September 04, 2005

By: Martin Collins
Website: http://www.1st-in-steaks.com

Barbecues not just for summer weekends anymore

Eight out of every ten adults grilled last year according to a new study by leading marketing information provider The NPD Group, Inc. People are grilling more all year round, making barbecue grills one of the most popular heating appliances in the American home and creating new opportunities for marketers, reveals NPD’s latest Grilling In America report, a survey of 12,800 nationally representative households.

As consumers look for ways to simplify food preparation, more people are relying on their grills for fast, convenient family dinner meals. Seventy percent of grilled dinner meals take thirty minutes or less to prepare, compared to half of dinner meals overall. In keeping with the changing needs of meal preparers, 31% of adults agree that grilling involves less cleanup, takes less time, and allows them to capitalize on convenience and health-consciousness without sacrificing taste, the number one reason that consumers grill.

"Americans turn to the grill for a few reasons," states Arnie Schwartz, NPD's vice president of National Eating Trends. "While it adds taste varieties to the meal routine, it also makes life a little easier. There aren’t any pots and pans to clean up; the meals tend to be simpler; and if mom is clever, she can recruit dad to actually do the grilling since the numbers show that men cook on the grill more frequently than women."

This combination of taste and convenience is prompting Americans to fire up their grills throughout the week. Although grill usage skews more toward the weekend, especially Sunday, which accounts for 23% of all grilling, 60% of grilling takes place on weekdays. Nine out of every ten grilled meals are prepared for family members only.

Summer months are peak season for barbecuing, but winter, spring, and fall are also popular. Surprisingly, growth is occurring in all regions during the winter season, with one out of every five households grilling during the colder months. Gas grill users tend to grill more year-round than charcoal grill users.

While virtually all household segments have seen growth in grill usage over time, NPD found that higher household income translates into higher grill usage. Of all the household segments polled, working parents have increased their use of the grill most dramatically over the past decade to become the largest sector of the population who grills.

Throughout the 1990s, the gas grill has advanced as the most popular type of grill. More households (over one-half) own gas grills than any other type of grill; 30% own charcoal grills and 14% own indoor grills.

The most popular six items for grilling account for two-thirds of all foods prepared on the grill. Steak, chicken and burgers, the top three, account for 47%. One of the fastest growing foods grilled is potatoes, which doubled in popularity since 1996.

Also see: cooking lobster

About The Author:

Martin Collins is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-steaks.com.  Great tips on buying top quality meats, steaks and seafood from the finest ranchers and butchers.