New Outdoor Grills for 2019: Small, Smart and Convenient
Pizza ovens, Wi-Fi-connected grills and easy-clean features are seen at the recent Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo
Compact and convenient were two of the hottest features of products displayed at the 40th Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo held recently in Dallas. Billed as the “largest trade show for all things flame,” the 2019 event brought together nearly 400 exhibitors, including some of the biggest names in backyard living. The product downsizing, which has been evident for several years in the barbecue space, is a nod to consumers with smaller living spaces or who have the urge to grill on the go. The convenience theme extends into cyberspace, with apps that can control cooking temperatures from afar. There also were larger premium products for those with outdoor kitchens. The show, complete with an outdoor grilling area, took place March 14-16.
Cubism. Packing high heat into a small space, the new Landmann 800 Series uses infrared technology to hit temperatures of nearly 1,500 degrees, which makes it easy to get a good sear on the meat. The unit has a built-in Bluetooth meat thermometer that monitors the food temperature. You can set alerts for time and temperature for when your food is done.
Your Guide to Grills and More for Great Outdoor Cooking
Your Guide to Grills and More for Great Outdoor Cooking
Photo by Karen Robinson-Jacobs
Eco-friendly. Austin, Texas-based Lavaca displayed its CasusGrill, a “portable, instant, disposable, sustainable grill,” made of cardboard, bamboo sticks and bamboo charcoal. The product, another 2019 Vesta Award winner, was created in Denmark and is designed to be eco-friendly and grill with high heat but little or no flame. It measures 12.2 inches by 9.2 inches by 5 inches and weighs in at a svelte 2.2 pounds.
Eco-friendly. Austin, Texas-based Lavaca displayed its CasusGrill, a “portable, instant, disposable, sustainable grill,” made of cardboard, bamboo sticks and bamboo charcoal. The product, another 2019 Vesta Award winner, was created in Denmark and is designed to be eco-friendly and grill with high heat but little or no flame. It measures 12.2 inches by 9.2 inches by 5 inches and weighs in at a svelte 2.2 pounds.
For the Outdoor Kitchen
Budget-friendly versatility. The maker of Memphis Wood Fire Grills rolled out a new option with a smaller price tag. The Beale Street Grill gives backyard chefs the ability to smoke, grill, bake, roast or sear (with an insert) on its 575-square-inch cooking surface. The Beale Street can crank up to 550 degrees and has a 12-pound pellet hopper capacity. A Wi-Fi connection allows you to monitor your meal from afar.
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Budget-friendly versatility. The maker of Memphis Wood Fire Grills rolled out a new option with a smaller price tag. The Beale Street Grill gives backyard chefs the ability to smoke, grill, bake, roast or sear (with an insert) on its 575-square-inch cooking surface. The Beale Street can crank up to 550 degrees and has a 12-pound pellet hopper capacity. A Wi-Fi connection allows you to monitor your meal from afar.
Shop for outdoor grills
Fire island. The new Fire Magic Electric Grill island bundle from Robert H. Peterson delivers a complete outdoor kitchen system ideal for patios with limited space or where gas fuel is unavailable. The bundle includes a Fire Magic electric tabletop grill and refrigerator with stainless steel door and double-drawer unit, all housed in a glass fiber reinforced concrete island in a neutral Smoke finish.
The Top 10 Patio Photos of 2018
The Top 10 Patio Photos of 2018
“Easy clean.” Landmann’s Avalon PTS+ 5.1 is new to the U.S. market for 2019 but was initially launched in Europe in 2018. With a total cooking area of 780 square inches, the 65-inch-tall stainless steel grill features the brand’s Precision Temperature System, with minimal temperature variation across the cooking surface area; electronic push-button ignition; and a 12,000 BTU ceramic infrared rotisserie burner. Seamless grates and a firebox with vertical wall surfaces prevent grease buildup when cooking and cleaning.
See other Landmann products
See other Landmann products
Smokin’. The expo’s new-products pavilion featured entries from two Louisiana-based brothers who are shepherding Cajun Grill, a family firm that launched in 1945 as a blacksmith shop. The stainless steel Cajun Preaux smoker grill offers up to 800 square inches of cooking surface and comes with a lifetime warranty. It can be purchased as a built-in or standalone unit, says co-owner Gregg Guidry. The Preaux allows for cooking at different temperatures on the left and right sides. The Cajun Smoker includes a vertical smoking chamber with three cooking racks “for people who really like to cook for a lot of people,” he said. Meats can slow cook for up to 16 hours.
Browse smokers on Houzz
Browse smokers on Houzz
Grill and griddle. Fire Magic’s new Echelon Gourmet Griddle can handle outdoor cooking of everything from rice and fajitas to bacon and eggs. Available in portable or built-in models, the griddle is made from heavy-duty stainless steel and features dual burners that provide up to 40,000 BTUs, hot surface ignition, back-lit control knobs and a 30-by-18-inch two-zone cooking area that allows preparation of multiple dishes simultaneously. A stainless steel cover protects the griddle when not in use.
Find a landscape contractor to help with your outdoor kitchen
Find a landscape contractor to help with your outdoor kitchen
Photo by Karen Robinson-Jacobs
Fire Starters
Chimney-wand combo. To help get the party started, Pamela Matthews of Austin, Texas, showed off the Electricoal, a plug-in charcoal starter that her dad invented. A combination metal charcoal chimney and heating wand, the device eliminates the need for newspaper and lighter fluid and promises that the coals light evenly.
Great balls of fire. From Australia, the Blazaball promises an easy light for the grill, fire pit, pizza oven or campfire. Firestarters go inside the stainless steel cage. Once you light them, you can place wood or charcoal on top and the Blazaball brings the heat.
Fire Starters
Chimney-wand combo. To help get the party started, Pamela Matthews of Austin, Texas, showed off the Electricoal, a plug-in charcoal starter that her dad invented. A combination metal charcoal chimney and heating wand, the device eliminates the need for newspaper and lighter fluid and promises that the coals light evenly.
Great balls of fire. From Australia, the Blazaball promises an easy light for the grill, fire pit, pizza oven or campfire. Firestarters go inside the stainless steel cage. Once you light them, you can place wood or charcoal on top and the Blazaball brings the heat.
Tell us: What’s on your outdoor kitchen wish list this year? Which type of grill do you prefer? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
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Tabletop pizza. The 2019 Expo Attendees’ Choice award went to the Lil Luigi by WPPO, a tabletop wood- or charcoal-fueled outdoor pizza oven. The stainless steel oven, with a Cordierite cooking stone and a 144-square-inch cooking surface, burns wood chunks, chips or pellets and reaches temperatures of more than 900 degrees Fahrenheit with wood or charcoal.
Pizza in a minute. A 2019 Expo Vesta Award winner, the Ooni Koda tabletop pizza oven promises to cook pizza in 60 seconds. The propane gas-fired oven requires no assembly and can hit temperatures of up to 932 degrees Fahrenheit within 15 minutes. The insulated carbon steel shell and flame keeper device mean optimum heat retention, so dishes cook quickly.
Browse outdoor pizza ovens in the Houzz Shop