It's grill season! Here's why this new BBQ from VIDA by Paderno is right for you

You’ve just removed the cover of your gas BBQ after a long winter to discover it has called it quits.

Older BBQs have a hard time coping with cold winters so it’s not uncommon to find damage, rust or a defunct grill after sitting outside for six plus months. Perhaps your trusty summer sidekick has just had enough after many years of doling out tasty burgers and succulent skewers. Or maybe you're looking to upgrade to something a little more innovative and tech-forward.

The good news? It’s a great time to upgrade your grill ahead of what promises to be a great BBQ season. Like any major purchase, you want to make the right choice and there are a few key features to look at when selecting a new BBQ — and one of Canadian Tire’s newest offerings, the Vida by PADERNO Essence Series Convertible Gas BBQ, checks all the boxes.

As you set out to find your perfect summer grilling partner, here are a few tips on choosing a BBQ that’s right for you.

Price point

When it comes to finding the right BBQ for you, price, and value for that price, is an important factor. The Vida by PADERNO Essence Series BBQ includes many of the features of a high-end luxury grill without the corresponding price tag. The two-burner model rings in at $449.99 (regular price) while the four-burner model is $599.99 (regular price). With innovative cooking technologies, a solid frame and quality cast iron cooking grates, you’ll be spending many summers cooking up epic meals together.

Versatility

As outdoor cooking grows in popularity, people are finding new ways to use their BBQs to cook unconventional foods that you might normally cook in your oven or on your stove. That’s why BBQ technology is making it easier to regulate temperature so you can make virtually anything on your grill.

The Vida by PADERNO Essence Series includes the Oven Mode function, which allows you to maintain a steady temperature using TempASSURED Technology™. This feature makes it possible to bake particularly finicky recipes that require an even temperature for an extended period of time.

Once you’re done baking, flip it back to BBQ mode to make all your favourite BBQ classics. The four burner model also includes a 12,000 BTU side burner so you can tackle soups and sauces.

Size

Depending on how many people you’ll be BBQing for, or the types of foods you want to grill, size is a factor you want to consider before investing in a BBQ.

The Vida by PADERNO Essence Series offers a two burner and a four burner option. Families with children and larger households will want to opt for the four burner grill, which offers 640 sq. inches of cooking surface. Larger cooking surfaces also allow for more experimentation, so if you want to try your hand at smoking or using indirect heat, you’ll have plenty of room to do so.

For single residents and couples, the two burner option provides more than enough cooking space to make a hearty meal for two or to host a few friends. The space saving foldable side shelves are also great if you have limited outdoor space.

Heat

When discussing the heat potential of a BBQ, you’ll want to look at its BTU (British Thermal Units) rating. BTU measures how much heat a grill can produce. That being said, this measurement can be a little deceptive at times and a higher BTU doesn’t necessarily make a grill better. Well constructed grills with better heat retention might have a lower BTU but yield better results than a grill with a high BTU rating that is shoddily constructed.

Depending on your grilling habits, a higher BTU will typically be more useful if you BBQ regularly for large groups. Otherwise, a lower BTU should be just fine for a couple or a family to make regular meals.

Solid construction

A quality BBQ is made to last so when you’re shopping around, don’t be fooled by something that appears shiny and modern.

Always read the specs carefully to ensure you’re getting a durable product. You should feel confident if the body of the BBQ is made of stainless steel, but be wary if you find it’s made of a low quality sheet metal or aluminum that’s prone to rust. When it comes to the grates, porcelain cast iron grates or stainless steel is the way to go.

Finally, open and close the hood of the BBQ to test out how tightly it shuts as this could indicate how well it retains heat. You might even want to move it around to get a feel for its stability and weight. The BBQ shouldn’t feel flimsy or rickety in any way.

Ready to make a decision? Check out the Vida by PADERNO Essence Series BBQ at Canadian Tire.