Gaudy Grills Go For The Glitz Newest Summer Status Symbol Is The Size Of Your Barbecuer

Americans aren’t just throwing charcoal in their barbecues anymore.

They’re buying big, deluxe cooking machines that virtually move a small kitchen into the backyard. With price tags in the thousands, grilling now means slicing, dicing, smoking, frying and even baking.

“The grill has become like a car in suburbia,” said Paul Zamek, who helped his dad put together a new Ducane grill last weekend at their Westwood, N.J., home. “You want the biggest and best.”

Summer starts today, and that means homeowners nationwide are ready for the busiest time of the year for barbecuing. There were 2.7 billion barbecues in the United States last year.

About 84 percent of all families own at least one grill, up from 68 percent in 1987. Charcoal grills are still the most popular, but sales top gas grills by only a narrow margin.

“Living outdoors has become such a major activity today, with gardening, building decks, buying more outdoor furniture,” said Donna Myers, spokeswoman for the Barbecue Industry Association in Naperville, Ill. “People have made a major commitment to their backyard and now they want to cook in it.”

Five years ago, most grills sold for about $130 to $300, but now the average price runs between $300 to $700 and demand for higher-priced grills some costing thousands is on the rise, Myers said.

That comes as many barbecuers look for more than just an iron grate with a flame below to cook their steaks and burgers.

Style is almost as important as function. Many manufacturers and retailers advertise stainless steel features and non-traditional colors like hunter green and burgundy.

Still, there is no guarantee those you feed will notice the difference between the $19 table-top grill and the $3,500 variety.