Ah, summer! Is there any better season to lay in a backyard hammock, sit poolside while sipping a cool drink or throw an impromptu party with family and friends?
Of course, the centerpiece of all that laid-back lounging in your backyard is the gas grill. Invented in the early 1950s by Don McGlaughlin, owner of the Chicago Combustion Corporation, the squatty little two-burner basic black iron grill has evolved today into a sleek, high-end appliance that is a must-have for every outdoor dining experiences, from simple decks with a picnic table to sprawling patios with full, outdoor kitchens.
"High end grills are very big now, they can run anywhere from $500 to $5,000," says Eric Sharp, sales manager for SK Lavery Appliances, which has stores in Glastonbury and West Hartford. "And you can even go higher than $5,000."
Some of the high-end gas grill brands that SK Lavery sells include Wolf, Weber, Lynx and Prestige.
So what do high-end grills have over their your run-of-the-mill gas grill?
Most of them have must-have options for optimal grilling, Sharp says, things like infrared cooking, rotisseries, a larger cooking area than the average grill and better igniters, the kind that don't wear out within the first few months after you set your grill up.
"I've even seen high-end grills that came with a built-in refrigerator," Sharp says. One of the more practical options available in better grills, Sharp says, are lights.
"They have built-in lights for nighttime grilling and that’s a great feature because in December it gets dark at 4:30 and that's right when you're going to be cooking."
So what are consumers looking for most in their gas grills these days? Sharp says it's size and heat.
"If you’re passionate about grilling you’re going to want infrared or rotisseries. A really high intense sear is something you really want on a steak because it lets you trap juices inside the meat."
Others want a big grill for large parties or built-in options for outdoor kitchens.
"Some people want something for entertaining like 50 people, so they want something large. Other people want a grill they can install in an outdoor kitchen or dining area."
Less sexy, but equally or even more important, Sharp says, is that higher end grills come with better warrantees and have much longer lifespans than cheaper grills.
With hundreds of grills available at their two locations, Sharp said SK Lavery has just about every grill for every outdoor living lifestyle.