Backyard grilling is booming. Whether looking at search data on Google or tracking sales, interest in barbecues is on the rise over the course of this pandemic. With dining out options severely limited over much of the past year, the backyard grill has become an integral tool in preparing the home menu. Here we bring you some things to consider as you plan your own personal barbecue season.

“Without question, we are seeing more people looking to either acquire their first or upgrade their existing grill,” says Stephen Schroeter, co-Chief Executive Officer of Napoleon. “Across the industry, sales are up an estimated 15 to 20 per cent. We are barely keeping pace with the demand.”

As more people take to the yard to cook, and the weather begins to improve to make it more comfortable to stand by the barbecue, Napoleon is noticing some trends emerging for the 2021 season:

1. Experimentation — Instead of going out, people are looking inside their refrigerators to see what they can put on the grill. It is leading to some new flavor combinations, and the growing realization that the grill is for much more than just cuts of meat. It is great for vegetables, can be used as an oven for pizzas or to get creative with desserts.

2. Style — Matte black is all the rage. For years, stainless steel grills lined showroom floors, then colored lids were introduced. This year, Napoleon’s Phantom Series is redefining the look of the barbecue with the classy and luxurious look of a silky matte black finish.

3. Accessories — The list of accessories for the grill is long, starting with the tools (tongs, spatulas and brushes) and running to rotisserie kits. To get the most versatility out of your grill, consider adding a few game changers to the arsenal:

A rotisserie basket makes grilled chicken wings so much easier. No need to flip ach wing individually, toss them in the basket and let them slow cook. They taste like they are fresh out of the deep fryer, without, of course, having been deep fried.

Adding a pizza stone creates so many new ways to use your grill. Pizza is the most obvious, but it can also be used to bake cookies or bread, cook frozen foods and even make quesadillas.

Smoker tubes and boxes bring new flavour experiences to your dishes, without having to invest in a whole other BBQ. Pack the smoker tube or box with the woodchips of your choice, place on the grill and close the lid. The Napoleon charcoal and smoker tray gives the owners of gas grills a chance to bring classic charcoal flavors to their meals too.

4. Tech — The key to good eating is making sure the temperature is spot on. You don’t want to under roast that chicken or turn your expensive steaks into overdone shoe leather. At the same time, when cooking or smoking a big cut of meat, you want to keep the lid closed to trap both the heat and smoke inside the grill. A Bluetooth thermometer not only allows you to set your cooking targets and send temperatures to your smartphone, some models can also be used for multiple cuts of meat, or to measure the ambient temperature in your grill or smoker to ensure you are cooking at the right level.

For more information, please visit www.napoleon.com. Follow Napoleon on Twitter @NapoleonProduct and Like it Facebook.