Fire it up! Grilling heats up

Springfield lawyer Shawn Askinosie uses his two Big Green Egg grills twice a week when the weather is warm.

He even cooks his Thanksgiving turkey on them when the weather isn’t so warm.

“We cook all of our meals on the grills. We don’t even have a kitchen,” Askinosie joked.

The Big Green Eggs are the most popular grills at Outdoor Home, 3107 E. Chestnut Expressway, according to salesperson Mike Harmon.

Big Green Eggs ceramic charcoal grills can heat to 600 F in eight minutes and can smoke, baste, roast, grill or sear meat. The most popular version sells for $669 at Outdoor Home.

“The ceramics give you good efficiency, (and) it gives you good insulation,” Harmon said.

Other grilling aficionados might prefer the Evo grills offered at Outdoor Home. About six months ago, the business started selling Evo grills for $2,800. Evos sport a unique flat, circular cooking surface and also offer versatility.

But Springfield isn’t the only city where grilling is hot.

Manufacturers shipped nearly 15 billion grills nationally to retailers in 2005, according to Carol Kaplan, spokeswoman for the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association.

She said national sales reached $2.75 billion in 2005.

“I can’t think of anything that is growing faster right now than (what) I’m going to call the barbeque industry,” said Mike Mills, president of the National Barbecue Association.

“It’s absolutely phenomenal what is happening out there.”

Mills said the “surface has just been scratched” in the grill industry, with new grills and accessories on their way.

Steve Jordan, hearth manager for Maschino’s, 1715 S. Campbell Ave., said his store carries about 35 different models of grills from manufacturers Weber, Broil King, Peterson, Hasty-Bake and Horizon.

“There’s a lot to choose from,” Jordan said, noting that tabletop grills used for camping are Maschino’s cheapest grills at $35.

Scott Thomas said he became a fan of Primo grills because he sells them at Springfield Pool & Spa, 3117 S. Campbell Ave.

“I’ve got one that I love,” he said.

Thomas said the large oval Primo grill is the company’s most popular at $899.

Maschino’s Jordan said the “outdoor room” concept has increased the popularity of grills and grilling accessories. He also said people like grilling because it keeps the heat and the mess outside.

Jordan said one of the most popular accessories is a remote temperature probe by Maverick that sells for $49. He said a stainless-steel probe goes into meat on the grill while a remote handset signals either the meat’s temperature or when the meat is fully cooked.

Other popular grilling accessories, Jordan said, include cleaning brushes with replaceable heads, nighttime grilling lights, grilling cookbooks and aprons with funny sayings on them.

Of course, meat is still the ultimate grilling accessory.

Marty Lower, assistant meat manager at Harter House, 1500 E. Republic Road, said steaks remain king of the grill, with more expensive cuts such as T-bones, porterhouses, New York strips and rib eyes selling the best.

He said eight-ounce beef tenderloin filets for $5.99 apiece are all the rage.