Learn how to save a little money when you take your dinner out to the grill. A few simple tips can help you save money now and in the long run by being informed about your purchases and your cooking, while helping to improve your outdoor cooking experience. To save money you need to be a smart consumer and a smart griller.
Maintain your Investment
You've spent a lot of money on that grill, but if you don't take care of it, it isn't going to last. From the cheapest burger burner to the ultimate outdoor kitchen you need to keep your grill clean and maintained to get the most out of it. This may mean doing some occasional Grill Maintenance. Clean your grill regularly by pulling out the cooking grates and getting inside to remove all the food and grease that has accumulated in the bottom. Avoid using harsh chemicals like oven cleaner that can damage the burners, igniters, and other components. While you are in there inspect your it for wear and tear. Make sure that you keep your grill dry inside and out, by turning the it on to dry it out and by putting a cover on it when not in use.
Charcoal versus Gas
Gas grills typically cost more than charcoal grills, but they cost less to use. Assuming that it costs $15USD to fill a 20 pound propane bottle that gives you 25 cookouts and that 20 pounds of charcoal runs around $10USD and gives you three cookouts you will spend about $.60USD per every time you fire up the gas grill and around $3.50 on the charcoal grill. If you grilled every week you would spend $31.20USD in propane or $182USD on charcoal. Of course there is more to the Gas versus Charcoal debate than cost, but if you grill a lot gas is far more economical.Be your own Butcher
Meat is expensive. That's simply a fact, and since most of what we cook on the grill is going to be meat we need to be smart about it. What we want to do is choose less expensive cuts of meat while trying not to sacrifice quality. Try avoiding are specialty cuts. Frequently butchers charge more for some cuts of the same piece of meat. If you look through the meat counter at the grocery store you can see what I am talking about. For this reason it is a good idea to learn how to carve your own cuts. Buying large "primal" cuts of meat is usually cheaper. All you have to so is cut these into small pieces. For instance, buy whole pork loin and cut it into pork loin chops. Also, try shopping at large meat markets where you can find better deals.Durability versus Price
You can get a gas grill for under $100USD or you can spend $10,000. Charcoal grills can be had for as little as $20 or over $2,000. There are many reasons for the difference in prices, but one of the most important is durability. The least expensive grills are simply not built to last. There is a common argument that if you paid $200 for a gas grill that lasted two years it would be just as cheap as spending $1,000 on a grill that lasted 10 years. But there is more to this argument than that. If you buy a cheap grill that flares-up, cooks uneven, and is unreliable you won't get as much enjoyment out of it. This will cause you to use it less, so you get less use than on a more expensive grill, meaning less value.Use your Warranty
Most all grills come with a warranty and most good grills come with a great warranty. Use it. From many grill makers you can get replacement parts for your grill for many years and often without costing you a dime. This is particularly true of name brand grills (not store brand grills). It is important, but not always necessary that you keep the receipt and paperwork for your grill so please hang on to it. A good idea is to put the important papers in a Zip-Top bag and tape it inside your grill for future reference. If the grill maker gives you trouble on your warranty claim, ask to talk to a supervisor. And remember, many warranties do not cover wear and tear, or even rust and corrosion so keep your grill clean.Fuel Efficiency
You can greatly reduce your fuel expense for your grill by avoiding excessive preheating. Most gas grills are ready to cook in 5 to 10 minutes, and most charcoal is ready in about 15 minutes. If you are ready to cook the second your grill is, and you turn your grill off as soon as you are done you can reduce your fuel consumption greatly. When using charcoal, only use as much as you absolutely need. Most grills will cook great on about 5 pounds of charcoal. It also helps if you have a charcoal grill that can be shut down (see the next item). Conserve fuel and grill more.Shop for Propane
Propane prices can vary from station to station. Also, you typically pay more for propane tank exchange services than you do to get your tank refilled. I strongly suggest that you shop around for your propane to save yourself a few dollars. Look for a central propane distribution center. Since they are the source for propane that most refill stations buy from, they can sell their propane for less money. Currently propane costs about $2.50USD per gallon, yet many refill stations charge as much as a dollar more.
