Buying a barbecue

Side burners, BTUs, storage, warming units, it seems like there are a lot of things to think about when it comes to buying a barbecue.

But Craig Youdale says it really comes down to two things:

• How many people are you cooking for?
• How long do you want it to last?

It's hard to translate square inches of grill surface to a family of four. Youdale uses a hands-on technique. How many of your handprints can you fit on the grill? One handprint for each person you want to cook for will give you the right size.

How long a barbecue will last depends on materials.

Stainless steel is going to last the longest, and that goes for outside and inside. Other metals on the outside will tend to rust in the backyard, and other metals on the grill will wear more quickly with frequent scrubbing.

As for heat output, Youdale says the typical range of 25,000 to 40,000 BTUs is more than enough for most families. Side burners? Warming units? Bells and whistles, he says.

"I've got a $160 model at home that has a lid and a grill and a burner - and that's all I need."