No Smoke: The #1 Grill Masters Are Women This Summer

Women are the unsung heroes of the grill! According to a spicy new survey by Purdue of 2,000 men and women, 53% think ladies aren't getting the props they deserve for their grill skills. And this isn't just some wishful thinking. Both men and women agree on this juicy stat.

Confession: I don't grill because of Hannah Storm and the unfortunate accident that seared off her eyebrows and hair. I'll never be the same after hearing about that debacle. She's fine, though.

Anywho.

So why aren't women getting their grill cred?

Turns out, half of the respondents—55% of men and 47% of women—think grilling is a dude’s domain. But hold your tongs, because 53% also say that idea is as outdated as charcoal.

Plus, a whopping 77% believe grilling should be an equal-opportunity sport.

This survey found that nearly half of the women (48%) are ready to steal the spotlight at the grill this year.

And let's face it, who doesn’t love a good grilled dinner in the summer? A hearty 84% of respondents are all about those grill marks when the weather heats up.

Now, let’s talk grill love. Why do people enjoy it so much? Well, 63% said grilled food is their absolute fave. Another 51% love getting outside, and 42% say grilling just makes them happy. Seriously, who can argue with that?

Jody Hallman, the marketing exec at Perdue, gets it.

"As a fourth-generation family-owned food and agriculture company, we know meals bring people together,” says Hallman. “During the summer, that often happens around the grill. We believe grilling is an equal-opportunity activity that all members of the household can and should enjoy."

Speaking of food, what are the must-haves for grilling season? No surprises here—burgers are king, with 72% calling them essential. Hot dogs snagged 60%, and steak rounded out the top three with 59%. Chicken breast and ribs also made the list because, well, they’re delicious.

And let’s not forget the underdogs. Fish topped the list of underrated grill proteins at 27%, with chicken not far behind at 16%. Hallman sums it up nicely, “If women are the unsung heroes of the grill, chicken is the underdog of grilled proteins. It’s versatile and perfect for any occasion.”

So there you have it, folks. Women are ready to take over the grill, and we should all be cheering them on. It’s time to flip the script and give these grill queens the recognition they deserve.

Grilled food is some of my favorite to eat — 63%

I get to be outside — 51%

It puts me in a good mood — 42%

It’s a seasonal experience — 36%

It’s easy — 34%

It’s a chance to get together with loved ones — 32%I

t’s healthy — 28%

We have found the 4 best ways to make summer grilling healthier for you without harming the environment. It’sthe last month of Summer, yes September is still summer technically, but we all know that Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. Let’s make the most of it.

We have found the 4 best ways to make summer grilling

A welder for the Weber welding company was frustrated with what was available four grills at the time. With his amazing ingenuity, he cut a buoy in half and made a metal grates to fit over it and produce the first modern barbecue grill.

At first he wasn’t able to control the smoke when he put the cover on it. It wasn’t until a neighbor told him to drill holes in the cupboard to allow smoke out of the grill that he perfected it. He then added holes on the bottom and the loud smoke to vent out the top and bottom. That gave a controlled heat in the modern barbecue grill was born.

This welder loved the idea so much he started manufacturing them for friends families and neighbors. The business took off so much so that he ended up buying the Weber welding company and transformed it into what we know today is the largest grill company in the world.

Now there are so many types of barbecue grills it’s hard to keep up with them. There’s everything from the big green egg to smokers, outdoor pizza oven’s and of course trendy outdoor kitchens with permanent grills and refrigerators

Use high-quality pure lump charcoal. Charcoal briquettes are popular because they're easy to light and provide even heat to the grill. But the chunks are often held together with chemical additives that can release additional emissions into the air.

Avoid lighter fluid. Lighter fluid is made of hydrocarbons, which can be toxic if ingested. And the smoke given off by lighter fluid-soaked coals contributes to air pollution.

Shut down the grill as soon as you're done cooking. Most people will let their coals burn down and out when they're done cooking, which means hours of extra and unnecessary emissions. Instead, when you're done cooking, simply close the lid and shut any vents.

Switch to a natural gas grill. If you want to go all-in with eco-friendly grilling practices, ditch the charcoal in favor of a natural gas grill.