GETTING MORE OF A TASTE FOR GRILLING

TONY SPLEEN

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- More than 705 of U.S. households have a barbecue grill, according to the Barbecue Industry Association here. And grills are getting stoked up more than ever before: last year grill owners used their grills an average of five times per month.

Findings of a recent consumer study commissioned by the association revealed:

74% of U.S. households own barbecue grills. Grill ownership is highest among younger, larger, higher-income families who live in houses.

Great tasting food is the No. 1 reason people give for barbecuing. Other reasons include barbecuing outdoors is fun, it's a change of pace, it involves little clean up, and it's an informal way to entertain.

Hamburgers remain the grill owners favorite food for grilling. Other popular items include: steak, chicken parts, hot dogs and potatoes.

Female heads of households are more likely (57%) than male (40%) to make the decision to barbecue. They are also more likely to decide what items should be grilled. But males are more likely (61%) than females to do the grilling.

92% of grill owners use barbecue sauce at least some of the time when they cook out. Hickory flavor, tomato-based, mesquite and spicy-hot are the top flavors.

More than half (57%) of grill owners, especially midweek barbecuers, save time by combining microwave cooking with barbecuing.

Charcoal grills are favored by 58% of all grill owners, but many barbecuers (59%) also own a gas grill.

Use of aromatic woods for barbecuing has increased 75% since 1983.