Homemade Open Top Grill Plans

Open-Top Grills

• Open-top grills should not be confused with barbecue pits. Since these grills do not have a lid, they are useful only for cooking foods quickly over a high heat. Steaks, hamburgers and hot dogs all do well on an open-top grill, but thicker meats such as bone-in chicken or vegetables require slower cooking achieved with the oven-like environment created with a grill lid. Consider crafting an optional lid to fit over your open-top grill if you want to increase the range of food you can cook on the grill.

Portability

• The portability of a grill is important. Determine whether you want a built-in unit or one that you can move under an outdoor overhang in inclement weather. If you choose an open-top, built-in grill, you will need a tarp to protect it from rain and nesting animals. Built-in grills take more time to construct, but they last longer than smaller, portable units.

Fuel Source

• The fuel source for your grill can play a role in how portable it is. Charcoal grills need little besides a fireproof container to hold the coals while providing air flow. Natural gas grills need access to gas lines, but you can install them with the help of a professional to put in the gas line to your grill from your home. An open-top grill that runs off natural gas must be a permanent fixture. Propane tanks give you the temperature control of gas and the portability of a charcoal grill. This fuel option is also good if you live in an area without natural gas. Wood-burning grills take a long time to get the wood to the proper temperature and they can burn extremely hot. For this option, a built-in grill will better withstand the heat of the burning wood.

Grill Materials

• Carefully select the materials you choose to build your open-top grill. Because the grill will reach extremely high temperatures, you need a fireproof material. You can construct built-in grills from bricks arranged in a box shape with the fuel inside and grates above. Make portable grills from clean oil drums, metal buckets or terracotta pots. Just be sure to use unglazed terracotta if you choose that option for your grill.

Grate Material

• The grate material is also important. Cast-iron grates are heavy and prone to rusting, but keeping them oiled regularly can prevent this, and the grates will last a long time if treated well. Lightweight aluminum grates are an option for portable grills, but they transfer heat quickly and can cause food to stick to the grates. Ceramic-coated grates have a cast-iron core and do not rust, but the ceramic can chip off if handled improperly.