They Grow So Quick - Parenting, Outdoor And Cooking Blog

May 26, 2019 by Emma Leave a Comment

Tent or Hammock: The Main Differences

Hammock or tent? This is a question that you wouldn’t ask a couple of years ago. Then tent camping was the popular thing to do. The bigger the tent, the better.

However, these days hammock camping is getting popular as well. Now, people are starting to wonder which one is going to be the best one to do.

Hammock camping or tent camping?

This is why you should make sure that you know everything about a hammock and tent, in order to make this decision. With this info, you will be able to decide if you want to use a tent or hammock on your next camping trip.

Comfort

If you are going for comfort, then the hammock is the one for you. For many people, this might come as a surprise, but if you want to sleep comfortably, then you should look for a hammock.

With a tent, you are sleeping on the hard floor. Except if you are bringing a thick mattress with you, but this do take up a lot of storage. A good quality hammock, you are going to sleep in the air. Comfortable for most people.

Weather conditions

What is best for all weather conditions?

Here you need to be very careful with your choice. Most people will say that a tent is best for all weather conditions. However, what about the hot summer nights? Will a tent be cool at night?

While with a hammock, you can purchase a hammock with a cover or you can add a cover on top of your hammock if you don’t have a hammock with a built-in cover.

During the hot summer nights, you can remove the cover and sleep with the cool breeze cooling you down. So, for most weather conditions, the hammock is the best.

Practicality

Easy setup and storage space needed. Which one will be the best, the tent or hammock?

Here the hammock is winning by far. Even with the most modern tent, you will still need some time to set it up. And, to make sure that it is set up perfectly. You will also need to have a lot of storage space for taking a tent to camp.

With a hammock, the set up is fast and easy. You can be done within a couple of minutes, depending on the type of hammock that you have.

And, the storage space needed for a hammock is really great. It isn’t much bigger than the sleeping bag that you are bringing with you.

Family camping

The one thing that you need to know for sure, is that you can just take a hammock when you are going camping with a family. Hammocks are made for one person, and in some cases, it can take two people. However, for a whole family, you will need to have a tent as well.

So, for family camping, we suggest that tent camping is the best option. You won’t always have the right amount of space for setting up more than one hammock at one camping site.

Hiking and sleeping

Going on a hiking trip, where you need to sleep for a couple of nights?

Then a hammock is the best option. As said before it is easy to set up and to store again. And, it is lightweight and doesn’t need a lot of storage space. Making this the best option.

You can take a tent with you on a hiking trip, but you are going to carry a lot heavier and you will need more time to set up the tent and to store it away again in the morning. Making the hammock the best for hiking and sleeping.

Affordability

This depends on the type of tent or hammock that you are looking for. However, in general, the hammock is going to much cheaper than a tent.

The larger the tent, the more expensive it is going to be. Even, if you are going to purchase a quality hammock, it is still going to be cheaper than the larger, higher quality tent.

So, if this comes to affordability, the hammock is the right choice by far.

Conclusion. Tent or hammock?

Now, the final question. Which one is the best option, a tent or hammock? At the end of the day, it depends on your needs.

However, the hammock is more comfortable, easier to set up and doesn’t take too much storage. It is cheaper to purchase and gives a great experience. While with the tent, it is better for larger families.

If you love camping, you might want to try hammock camping. With these comparisons, you will be able to decide which one is going to be best for you.

The tent or the hammock?

For some people, the tent is best, while others like the experience they get from a hammock. You should decide which one you are going to try.

May 25, 2019 by Emma Leave a Comment

How to Keep the Grill From Rusting

A grill is great to use.

Especially if you love grilling outside and enjoy some family time. But, the one problem that everyone has, is a grill that is rusting. Because we are using all the time, and because your grill might be standing outside all the time, it can start to rust.

However, this isn’t something that you should be worrying about. With the proper care and some really great cleaning tips, you will be able to keep your grill from rusting.

And, you will be able to enjoy your grill for a much longer time before it needs to be replaced. These are some tips on how you can keep your grill from rusting.

The higher the quality griller, the harder it will start to rust

This is something to consider before you purchase a griller. The higher the quality of the griller, the harder it will start to rust. This is normally those grillers that are cheap and made from cheap material that is going to rust a lot easier.

However, this doesn’t mean that when you purchased a high-quality griller, that you don’t need to worry about rust and that you don’t need to worry about preventing rust from forming. Any grill can start to rust if it isn’t properly looked after.

Clean your grill on a regular basis

It is really important to make sure that you are cleaning your grill on a regular basis. It should get a proper clean after each use.

However, if you don’t use your grill all the time, you should make a point of cleaning it at least once a week, anyway.

Clean grillers can’t rust. This is as simple as that. Even, if your griller is stored in your garage. It’s important to ensure that it stays clean. The inside and the outside of the grill.

You should make sure that you are cleaning it with the proper tools as well. Don’t use tools that can damage the grill in any way.

Make sure that your grill is dry after use

If you think that you will get away with just spraying your grill after each use, and let it dry on its own, then you are mistaken. It is normal water that is drying on their own, that cause rust.

Especially, if you leave your grill outside and you don’t dry it after you have used it. Or, to dry it off after it rained.

The moment that you washed your grill, you should dry it off as well. Not just the inside of the grill and the grill grates. You should dry everything in and outside of the grill. The dryer the grill, the less chance it will have to rust.

You might think that cleaning your grill is the only thing needed in order for you to prevent it from rusting, but this isn’t the case. Water that is lying inside the grill for an extended period can also lead to rust.

Ensure regular grill grates maintenance

You might have a grill that is in perfect condition. Inside and outside. However, you are struggling to keep your grill grates rust-free. This might be because you don’t clean your grill grates as thoroughly as the rest of your grill.

It is easier for your grill grates to rust. This is because of the food that you are grilling there. The fat and other stuff that is getting stuck between the grill grates can cause wetness and rust after a couple of weeks.

This is why you should really do regular grill grates maintenance. Even, if you think that it might be clean. The more you clean it, the cleaner it will be and you will prevent your grill grates from rusting.

Use a grill cover when your griller isn’t in use

If you don’t use your griller, you should use a grill cover to cover your grill. This is essential if your grill is standing on the patio or outside in your yard. To cover it, will ensure that no water or rain can get to the grill. Keeping it from rusting.

You might be surprised about the difference that a grill cover can make. Even if you are storing the griller indoors. Some grillers come with a grill cover, and you just need to use it in order to prevent damage. If you don’t have one, buying one isn’t that expensive.

You don’t need to struggle with rust on your griller. It doesn’t matter if you are grilling all the time or just a couple of times during the year. With all these tips, you will have a griller that is in perfect condition.

Rust-free for a long time. Just with cleaning and drying your griller after each use, will automatically prevent rust from forming.

May 25, 2019 by Emma Leave a Comment

Vertical Vs Horizontal Smoker. Which One to Choose?

Are you looking for your first smoker?

Then, you might realize that there is more than one type of smoker that you can purchase. You can choose between the vertical and the horizontal smoker.

But, in order for you to choose the right smoker, you need to make sure that you are aware of the differences and the features between the vertical and horizontal smoker.

With this guide, you will be able to know the difference so that you can purchase the best possible one for your needs.

Vertical smoker

is a vertical or horizontal smoker better

Many people are starting off with vertical smoker. This is the easiest smoker to use. Just like with the grills, you can purchase the charcoal smoker, gas smoker or electric smoker.

However, with all three these, you need to have smoking chips for getting your smoker to smoke. These vertical smokers are small and compact. Can fit on any size patio. Making this great for apartment and small homes. Because this is smaller smokers, it is great for small to medium families.

A vertical smoker consists out of three parts. The bottom part is where the heat source is. This can be the electric element, the gas element or the charcoal. The second part is where you are adding the smoking chips that are going to make the smoker smoke. The third part is where you have the water pan. The top part is where you are putting your meat. It is placed on grill racks so that the meat can get smoked all over.

Pros of having the vertical smoker

It is more energy efficient than horizontal smokers
The vertical smoker is small and can fit onto any size patio
It is easy to use and recommended for first-time smokers
Known as one of the cheapest smokers you can purchase

Cons of having the vertical smoker

Small smoker, so you can only smoke a small amount at a time
Need to be cleaned every time
Not recommended for experienced smokers

Horizontal smoker

The horizontal smoker is also known as the offset smoker and has a simple design. It is much larger than the vertical smoker and consists of two parts.

The first part is the heat source. Again, this can be gas, electric or charcoal. The second part is where you are placing the smoke chips on. Then, on the cooking part, you are adding the meat.

It isn’t as easy to use as the vertical smoker, however, by following the instruction guide, you will find that it is easier than what you might have thought.

It is much more expensive than the vertical smoker, but with great care, it can last for years.

Especially, if you are purchasing a high-quality smoker. You also need to have a larger available space to put the smoker, because of its size.

Pros of the horizontal smoker

The horizontal smoker comes in all sizes and shapes
It can smoke a lot more food at a time
These horizontal smokers hold heat easily and you won’t need to worry about losing heat fast
It isn’t hard to find an affordable horizontal smoker

Cons of the horizontal smoker

These smokers can be too expensive for most
It is really harder to smoke food successfully
It is a really large smoker, and not everyone has the space for it
You need to keep an eye on the heat source. Especially when you are using the charcoal smoker

Tips for choosing the best one for you

Now, that you know what the difference between a vertical and horizontal smoker is, you might be wondering how you can choose the right one for you.

With these tips, you will find it a lot easier to decide if you are looking for a vertical smoker or a horizontal smoker.

How experienced are you with smoking food?

If you have smoked food before, then you can consider the horizontal smoker. However, if you never have smoked food before, the vertical smoker is better for beginners. You should also consider the size of the food that you want to smoke. If you are looking for a smoker that is small and smoking a small amount of food, then the vertical smoker is better. For larger families and larger quantities of meat, the horizontal smoker is more advisable.

What is the difference between a vertical and horizontal smoker?

And, does it really matter what type of smoker you are going to purchase? With this guide, you will now be able to understand the difference, and you will know which one will be better for you. Most people prefer vertical smoker, because of the size and the easiness to use.

However, at the end of the day, it is your decision, and you should consider everything before you can decide which one you should choose.