The First-Timer’s Guide to 4 Types of Grills

Commanding the barbecue for the first time is a rite of passage, like getting your driver’s license. And when it comes time for aspiring pitmasters to purchase their very own grill, it can feel like buying your first car: What models are there? How are they different? What can I afford?

If you’re in the market for a grill — whether it’s your first or a serious upgrade — here are the four most popular types of grills, the top brands of each, how they compare, and what you need to know before firing them up.

Ceramic Grills

AT A GLANCE:
Best for: Precision smoking and high-temperature charcoal grilling
Fuel source: Lump charcoal
Price range: $429–$1,499
Our choice: Big Green Egg
Budget alternative: Kamado Joe

Ceramic (aka “kamado”) grills are designed for heat retention, making them an excellent option for reaching white-hot temperatures for the perfect sear and for controlling precise temperatures for low-and-slow, daylong smokes. The Big Green Egg is one of the top ceramic grills on the market, famous for its versatility. It can handle everything from grilling and smoking to roasting and pizza making.

Unfortunately, the premium quality of ceramic grills can make a dent in your wallet. Be prepared to shell out for the Egg and cheaper alternative ceramics. The cheapest model, the Mini Egg, is only 10 inches in diameter (making it suitable for picnics, camping, and apartment balconies) and goes for more than $400 at most retailers. The larger, most popular sizes can cost upward of $1,000. Even cheaper brands of kamado grills, such as Kamado Joe and Weber, are on the higher end of the price range.

Flat-Top Grills

AT A GLANCE:
Best for: Cooking large quantities and clean, charcoal-free griddling
Fuel source: Gas
Price range: $299–$549
Our Choice: Blackstone
Budget alternative: George Foreman

Flat top grills provide a spacious cooking surface and even heat distribution, making them a great option for big families, parties, and other occasions of large appetites. Blackstone produces some of the highest-end flat top grills out there — and they’re more affordable than more intricate grills. Blackstone also has some terrific portable options, which makes griddling on the go easy.

Although they won’t give you the smoky flavor of charcoal or wood grills, flat tops are good for griddling burgers, hot dogs, chicken breasts, fish, and vegetables. (Most Blackstone models also have varying heat zones so you can mix and match.) On the downside, flat tops aren’t ideal for long smoke projects. If you’re in the grilling game for big hunks of meat such as pork shoulder, ribs, or brisket, there are better-suited grills.

Pellet Grills

AT A GLANCE:
Best for: Low-and-slow smoking with wood flavor
Fuel source: Wood pellets
Price range: $799–$3,999
Our choice: Traeger
Budget alternative: Pit Boss

Who doesn’t love barbecue with a smoky, woodsy flavor? If you want to know the secret, that flavor is achieved with small pellets of compressed hardwood sawdust that come in various flavors, from hickory and oak to cumin and bourbon.

Traeger is top-of-the-line for pellet grills, providing the modern griller with set-and-forget conveniences such as digital temperature control and automatic pellet feeding. If you’re looking for the ultimate smoking experience, Traeger is it: These models are famous for maintaining low, consistent temperatures for hours on end, leaving you with perfectly smoky, perfectly juicy meat.

Unfortunately, pellet grills are usually one of the most expensive types of grills out there. However, many professional pitmasters swear by the pellet, so the investment is justifiable if you want your meat just right.

Traditional Charcoal and Kettle Grills

AT A GLANCE:
Best for: Casual grillers looking for a reliable, everyday cooktop
Price range: $45–$575
Our choice: Weber
Budget alternative: This is it!

Sometimes, you can’t outdo classic. If you’re a beginner or just looking for a no-muss, no-fuss charcoal grill, look no further than Weber. Durable, versatile, and easy to use, Weber grills have been the go-to grill at backyard barbecues and pool parties for the better part of a century.

Weber offers a broad range of charcoal grill options (plus on-a-budget options for gas, pellet, and flat top grills) for a broad range of uses, from traditional kettle grill models to the portable 14-inch “Smokey Joe” to the more deluxe barbecues with bells and whistles that ignite your coals for you — all at a bargain. Long story short: First-time grill owners can’t go wrong with a Weber and some charcoal.

Gearing up for grill season? Review our complete grill safety checklist to avoid any mishaps.

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