How to choose the best green grill – eco-friendly barbecue

We’ve been looking at earth friendly barbecue ideas – yes it is almost spring. In case you need to catch up read…

• How Earth Friendly is Your Backyard Barbecue?
• Green Barbecue Accessories

Now, what about how to choose the best green grill? Grills overall are actually more earth-friendly than cooking in your kitchen. Many grills cook fast and beyond that have less of an impact than other stuff we do (think leaving the tv on, driving, etc.). However, you can be extra mindful and choose the greenest grill option possible.

There are various options when it comes to grills – gas grills (propane or natural gas), charcoal grills, wood fire grills (or just cooking over an open fire basically), solar grills, and electric grills. Solar is your hands down most eco-friendly choice, and currently, there are many options for solar cookers. They may not all grill as perfectly or as grillish as your typical barbecue, but they get the job done and have a low footprint.

Natural gas is your second best option (for the planet). Natural gas obviously has its own issues (um, offshore drilling) but in a purely eco-sense, it’s more friendly than say, electric.

Charcoal and wood are the least earth-friendly of all your grill choices, although, lately some charcoal and grill briquette options have emerged that are noted for being more eco-friendly than the typical charcoal. Keep in mind though, by eco-friendly, I mean only slightly more so – overall, all charcoal and briquette options release soot and toxins into the air which is not healthy for you or the planet.

Solar grill options and ideas:

Solar-powered barbecue

Build A Solar Cooker

Solar oven

Extra gear – Solar-Powered Barbecue Light

What sort of outdoor barbecue have you been using?