Solar Powered Grill

Solar Powered Grill vs Solar Generator for Grill

A barbecue party is one of America’s favorite things to have with friends and family. Every summer, it has become a quintessential part of almost every American home to cook different types of meat on a grill over an open fire to celebrate the end of the school year or simply, just to spend some good time with loved ones. 

There are now a wide variety of options when it comes to barbecue grills including those that are powered by renewable sources of energy such as solar powered grills.

Solar Powered Grill

Although considered as a relatively new technology, solar grills are gaining popularity over the past few years. A solar-powered grill is a device that utilizes the sun’s energy to cook food. The box-style grill is the most common type of solar-powered grill. It has a box-shaped container with a reflective surface on the top. It uses a series of mirrors or lenses to focus the sun’s rays onto a cooking surface. The heat from the sun’s rays then cooks the food.

Solar grills can be used to cook different kinds of food such as burgers, steaks, hotdogs and vegetables. They can also be used to bake bread and pizza.  Compared to traditional grills, solar grills take longer to cook food but they are the more environmentally friendly option.

One thing to bear in mind though about solar powered grills is that it is highly dependent on direct sunlight. Not a good option to consider if you’d like to grill some food on a rainy day or during a breezy summer night.

Solar Generator for Grill

While a solar powered grill is indeed a great choice particularly to those who are making a conscious effort to live a “green” life, it is a good idea to check other possible options first before buying one. 

A portable solar generator could be a much better choice especially for outdoor barbecue events as it can power your grill as well as other small appliances simultaneously whilst keeping it green.

One perfect example of a portable solar generator for grills is Nature’s Generator Elite - Gold System. Packed with 1200Wh capacity, it is sufficient enough to power your outdoor grill plus other small devices during your outdoor events such as barbecue parties and camping.

To get a better idea just how much is its capacity, let's see how much a pellet grill can go if it’s hooked up to a solar generator for power. This type of grill will need anywhere from 300-500W for the first 5-10 minutes during startup since the ignitor is working on lighting the pellets and the fan is working to build the fire in the fire pot. Once that’s done, it will only require about 30W of electrical power until you’re ready to put out the fire. At 1200Wh capacity, Nature’s Generator Elite - Gold System will give you a total of approximately 32 hours of grilling time. Now, that’s a looong time!

And just like what’s mentioned earlier, this portable power station has multiple ports so you can simultaneously charge multiple devices. It also supports pass-through charging so you can charge the power station itself as it charges other devices. Moreover, it supports a variety of charging methods, so you can quickly charge it using the included solar panels, an AC outlet, or a wind turbine (sold separately).

Solar Powered Grill VS. Solar Generator for Grill

Both solar powered grills and solar generators for grills utilize the power of the sun but for different purposes.

For solar powered grills, the sun’s energy is collected and transformed into heat so it can grill, bake and cook a wide variety of foods.

For solar generators for grills, solar energy is captured and converted into electricity so it can power up an electric grill and other cooking appliances.

Each of these two have their advantages and disadvantages so it is important to identify your needs and requirements in order to make the right choice.

Conclusion

“Green” barbecue parties are now possible thanks to new technology. People who are looking for an eco-friendly, easy-to-set-up and versatile grill should get solar powered grills. The number of people who will eat, sunlight condition and budget are just some of the factors that need to be considered when looking for the right type of solar powered grill. Aside from this, people can also opt for a portable solar generator to power their grill. This option is best for outdoor gatherings since it can also power other electronic devices elevating your outdoor event to the next level.

* We want to give credit where credit is due. Professional writer, Ann Matthew, contributed research and content to this blog titled: Solar Powered Grill Thank you, Ann, for your contributions!