Grilling in Small Spaces

Want to grill but not sure you have the space? Follow these simple tips from grilling expert Elizabeth Karmel and fire up your grill.

You don't need a big backyard to reap the rewards of grilling. Even apartment-dwellers, provided they have a little outdoor space, can grill and barbecue.

Grilling expert Elizabeth Karmel, author of "Soaked, Slathered and Seasoned: A Complete Guide to Flavoring Food for the Grill" and the creator of Grill Friends kitchen and grilling tools, has two big stainless-steel super grills on the 6-foot-by-10-foot balcony of her Chicago apartment -- one at each end.

"Really you don't need as much room as you think you do to have a grill. You need room enough for the grill so that it's not right up next to your house or your apartment or anything combustible," she said. "I grew up in a big space, but I happen to love little spaces. I don't really think that you need any more space than you absolutely need."

And how much space is that?

All you need is a few square feet and some common sense, and you can to turn any small space into a griller's paradise.

"The truth of the matter is, you only need a small area because even if you have an acre of a backyard, you're only going to use the space that your grill sits in and probably 6-feet square around that," she said.

The proof is in the brisket. Karmel is able to turn her small balcony into her everyday cooking laboratory, in spite of its size.

The first thing you need to do is choose a grill that fits your space. Smaller grills can be found anywhere large grills are sold. Go grill shopping prepared, and know how much space you actually have.

And even if you're shopping for a small grill, Karmel recommends buying the biggest grill your space can accommodate.

"Even if you only have a small place, buy the biggest grill that you can possibly fit in that small place because you'll use it more," Karmel said. And with more successful turns at the grill, you'll find yourself using it more often. "Both of my grills are 6-feet long, so they fit like bookends on either side of the balcony. They're perfect. ... It fits just right in there, really nice and tight. ... I wouldn't be happy if I had gotten a smaller grill."

Another consideration to keep in mind is whether to go with a gas, charcoal or electric grill when choosing one for a small space. While she prefers gas or charcoal over the electric grill, sometimes, in some spaces, they may be a better fit.

The electric grill, she said, is very popular because of its small size, but one thing would-be users may not think about before they take the plunge is whether their space has access to electricity.

"You have to have an ability to plug it in. Usually outside of a house that's not an issue, but sometimes on a balcony or in the smaller backyard of an older apartment building, it can be an issue," Karmel said.

Small-grill masters should also think about their space when choosing what to cook -- small grills mean smaller meats. While they may be perfect for smaller steaks, burgers, hot dogs or kebabs, be smart about choosing larger cuts of meat when shopping.

"If you have a small Smokey Joe 18-inch-in-diameter grill, you're not going to be able to cook a whole, un-cut brisket if it's 24-inches long," Karmel said. "If you do own a small grill, you buy your meat accordingly. Your meat has to fit."

In small spaces, fire and food safety rules still apply, and it's smart to have a fire extinguisher handy and to keep everything you're going to need organized on a small table near the grill before you start cooking to minimize the risk of accident or accidental food contamination. Use different tongs for raw and cooked meat, and be sure to keep pets and small children away from the heat.

"You definitely need to be careful whether you're in a small space or a big space," Karmel says. "Almost everything that applies to just grilling in general is going to apply to the small spaces."

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