The best grills for any situation or barbecue style
Putting food to flame is an American summertime tradition. After all, what's a beautiful, sunny day without a beer and some barbecue to enjoy outside? But it all starts with your grill. There's a lot to consider when purchasing a grill—the amount of space you have and the fuel source you prefer, not to mention, how often you plan on barbecuing. After consulting a few food experts and old school pitmasters, here are 16 well-chosen options to consider this summer. Some are serious cooking machines built to last a lifetime, while others are simply handsome and hardy enough to get the job done. The good news is that there's one below to suit your grill style and budget.
For city-dwellers, tailgaters or those cooking for just one or two people, a small portable grill makes a lot of sense. Some have handles and stay-cool lids, but you want to make sure the materials are sturdy. There are a lot of small grills that aren't built for regular use—keep the plastics and thin, painted metal to a minimum.
Fuego Hinged 2-Burner Propane Grill
A compact footprint with powerful heat and an easy cleanup system.
$349 at Home Depot
Any barbecue aficionado worth his sauce will tell you that charcoal is the only way to go. It's not the most convenient method, but it offers ultimate heat, direct control and the best flavor. Look for sturdy construction (and hopefully a decent warranty), along with heavy duty grates that will hold up over the years.
Weber Original Kettle Grill
$175 at Home Depot
If convenience is what you're looking for, gas grills offer an unmatched ease of use. They heat up quickly and provide consistent temperature regulation. These here can get plenty hot but can also cook low-and-slow. Don't worry about BTUs—the max heat and the number of burners tell you much more.
Broil King Baron Grill with Dual-Tube Burners
$849 at Amazon
Maybe you're ready to take your grilling to the next level or perhaps you can't have a traditional grill at all (thanks to local ordinances or building rules). In this case, we've pulled the best electric grills, smartest smokers and an update on the tradition Japanese Kamado grill.
Cuisinart Vertical Propane Smoker
$219.99 / $193.60 at Amazon
Don’t Grease the Grill:
Directly coating your grates with oil causes the grease to drip down into the flames. Any left over oil gets burned onto the metal from the high temperatures. You’re better off brushing your meats and vegetables directly with oil just before you put them onto the grill.
Kalamazoo Shokunin Kamado Grill
A stylish, modern update of the traditional Japanese Kamado grill, that draws smoke across food for enhanced flavor.
$6,495.95 at Williams Sonoma
When you don’t feel like packing up a your whole grill kit, this completely biodegradable BBQ ($24.99) made of bamboo and cardboard is packable and ready to grill on in about five minutes. Made from 100% all-natural materials, it’s powered with lava stones and meant for one-time use.
Don’t Grease the Grill:
Directly coating your grates with oil causes the grease to drip down into the flames. Any left over oil gets burned onto the metal from the high temperatures. You’re better off brushing your meats and vegetables directly with oil just before you put them onto the grill.
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