| Want a quick and easy meal? Get out the hibachi | | | | It was during World War II it was used as |
| and grill some burgers and brats. But did you know | | | | a cigarette lighter and portable heaters for the |
| Hibachi grills have a long and interesting history that has | | | | Japanese troops. People would sit around them |
| nothing to do with grilling? Hibachi grills are easy, | | | | warming their hands and placing a surface over the |
| durable and have been used in several different ways. | | | | top opening as a way to heat their tea. As oil |
| Hibachis originated centuries ago and were used for | | | | heaters were developed the hibachi was no longer |
| heating the homes of the wealthy in China and Japan. | | | | used as a heating stove and moved into the kitchen |
| It wasn't until hundreds of years later that the heating | | | | as a type of stove. |
| unit was used to cook food. Hibachis were placed in | | | | Ironically the Chinese who were the first to invent the |
| homes and filled with wood and other materials and | | | | hibachi as a heater were also the first who converted |
| kept lighted to keep the homes warmed. These | | | | it into grills for cooking. They found by placing a grill |
| heaters were not made of metal but from cypress | | | | on top of the bowl the high heat would quickly cook |
| wood lined with clay which is a type of dirt. They | | | | meat and vegetables and thus began the traditional of |
| looked like large bowls, pots or large vases. | | | | using it as a grill. |
| They were however decorated with fancy finishes | | | | Hibachis work well for cooking thin cuts of meat, |
| and gold leaf designs. They did not look like the day | | | | vegetables and for food placed on skewers. By |
| grill made of cast iron but more like a large decorative | | | | quickly turning the food over the high heat it sears the |
| pot that one would sit on the floor for decoration. | | | | outside and cooks the food on the inside. Hibachi grills |
| Eventually as production techniques evolved they | | | | have remained in popularity for years due to their |
| were made from different metals and ceramics. As | | | | versatility and ease of use. They do not take up |
| the materials became more prevalent their use spread | | | | much room, can be used to grill a variety of foods and |
| from royalty to the common man as a much needed | | | | are very durable. |
| heating unit. | | | | |