HPBA Expo Showcases Grilling Trends for 2017
This year’s Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Expo rolled-in to its Atlanta destination boasting an array of efficient and ‘smart’ outdoor living and grilling products for enthusiasts. The 6,800 nationwide attendees left drooling over the latest innovations, particularly those from the outdoor cooking arena.
Tasty Options
Outside the arena’s indoor display accommodations, in the Outdoor Burn Area, exhibitors strutted their stuff, showcasing grilling skills and giving attendees a glimpse and a taste of what could come off of some of the industry’s top grilling products from their own backyards.
What Were Some of the Juiciest Trends?
Many of this year’s options focused on products and technology that make the grilling and hearth experience more enjoyable and efficient, such as…
- Smart Tech
With the Internet-of-things and consumers’ expectations of home automation becoming part of their daily lives, smart technologies are being increasingly integrated into daily devices, such as the smart grill tech unveiled at the expo. With convenient phone and mobile device monitoring and operation, crucial temperature adjustments can be easily made and timing carefully monitored for the best in flavorful, consistent cooking results – without the need to repeatedly blaze a grill front trail to ensure success.
- Smokers
Once a tool for a few die-hard fanatics, smokers have gone mainstream. Rising in popularity for several years now, they are now a popular alternative to grilling due to their unique flavor-imparting capabilities. And the latest options are anything but low-tech, including options for turning any standard grill into a smoker, as well as gas grills with built-in smoking baskets, trays, and drawers for the convenient addition of smoke flavor (without the need for purchasing another backyard device). - Grill Cleaning & Care
Do to the danger of wire brushes flaking and potentially contaminating food following grill cleaning, safer, easier cleaning options ranging from wooden scrapers and high-tech nylon brushes, to innovative steam cleaning grill brush technology were offered at the expo. - Outdoor Living Customization Options
From stunningly unique glass ember beds, stone and custom log sets, extravagant outdoor countertop and flooring surfaces, multifunctional furniture, and portable and convenient patio heaters for making the most of the outdoor living season, flexibility and luxury were center-stage in the outdoor living arena. - Ambiance & Comfort
No longer solely for interior living areas, linear fireplace designs continue to dominate consumer trends, with dual-sided fireplaces an increasingly popular option in outdoor patio design. And the fun or firepits still draw in the young and young-at-heart for their affordability and flexibility of location and use. S’more’s anyone?
Ready to take advantage of the latest hearth and grilling trends and technology? Stroll through the local ‘expo’ at your area Fireplace Warehouse ETC today.