According to one aspect, a cooking apparatus having a main fuel manifold that provides fuel to at least one manual burner and at least one control valve, and at least one controlled fuel manifold in fluid communication with the at least one control valve, each controlled fuel manifold for providing fuel to at least one controlled burner. The cooking apparatus also includes at least one thermocouple, each thermocouple monitoring at least one measured temperature within the cooking apparatus. The cooking apparatus also includes an input device for receiving a desired temperature set-point. The cooking apparatus also includes a controller having a microprocessor operable to compare the at least one measured temperature and the temperature set-point. In response to the comparison, the controller will selectively adjust the at least one control valve to restrict an amount of fuel flowing to the at least one controlled fuel manifold.

Example methods and apparatus for automatically advancing steps of cook programs for grills based on detected lid position data are disclosed. An example grill includes a cookbox, a lid, a cooking chamber, and a controller. The lid is movable relative to the cookbox between a closed position and an open position. The cooking chamber is defined by the cookbox and the lid, and is accessible to a user of the grill when the lid is in the open position. The controller is to implement a cook program to cook an item of food within the cooking chamber. The cook program includes a plurality of ordered steps, which include a lid-opening step requiring the lid to be moved from the closed position to the open position. In response to determining, based on lid position data, that the lid-opening step has been performed, the controller is to automatically advance the plurality of ordered steps from the lid-opening step to a next step of the plurality of ordered steps.

Disclosed is a barbecuing apparatus which belongs to the field of structure design. The barbecuing apparatus comprises a grill and a grill plate arranged above the grill. The grill is provided with an accommodation cavity, and the grill plate covers the accommodation cavity and is detachably connected with the grill. The grill plate is provided with an oil leak hole and the grill is provided with an oil discharge hole at a bottom of the accommodation cavity. An oil discharge pipe is connected between the oil leak hole and the oil discharge hole. A side of the oil discharge hole far away from the oil discharge pipe is provided with a grease cup. By covering the accommodation cavity of the grill with the grill plate, forming the oil leak hole in the grill plate and forming the oil discharge hole at the bottom of the accommodation cavity, redundant oil in the barbecuing apparatus is drained to the grease cup via an oil discharge pipe which connects the oil leak hole with the oil discharge hole, thereby preventing the oil from splashing or flowing out of the barbecuing apparatus and from being contacted with a user, such that the potential safety hazard is eliminated. Meanwhile, it is easier to clean a product therefrom, thereby playing a role of protecting environmental health.

An outdoor cooking station configured to keep cooked food warm within a warming chamber of the cooking station. The cooking station includes a main body with frame components and panels, the panels coupled to the frame components so as to extend and define the warming chamber, the warming chamber positioned below heating elements supported by the main body. The warming chamber is fixedly positioned relative to the heating elements. The main body includes a door pivotably coupled to the main body and positioned along a front side of the main body, the door pivotably moveable between an open position and a closed position. With this arrangement, the door facilitates access to the warming chamber to place cooked food therein.

Example L-shaped smoker boxes for gas grills are disclosed. An example smoker box includes a base and a lid. The base includes a bottom wall having an L-shaped profile. The lid includes a top wall having an L-shaped profile.

In an embodiment, a grill is provided. The grill can include a grill cart and a burner box. The grill cart configured to be transitioned between an upright state and a folded state. The coupling between a first side frame and a base is located in a first plane that is substantially parallel with a plane defined by a bottom plate of the base, and the coupling between a second side frame and the bottom plate of the base is located in a second plane that is substantially parallel with the plane defined by the bottom plate. The first plane is located a first distance away from the plane defined by the bottom plate and the second plane is located a second distance away from the plane defined by the bottom plate. The first distance is not equivalent to the second distance. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Example methods and apparatus for controlling gas flow in grills based on position data detected via rotary encoders. An example grill includes a burner valve, a rotary encoder, and a controller. The burner valve is movable between an open position and a closed position. The rotary encoder includes a rotatable portion and a fixed portion. The control knob is mechanically coupled to the rotatable portion. The rotatable portion is rotatable relative to the fixed portion. The rotary encoder is to detect a rotational position of the control knob. The rotational position of the control knob corresponds to a rotational position of the rotatable portion relative to the fixed portion. The controller is in electrical communication with the rotary encoder. The controller is to determine a target position of the burner valve based on the rotational position of the control knob. The controller is to instruct the burner valve to move to the target position.

Example methods and apparatus for automating startup processes of gas grills are disclosed. An example grill includes a first burner, a second burner, a first burner valve operatively positioned between the first burner and a manifold of the grill, a second burner valve operatively positioned between the second burner and the manifold, a first ignitor operatively positioned relative to the first burner, and a second ignitor operatively positioned relative to the second burner. The example grill further includes a controller operatively coupled to the first burner valve, the second burner valve, the first ignitor, and the second ignitor. In response to determining that a user-based startup request has been received at the grill, the controller is to instruct the first burner valve and the second burner valve to open, and instruct the first ignitor and the second ignitor to ignite corresponding ones of the first burner and the second burner.

Example methods and apparatus for automating shutdown processes of gas grills are disclosed. An example grill includes a first burner, a second burner, a first burner valve operatively positioned between the first burner and a manifold of the grill, and a second burner valve operatively positioned between the second burner and the manifold. The example grill further includes a controller operatively coupled to the first burner valve and the second burner valve. In response to determining that a shutdown request has been received at the grill, the controller is to instruct the first burner valve and the second burner valve to close.

Example dual-burner assemblies for cookboxes of gas grills are disclosed. An example dual-burner assembly includes a first burner tube and a second burner tube. The first burner tube has a first maximum heat output. The second burner tube has a second maximum heat output. The second burner tube is spaced apart from the first burner tube by a distance of no more than 0.750 inches. The second maximum heat output is less than the first maximum heat output.