming. For many of us time is money and we don’t always have extra time to spend on researching this sort of leisurely purchase, but using this quick guide as a reference can help keep things simple so that your time is well spent. Finding the perfect gas barbecue grill should be an exciting endeavor and not a stressful one. Take the time to do a little research, follow these steps, and I assure you it will result in many delicious BBQ meals for years to come. Below is a link you can copy and paste to see what one of the newer gas grills looks like.

http://bbq.about.com/cs/grills/bb/aabyb042503.htm
http://bbq.about.com/cs/gasgrills/a/aa111597a.htm
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/gas-grills.htm
http://www.bbqguys.com/content_content_56.html
http://www.napoleongrills.com/blog/best-gas-grills-how-to-know-youre-buying-the-best/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-goldwyn/how-to-buy-a-grill_b_844971.html
http://dealnews.com/features/So-Much-at-Steak-8-Tips-for-Buying-the-Right-Gas-Grill/759270.html
http://www.lowes.com/projects/porch-deck-and-patio/grill-buying-guide/article?cm_sp=SeasonalLiving-_-OutdoorLiving
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/story/2012-05-20/reviewed-dotcom-grills-reviewed/55095314/1
http://www.amazingribs.com/BBQ_buyers_guide/grills/gas_grill_reviews_and_ratings.html