IN EVERY ISSUE name changed to the one we recognize today as “ Kingsford Briquettes .”
The next big point on the grilling history timeline is the birth of the backyard grill . About the time that Kingsford was perfecting the Ford charcoal lump , a welder working at Weber Metal Works in Chicago , Illinois , by the name of George Stephen had an idea to cut a metal buoy in half and create a domed lid over a portable fire source which utilized the charcoal briquettes that had been growing in popularity . This new design allowed the griller to cook his animal flesh more evenly , sealing in flavor and preventing ash storms that plagued the singed meats of the ’ 40s . Seventy years later , the “ Weber Grill ” is still the first name in grassroots backyard cooking .
The 1960s saw the birth of the gas grill when two gentlemen , William G . Wepfer and Melton Lancaster , working for the Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company , designed a grill that could run off propane gas
Hay
rather than the messy , time-consuming briquette . The gas grill would eventually overtake charcoal fired grills in popularity as the gas technology improved , becoming cheaper and easier to obtain .
Gas grills are still the king , accounting for roughly 55 % of grill sales in the U . S . but , there is a challenger to the BBQ throne in the new pellet system grills . Charcoal has been bumped into third place ( sorry Mr . Ford ) in overall sales of grills , being surpassed by the growing popularity of the trendy wood pellet grill .
What ’ s the all the fuss about these new pelleted grills ? Well , a lot of it can be attributed to the millennials and their fondness for anything to do with technology . These new grills can be monitored with Wi-Fi based aps that allow the griller to control heat and time from afar – no more babysitting the blackened sausages . You can set your grill to customize along with your cooking style . The pelleted grills offer an easier clean up , another plus for the millennial generation and their notorious disdain for manual labor .
The change in grill fashions through the decades allows the griller to choose multiple methods – many avid outdoor grilling artists own multiple grills as there are pluses and minuses to all the styles in one form or another . Since the 17th century when Spanish conquistadors picked up the art of cooking meat over flames with sticks , called by the local Caribbean islanders “ barbacoa ,” different styles and flavors have moved and adapted as the art form moved through the South American cultures and into North America where the Southeastern part of the country turned cooking meat into a cultural expression of humanity .
BBQing as we have named it is truly a maze of trends and flavors much like the wood smoke and rubs and sauces that change as you move from east to west . Different grills offer different flavors and allows the griller to express their creativity in whatever it is that they are cooking . Meat , vegetables and even fruit are fodder for the grill these days on the new wave of outdoor kitchens .
The outdoor cooking trend has come a long way from Bermuda short clad gents standing around the black bubble of the Weber to the magnificent rock slab , built in grills that are becoming a must for many homeowners . These new modern outdoor kitchens are the latest and greatest fashion statement of suburbia . Cooking indoors can cause your house to smell like the fish you are having for dinner for the next few days where this age-old problem is alleviated in the beautiful setting of your personal paradise . Outdoor kitchens range from the simple to the extravagant , complete with appliances and TVs equipped for the elements . The personal touches such as multiple styles of grills , covered or screened , fireplaces , building materials are as individual as you are .
The growing trend in outdoor living according to Forbes has seen a 65 % increase in 2021 much of which is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic . Forbes published a National Kitchen & Bath Association poll of contractors across the U . S . Outdoor kitchens , not surprisingly , were the top project , with 76 % of those surveyed planning these areas . Next were patios and decks at 54 % response . Screened porches and three-season rooms rounded out the top three with 31 % of respondents .
The importance of having a personal space where family and friends can gather in the privacy of the home is thought to be fueling the trend . Year around gathering has become more popular as well . Gone are the days of just summertime parties around the old swimming pool thanks to these enhanced outdoor living spaces which offer expanded and upgraded seating , fireplaces and firepits , and weather protection .
• Shani Hay is an agent with the Mississippi State University- Extension Service , Lauderdale County . You may contact her by email at smh964 @ msstate . edu or by calling 601-482-9764 . www . meridianstar . com
• 35