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What is best grill


Best grills in 2022: We tested gas, charcoal and pellet

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Jason Cipriani/CNN Underscored

Outdoor cooking over a grill is probably America’s most beloved summer pastime. Whether you prefer burgers and hot dogs, chicken, pork, seafood or vegetables, this highly versatile cooking method makes everything taste better, and it’s always more fun to cook on the deck or patio.

With so many grilling options (you’ll find dozens of charcoal, wood, gas and pellet grills available), we decided to go head-to-head to make your decision a little easier. We cooked a whole range of dishes over charcoal, pellets and gas and figured out the advantages and disadvantages of each approach to help you understand the differences and choose the best one for your lifestyle and your budget.

Weber Original Premium Kettle Grill

The best charcoal grill overall

Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill

Amazon

Charcoal grilling consistently gave us the best results, and the classic Weber Original Premium Kettle Grill is our favorite. It's easy to use, straightforward venting makes temperature control a breeze and it's affordable too.

Read our review

$219 at Amazon

Weber Genesis E-325s

A great propane grill

Weber

The three-burner Weber Genesis E-325s offers the clean results of the best gas grills along with an extra-hot searing burner for the char effects that can be hard to achieve otherwise.

$1049 $999 at Amazon

Traeger Ironwood 885

A versatile pellet grill for precision cooking

Traeger

From the company that developed the pellet grill, the Traeger Ironwood 885 can manage temperature precisely, letting detail-oriented cooks do everything from perfectionist convection cooking to smoking, with precision control via a connected app.

$1,599.95 at Amazon $1,599.99 at Traeger

Big Green Egg

A great kamado-style ceramic grill

Big Green Egg

Big Green Egg popularized the kamado-style grill in the United States, and it's easy to see why. Versatile enough for smoking, for grilling, for pizza baking and as an outdoor oven, the Egg's ability to hold heat makes it a great tool for the cook who likes to change it up.

$1,549 at Big Green Egg

Nuke BBQ The Pampa

An affordable way to get into Argentine-style grilling

Nuke BBQ

We tested the larger Nuke Delta grill, but for those looking to experiment with Argentine hearth-style grilling techniques, the smaller Pampa is a more budget-friendly tool, and still gives you plenty of space to feed big groups.

$1,139 at Nuke BBQ

Yak Hibachi Charcoal Grill

A stylish, powerful and highly portable grill

YAK grills

The Yak grill is small enough to use almost anywhere, and can even be used on a tabletop. Plus, the well-designed stainless steel device is not just easy to use but also simple to clean.

$249.99 at Yak Grills

Our test group, from left: Nuke Delta, Big Green Egg, Traeger Ironwood 885, Yak Hibachi, Weber Ultimate Original Kettle, Weber Genesis E-325s

Jason Perlow/CNN Underscored

According to archeological evidence, humans have been grilling — quickly cooking food over a direct flame or radiant heat — for at least 2 million years, and it remains one of the most popular methods of cooking.

Grilling is special because it jump-starts the complex chemistry that gives meats a delicious crust, flavor and texture profile. The intense heat of the grill triggers the Maillard reaction (in which the compounds in food — the proteins, amino acids and sugars in meat, for example — react to create darker colors and more intense aromas and flavors) along with caramelization (where at even higher temperatures the sugars in the meat and rub or marinade brown) and char (in which the burning fuel and the vaporized drippings from whatever you’re cooking impart even more flavor to the meat).

While many people refer to all grills as barbecues, grilling and barbecuing are not the same. Barbecue is a specific style of cooking meat at low heat (under 225 degrees Fahrenheit) over long periods (usually measured in hours), and generally uses wood fuel (typically hardwoods and fruitwoods) to provide indirect heat and the smoke that gives barbecued food its characteristic flavor.

When shopping for a grill, your first decision is the fuel type. Gas, charcoal, pellet and wood grills not only perform differently and let you use different cooking techniques to achieve different flavors, but they vary in start-up time, convenience and ease of cleanup. To add functionality and to make it easier to take care of your grill, you’ll also want to invest in a few grilling accessories. Adding tools like a dependable meat thermometer and a durable grill brush to your arsenal will make the job a lot easier.

While certain types of outdoor grills (such as kamado-style, kettle-style or pellet-fed) may also be used to smoke meats at lower temperatures with longer cooking times, dedicated barbecue smokers like an offset smoker, a “bullet” or vertical smoker or an electric smoker that burns wood chips or pellets are generally designed specifically for that one purpose.

With some practice and a little attention to temperature management you can get truly great-tasting results from a basic kettle grill like the Weber — the taste is worth the wait.

Jason Perlow/CNN Underscored

The latest refinement of a 70-year-old design, the Weber Original Premium Kettle Grill represents the type of charcoal grill most people are familiar with. A kettle grill is simple to use, effective and affordable. But most importantly, the results are fantastic. With a little effort and experience, a simple kettle can turn out fantastic grilled meats and vegetables, letting you take full advantage of the high heat of charcoal grilling in a very accessible format.

The design — a roughly bowl-shaped basin on tripod legs covered by a lid — is space and fuel efficient, and temperature management is straightforward using vents at top and bottom along with judicious opening and closing of the lid.

Kettles like the Weber can grill at high temperatures (over 700 degrees Fahrenheit), and with some skill can be used for low-temperature tasks, including barbecue or smoking, which makes them incredibly versatile. Maintenance is simple too, with most offering a removable ash hopper at the bottom of the bowl.

If it’s flavor you’re after, the charcoal grills gave us the best results of any grilling method we tested. Because charcoal grills get hotter than any other type of grill, the larger surface area means you get all-over radiant heat you won’t get from gas, and the coals themselves lend food the distinctive taste that most of us associate with grilling in the first place.

The burgers we cooked on the charcoal grills were juicier and better-tasting than the gas grill or even the pellet grill, offering a delicious crust and that distinctive “char” flavor you’ll also get when cooking steaks, pork, chicken, seafood or vegetables.

Cooking over charcoal is simple and can give you a sense of tangible enjoyment no other method can match. And as long as you can pay attention to fire management, you can get a low-temperature burn, perfect for cooking low and slow for smoky flavors.

Whatever type of charcoal grill you choose, they all work on the same basic principle: You get a pile of charcoal fuel burning (for ignition, we highly recommend skipping the old-school lighter fluid and using a chimney starter, a propane torch or an electric heat gun like the Looft Lighter), spread it out in a basin and once it’s white-hot and burning continuously, cooking grates are installed above that and the food placed either directly above hot fuel for direct heat cooking or farther away from it for indirect heat.

The burgers we cooked on the Weber charcoal grill were mouthwatering, with a flavor no other method could match.

Jason Perlow/CNN Underscored

Charcoal generates super-high temperatures and can burn for hours. It can be stored safely, it’s relatively affordable and since the grills typically don’t have any mechanical parts aside from whatever device is used to empty the ash hopper, charcoal grills typically require very little long-term maintenance aside from inexpensive part replacement.

We found two big downsides to grilling with charcoal: time management and temperature management.

First, it takes much longer to get the grill fired up and hot enough for cooking than with any other method — a good 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the grill size. This means you can’t just decide to throw some burgers on; you’ll have to think ahead. The ignition process also takes a little work as well as an extra tool such as a torch or chimney. And it’s much harder (though not impossible) to get a charcoal grill started in windy or rainy weather.

Second, managing the temperature of a charcoal grill takes some work. Once you’ve got everything going, it isn’t a set-and-forget process as with a modern kitchen stove. You’ll need to interact with the pile of hot coals and get used to manual venting to maintain temperature and get the results you want — it can be a wonderfully tactile experience, but it’s more labor intensive than other grilling methods.

Lastly, charcoal grilling produces a lot of ash, so it involves more cleanup than other methods. And because you can’t start tidying up until the grill cools off, there’s even more waiting before you can dispose of the ash left in the hopper.

Beyond the popular kettle grill, you’ll find many types of charcoal grills, so we tested several of the most popular variants. The basic principles are similar, but their varied construction methods and layouts give them a range of abilities that suit different types of cooking

We tested four charcoal grills. Along with the Weber kettle-style charcoal grill, we looked at the Big Green Egg kamado-style ceramic grill, the Nuke Delta Argentinian grill and a Yak shichirin, or “hibachi,” grill.

A kamado-style grill like the Big Green Egg we tested is capable enough for charcoal grilling, smoking and — because its ceramic liner holds heat so well — even bread and pizza baking

Jason Perlow/CNN Underscored

A kamado, or “egg-style,” grill is similar in appearance to a kettle grill, except that it is usually made of thick ceramic material. The cooking style traces its lineage back to clay-pot cooking techniques used in China and India (the word “kamado” originates from a Japanese adaptation of the same method). Modern kamado-style grills are available from many companies, though the most well known is Big Green Egg, which popularized the concept in the US in the 1970s.

Because their ceramic casings are so heavily insulated, kamado-style grills can capture and hold a lot of radiant heat, making them great not just for grilling but for low-temperature cooking tasks such as barbecuing and smoking or brick-oven style pizza and bread baking at temperatures up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit. Fueled with lump hardwood charcoal, larger kamado-style grills include multiple racks that can be stacked vertically for baking or to let them double as a vertical smoker, giving them a considerable capacity in a relatively small space.

The Yak hibachi/shichirin-style grill is small enough to be used on a tabletop, and did a great job grilling delicate foods like shrimp.

Jason Perlow/CNN Underscored

Known popularly in the US as a hibachi (a term which in Japanese actually refers to a small stove used for heating; small cooking stoves are referred to as shichirin), this style of charcoal grill is very simple — a small metal box topped by a metal grate, suitable for use almost anywhere, and perfect for travel, camping, tabletop use and so forth. Like most charcoal grills, they can use briquettes or lump hardwood charcoal, and they’re very versatile.

There are dozens of variations on the design, ranging from the stainless steel Yak grill we tested to disposable, single-use charcoal hibachis meant for camping trips, tailgating or bringing to the beach.

An Argentine-style grill like the Nuke Delta shown here is a portable take on hearth cooking, with plenty of room to feed a large group with traditional South American asado (or anything else you want to grill).

Jason Perlow/CNN Underscored

Sold under many names, this style of rectangular grill has its origins in the style of cooking known in South America as asado, done on a simple grill known as a parrilla — basically a portable hearth. To use it, you ignite your coals (lump hardwood charcoal is suggested) in a firebox, or brasero, which sits next to the grilling area, then once they’re white hot you dump them onto and spread them out on the main surface, above which a grill grate is suspended; to control the temperature you raise or lower the grate or change its angle.

Cooking on a parilla is a slow process with a learning curve, but it’s great for large proteins or just preparing food for large parties. Modern versions of these grills are often made out of heavy-duty carbon steel, and are not designed for portability or even to be moved around your backyard easily — the Nuke Delta we tested weighs 284 pounds, but that supports a massive 40-inch-wide cooking grate with some 547 square inches of cooking space on it, so it has a huge food capacity.

A great gas grill like the Weber Genesis E-325s three-burner model we tested gives you a level of control that rivals a kitchen range. It doesn't get as hot as charcoal and doesn't produce the characteristic char, but it gave us clean, satisfying results every time.

Jason Perlow/CNN Underscored

If you want to grill but you don’t want to wait, a gas grill is the ultimate in outdoor cooking convenience. There’s no fussing with fire starters or babysitting hot coals; just open the valves controlling the burners, hit the ignition button and within 10 minutes, the grill will be above 600 degrees Fahrenheit and ready to go. You can have dinner ready any night of the year within 30 minutes, bad weather be damned

Gas grills are also much simpler to manage than charcoal. Cooking on a gas grill is nearly as easy as cooking on the stovetop. Gas burners give you precise temperature control, from around 300 on up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, and individual control of multiple burners lets you adjust for small or large meals, or create cooler and hotter zones for indirect cooking and convection effects. You can, for instance, run with a single burner if you need to cook just a couple of burgers or chicken breasts for dinner, or if you want to cook a protein longer with indirect heat.

So long as you set up everything correctly (and have an instant-read meat thermometer to check your proteins for doneness), you can come out looking like a grilling superhero every single time.

With gas, we got solid Maillard reactions when cooking meats such as burgers and steaks — nice crusts, but with a cleaner flavor because that “char” was not present. We found ourselves using more marinades, sauces and seasonings with gas-grilled foods than charcoal-grilled proteins and vegetables, and the food tasted lighter. We do not view this as a negative simply because gas grilling tends to lend itself well to healthier cooking overall.

Propane and natural gas (gas grills can run on either, with the appropriate fittings) are clean-burning and generate excellent levels of searing heat; not quite as hot as charcoal, but hot enough for good results from most anything you’d want to grill.

While cooking with gas has a lot of advantages, making it a great choice for many, the technique has some downsides, the first being that it just doesn’t taste like charcoal; because the clean-burning fuel doesn’t impart any intrinsic flavors, you get neutral and natural-tasting grilled food rather than a smoky or charbroiled flavor. You can enhance the flavor or even get smoker-like effects at low temperatures by using foil packets of wood chips or wood pellets placed above the burners’ heat deflectors, but the results are different than cooking over charcoal.

Since the burners are a smaller, cooler heat source than a pile of burning coals, less of the cooking in a gas grill happens by radiant heat. This means that more heat is distributed to your food via the grill itself, so you get distinct lines on your chicken breasts with relatively paler meat in between rather than the all-over crispiness you get from charcoal.

Finally, while there is no ash buildup and gas grills are easier to care for on a daily basis than their charcoal-burning cousins, gas grills require a little more long-term care and maintenance. You will have to periodically clean up grease and particle accumulation on the deflectors, burners, air shutter screens, catch pan, grease tray and firebox itself.

Gas regulators, which control the amount of gas pressure going into the grill, have a life span of five to 10 years (these cost around $50; plus, you may occasionally have to purge them if they are clogged by “vapor lock”). Electric igniter batteries need periodic replacement as well, and the gas burners themselves may eventually require replacement, as they wear and can eventually crack (a set of three tubes usually goes for about $50).

Additionally, you’ll want to buy a cover for your gas grill to keep it out of the elements, as weather can cause the mechanical parts to deteriorate. And if you’re using propane cylinders, keep them outside in a cool, shady place. (Never store them in your home or an enclosed area such as a garage, shed or basement, and keep them away from flames, sparks and temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit).

The digital controls on a pellet grill like the Traeger Ironwood 885 give perfectionist cooks precision control over temperature whether they want to grill, slow cook or smoke.

Jason Perlow/CNN Underscored

Pellet grills are ideal for anyone who wants slow-cooked, woody barbecue flavor without the fuss of charcoal. They are also perfect for aspiring grill masters who love nerdy, high-precision cooking. Pellet grills function much like pellet stoves: An electrical ignition system fires up a fuel supply of hardwood pellets, then a series of fans (much like as in a convection oven) let you manage temperature very precisely using either onboard electronic controls or a connected app.

Pellet grills can’t get as hot as charcoal or gas grills, but they can maintain stable low temperatures (under 225 degrees Fahrenheit) for barbecuing or to double as smokers, and can also sear quite nicely at their limit of around 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Burgers, chicken thighs and sausages pleased the crowd we fed using the Traeger 885 we tested, and there was not a single complaint about anything being over- or underdone. We cooked many items on the pellet grill, including pork shoulders, chicken thighs, moinkballs (bacon-wrapped meatballs), shrimp, stuffed jalapeño poppers, pastrami-wrapped hot dogs and all kinds of vegetables.

Everything came out perfectly cooked and juicy, but we were particularly impressed with the shrimp — a protein that is easy to overcook. We were able to do this because the Traeger, like many pellet grills, features computer control over temperature, letting us cook the shrimp at a stable 225 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a perfect setup for cooking tasks that require low temperatures and long cook times.

While pellet grills give you some of the flavor of charcoal grilling, they can’t hit the same high temperatures, so while you get the woody, smoky flavor, you won’t get that quick sear and distinctive grilled taste. While pellet grills do burn wood fuel, they are fundamentally electric appliances. And though you’ll get the precision control they are noted for, there can also be some discrepancies in performance.

During the times we ran it at maximum temperature with steaks and burgers, the Traeger 885 gave us more of a perfectly even convection oven-cooked effect rather than the kind of direct heat sear you would find with a charcoal or gas grill, with a hint of smoked fruitwood flavor rather than a charbroiled flavor. And though we didn’t see the “crust” on meats that you would see with a charcoal or gas grill, the computer temperature control ensured that we never overcooked anything. If you’re a purist, however, this may not satisfy you in the same way.

Since pellet grills are electric, you’ll need a weatherproof electrical outlet wherever you want to grill (or you’ll need a generator or power station with an inverter to supply power). Pellet grills are also much more mechanically complicated than either a charcoal grill or a gas grill because of the feed motor for the hopper/auger, heating element, electronic thermostats, fans, and computer control system.

Pellet grills do require periodic cleaning to prevent malfunction, which requires replacing the grease trap, emptying out the pellet hopper and removing residual sawdust, removing and cleaning grill grates, removing and cleaning the drip tray, removing and cleaning the heat deflector and cleaning out the entire interior of the grill, including all of the ash accumulation below the firepot.

We cannot stress enough that because this is an electrical appliance, you want to have a weatherproof cover on the grill when it’s not in use. Ideally, it should also be kept in a shed, covered patio or balcony to keep it away from the elements. Additionally, pellets should not be stored in a hopper for longer than a week because if they absorb too much moisture, they begin to crumble and become soft, which causes issues with temperature consistency and can cause clogs in the auger or firebox.

High temperatures are the key to grilling, providing char and unlocking the chemistry of the Maillard reaction that contributes to the mouthwatering flavor of grilled meats.

Jason Perlow/CNN Underscored

To assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of each cooking method, over eight weeks, we dedicated the entire patio of our home to testing six grills — a Weber kettle-style charcoal grill, a Big Green Egg kamado grill, a Nuke Delta Argentinian grill, a Yak hibachi/shichirin grill, a Weber Genesis gas grill and a Traeger Ironwood 885 pellet grill.

Multiple flavors of Traeger-brand pellets were used as fuel for the Ironwood 885. Propane was purchased for use with the Weber Genesis. For the Weber Kettle, we used Kingsford Original briquettes as fuel. For the other charcoal grills, we used Brazilian eucalyptus blend and Argentine quebracho lump charcoal purchased from local supermarkets in south Florida.

Various proteins were cooked on each grill, including hand-formed burgers (typically 80% lean ground beef), New York strip steaks, Brazilian tri-tip, filet mignon, chicken thighs, pork sausages, hot dogs, bacon and shrimp. Various types of vegetables were also cooked, including onions, peppers, eggplants, tomatoes and corn. Proteins were seasoned with a variety of rubs from different manufacturers, including Traeger and Weber. BBQ sauces from these companies were used as glazes during the final minutes of cooking at high heat.

Each grill was fired using manufacturer instructions, and cooking was done after the recommended preheating period. Charcoal lighting on the kettle was done using Kingsford and Weber chimney starters with crumpled newspaper as kindling, and the Looft Lighter Classic was used for the lump charcoal grills.

For instant temperature readings on grill heat, we used an infrared thermometer, and we used a Thermapen MK4 for determining meat doneness.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.

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Best grills of 2022: for outdoor living and entertaining

(Image credit: Traeger)

Buying the best grill will give you the freedom to make the most of your yard when the summer hits. Creating a central space for you to entertain or simply prepare your meals al fresco, the best grill will be easy to assemble and clean, and most importantly, deliver on those classic flame-grilled flavors no matter what fuel you opt for. 

In our best grills guide, we have analyzed and tested products from brands such as Weber, Traeger, Char-Broil, Z Grills, Everdure and Kamado Joe, covering an array of different designs, sizes and functions to suit any gathering.

If you are a newcomer to the grilling game, key things to consider include: the space you have available and what size grill will fit best, your chosen grill fuel type – our guide to the best gas grill has more on this.  

Don't wait until summertime to purchase a new grill, ensure you do your research and purchase one of the best grills with plenty of time to spare – and make the most of the sales when they come around!

Best grills holiday deals

Why you can trust Homes & Gardens Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Everdure FURNACE Gas Grill: was $1,199.99, now $900.99 at Best Buy
The Everdure FURNACE Gas Grill is an Australian icon. It's pioneered by Heston Blumenthal and comes in a selection of bright or pared-back colors. We enjoy the generous cooking space - nearly 500 square inches - and three independent burer

Weber Traveler Portable Propane Gas Grill: was $399, now $337. 99 at Walmart
The Weber Traveler Portable Propane Gas Grill is a portable choice that's been tried and loved on our sister site. It folds flat for easy storage, or even for taking on the go when traveling. Despite that, it still offers 320 square inches of cook space.

Best grills 2022: 

(Image credit: Weber Genesis II EX-335 GBS)

1. Weber Genesis II E-335

The best grill on the market

Specifications

Cook surface: 513 sq-in

Dimensions: h57 x W59 x D29"

Fuel type: Liquid petroleum gas

Best for: Unparalleled smart features

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Generous cooking area

+

High quality side burner

+

Good warranty

+

Smart technology included

Reasons to avoid

-

Assembly takes a while

The Genesis II E-335 comes with Weber's smart technology built right in, and can even be paired with your smartphone for remote monitoring. With a 9,000 BTU sear zone burner and a 12,000 BTU side burner, it's a mighty grill that's up to just about any task you could throw its way. 

Infinity ignition meant we were able to get the Genesis II E-335 cooking in no time at all. It was ready to cook in just 10 minutes, and the Flavorizer bars are angled stainless steel, which left a classic grid-mark pattern on steaks and vegetables when grilling. 

We were able to pair the probe with our smartphone, and set it to monitor for a specific type of meat and preference in cooking. It alerted us when the meat was at the perfect temperature for juicy, medium-rare steak, with no guesswork involved.

At nearly 85kg, there is no denying that this is a hefty grill. Assembly took a while too, but once we had everything set up and ready to go, it was more than worth the trouble it took to assemble. 

You can monitor the grill from your phone but you cannot change the temperature or control it, so keep this in mind when slow cooking your meat.  

This grill is still being put through its paces – these are our first thoughts.

(Image credit: Traeger)

2. Traeger Grills Ironwood 650 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

The best wood pellet grill

Specifications

Cook surface: 650 sq-in

Dimensions: 46 x 27 x 47 in

Fuel type: Wood pellets and electric outlet

Best for : Grilling and smoking meats

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Achieves ultimate wood flavoring in meats

+

Built-in meat probe and WiFi capabilities let you control the grill on your phone

+

Super Smoke Mode with a push of a button

Reasons to avoid

-

Must be plugged into an outdoor electrical outlet

Traeger revolutionized the grilling game when they introduced the world to wood pellet grills over 30 years ago. Though other wood pellet grill companies have surfaced, Traeger is still a hard one to beat, especially when you consider their Traeger Ironwood 650 Pellet Grill.

To fuel the Traeger Ironwood 650 Pellet Grill, you plug it into an outlet, then add hardwood pellets to the hopper, which are then moved to an auger where they’re ignited. The hardwood pellets provide a wonderful smokey wood flavor to vegetables and meats that you can't quite achieve with gas grills. If you want the smoky flavor to be more intense, hit the Super Smoke Mode button. 

To keep the fire going, a fan circulates the heat and smoke, while a drip tray catches grease and other drippings so the flames continue and heat flare-ups are prevented. With 650 square inches of cooking capacity, you can fit eight whole chickens, six pork butts, or five rib racks at a time. 

The technological features of this Traeger Ironwood 650 are also truly impressive. For instance, once you've set the temperature, the grill maintains that temperature for you. Plus, it's outfitted with WiFi and a built-in meat probe, so you can monitor the internal temperature of the food and the grill all on your phone. 

This grill is still being put through its paces – these are our first thoughts.

(Image credit: Weber)

3. Weber SmokeFire EPX6 STEALTH Edition Grill

The best smoker grill

Specifications

Cook surface: 1,008 square inches

Dimensions: 47”H x 55.5”W x 33”D

Fuel type: Wood Fired Pellet

Best for : Easy smokey flavor

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Large hopper capacity

+

Smart self-feeding design

+

Temperature ranges from 200-600°F

Reasons to avoid

-

Needs to be connected to electricity

The Weber SmokeFire EPX6 STEALTH Edition Grill will deliver that delicious wood-smoked flavor that you want from a grill, thanks to the pellet fuels which offer cost-effective and low-maintenance cooking.  

The Z Grills ZPG-450A has a smart dial that can be turned from 200-600°F degrees, allowing you to cook at high heat but also to smoke and roast at the lower end. It will also keep itself running for hours with little-to-no maintenance, and you can check in on it remotely using the Weber CONNECT app, which also allows you to check the probe and adjust the temperature for easy pre-heating. 

Under the hood, you'll find enough space to cook quantities of food for a large family. With easy assembly and a sturdy design, this smoker grill doesn't cut any corners when it comes to making delicious meals. It does need to be connected to electricity to work though, so ensure to place it somewhere with easy access. 

(Image credit: Weber)

4. Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22-inch

Best budget charcoal grill

Specifications

Cook surface: 363 sq-in

Dimensions: 18 x 23 x 35 in

Fuel type: Charcoal

Best for: Budget

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Compact

+

Comes with an ash catcher

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Hinged lid

Reasons to avoid

-

Not suitable for large crowds

Weber's Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill has a 22-inch diameter that can fit a family-sized amount of hamburgers or hot dogs. For parties though, you may struggle with its singular burner.

Other charcoal grills such as the Kamado Joe Classic II feature side shelves, which can make serving up and storing plates and accessories easier. While the more compact Weber Kettle lacks this, it is also a mere fraction of the price. 

This charcoal grill has a hinged lid that makes it easy to add briquets while cooking. There's also an ash-catcher on the underside that makes clearing away straightforward when the fun is over. 

The lid has a thermometer to make warming up and maintaining temperature a breeze. You can use the dampers to make controlling the temperature even easier. You can also enjoy the two wheels and the fact that it weighs just slightly over 3 pounds - this makes the grill very portable. 

This grill is still being put through its paces – these are our first thoughts.

(Image credit: Kamado Joe)

5. Kamado Joe Classic II

The best charcoal grill

Specifications

Cook surface: 510 sq in

Dimensions: 26. 4 x 26.4 x 36 in

Fuel type: Charcoal

Best for: Grilling, searing, and smoking meats and vegetables; option to use as rotisserie or pizza oven

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

SlōRoller Hyperbolic Smoke Chamber distributes smoke evenly

+

Multi-level rack allows you to cook multiple items at different temperatures

+

Has iKamand capabilities 

Reasons to avoid

-

Must clean ash after every use 

-

Smaller cooking surface than other grills

If you plan to grill meat, you’re going to want to use the Kamado Joe Classic III. Even though it takes a bit longer to heat than gas grills, the Kamado Joe Classic III is the most advanced ceramic charcoal grill on the market that offers the perfect sear and tenderness to your protein, and a smoky flavor to match.

What makes the Kamado Joe Classic III so unique is the brand’s SlōRoller Hyperbolic Smoke Chamber insert. It’s designed to evenly distribute the smoke and heat in rolling waves so that the food cooks more thoroughly without the peskiness of hot spots. Better yet, it’s outfitted with a multi-level rack so that you can cook on the top 18-inch surface, or utilize four additional half-moon grates for a total of 510-square-inches of cooking surface.

Overall, this charcoal grill can reach temperatures of 225 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit, though when using the SlōRoller, the grill has a maximum temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also control the air and temperature with an airlift hinge on the top.

This grill is still being put through its paces – these are our first thoughts.

(Image credit: Weber)

6. Weber Genesis SPX-435 Smart Gas Grill

The best Weber grill

Specifications

Cook surface: 994 sq. in.

Dimensions: 27 in. (D) x 68.5 (W) x 48.5 in (H)

Fuel type: Propane

Best for : Advanced gas cooking

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Prep tables and grill locker

+

Sear burner and side burner

+

Expandable top cooking grate

Reasons to avoid

-

Can't adjust temperature remotely

Weber has been in the game for 65 years, and the Weber Genesis SPX-435 Smart Gas Grill is one of the smartest you can buy. It's compatible with the Grill 3, which is a smart thermometer that can sync with your phone for the utmost insight into your cooking in real-time. 

The Weber Genesis SPX-435 Smart Gas Grill features a sear station, which is designed to leave those classic charred lines in your steaks and burgers for maximum flavor by creating an intense heat zone. There's also a side burner that can be used to prep side dishes or cook off smaller items that can't go on the main grill. This burner is powered by gas. 

There's also a foldable warming rack that can be used to heat up burger buns or keep hot dogs warm when they're done cooking, which will allow you to prep your meals at different timings, but with the same intended serving time.

(Image credit: Saber)

7. Saber Elite 3-Burner Gas Grill

The best infrared grill

Specifications

Cook surface: 675 sq-in

Dimensions: 56.5 x 25 x 48.4 in

Fuel type: Gas

Best for: Grilling and rotisserie meats and vegetables

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Infrared burners help food retain more moisture

+

Uses 30 percent less propane than other gas grills

+

Rotisserie kit and side burner for additional cooking options 

Reasons to avoid

-

Not the best for cooking at low temperatures

As the name implies, this grill has three burners that heat 500 square inches of primary cooking surface and 175 square inches on the second rack. Where most gas grills create convection heat, the SABER Elite 3-Burner Gas Grill uses propane or natural gas to generate infrared or ‘radiant’ heat which directs airflow away from the surface of the grill so that the food retains moisture. In theory, it produces juicier meats and vegetables, reduces cook times, eliminates flare-ups, and vaporizes drippings and debris. Most importantly, it results in using 30 percent less propane than other gas grills.

On the left side of the grill is a dual tube side burner that can be used for making sauces or cooking side dishes. A rotisserie motor kit and rod are included so a night of rotisserie chicken, lamb, or beef roast is certainly on the menu.

To make your grilling experience easier, use the side table for preparation, and the below cabinet basket to store condiments. Store the propane tank on a pull-out tray that's hidden behind doors. Halogen lights and above-knob LED lighting allow you to grill at night.

This grill is still being put through its paces – these are our first thoughts.

(Image credit: Weber)

8. Weber Genesis II E-310 Gas Grill

The top gas grill

Specifications

Cook surface: 660 sq-in

Dimensions: 29 x 59 x 47 in

Fuel type: Gas

Best for: Grilling meats and vegetables

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Warming rack tucks away for rotisserie 

+

Center-mounted thermometer

+

Flavorizer bars helps circulate moisture and juices back into the food 

Reasons to avoid

-

Low BTU output

The Weber Genesis II E-310 Gas Grill is found on many ‘best gas grill’ lists because it's dependable, easy-to-use, and great for novice and intermediate grillmasters.

The three stainless steel burners offer an output of 39,000 BTUs, which isn't as high as other gas grills, but it'll still get the job done. With a Tuck-Away warming rack, barbecue enthusiasts have a total of 660-square inches of cooking area  (the main grate is 513 square inches). Flavorizer bars catch grease and food drippings, which protects the burner tubes and prevents flare-ups. More importantly, when the grease hits the bars, it vaporizes and is then absorbed into the food making it juicier and tastier.  

Weber installed a center-mounted thermometer in this grill, though for the cook who wants a more high-tech experience, purchase an iGrill 3 thermometer. When paired with the Weber Genesis II E-310, it monitors the temperature of up to four cuts of meat at a time and will send a notification to your phone when the protein is cooked through. 

This grill is still being put through its paces – these are our first thoughts.

(Image credit: Char-Broil)

9. Char-Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill

The best electric grill

Specifications

Cook surface: 320 sq-in

Dimensions: h48 x w24 x d24 inches

Fuel type: Electricity

Best for : Electric grilling

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Compact design

+

Porcelain-coated burners for a traditional taste

+

Rust-resistant

Reasons to avoid

-

You'll need access to an electrical socket

If you are able to plug it in, the Char-Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill is an amazing renter-friendly option. Because it's not a charcoal or gas grill, this grill can sneak its way into some communities that otherwise prohibit traditional grills. 

While it's compact, the Char-Broil Patio Bistro Electric Grill has space for 12 burgers at any one time. It's also equipped with porcelain-coated cooking grates that are sure to inject some smokey flavor into your meals for that classic barbecue taste.

The warming racks and cooking grate are both rust-resistant, and they're also convenient to clean thanks to that porcelain coating. 

Although the main grill area offers about 240 square inches of primary cooking space, the removable warming rack adds another 80 square inches. The heat is adjustable thanks to the front dial, and the lid-mounted temperature gauge will help you to keep track of your cooking temperatures. 

This grill is still being put through its paces – these are our first thoughts.

(Image credit: Weber)

10. Weber Q 1200 Portable Grill

The best portable grill

Specifications

Cook surface: 189 sq-in

Dimensions: 20. 5 x 40.9 x 24.6 inches

Fuel type: Gas

Best for: Taking on the go

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Folds away 

+

Stand is optional for setting up camp

+

Comes in a good range of colors

+

Two side tables for meal prep

Reasons to avoid

-

Low BTU output

Planning on traveling this summer? The Weber Q 1200 Portable Grill is built to be taken on the go. It's got two foldable side tables for preparing dishes when you've set up camp, but simply fold them back up when you want to set off again. 

This gas grill weighs only 20 pounds, which is impressive considering the porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates. These can be removed for easy cleaning and while there is only one burner, it can be used to power the entirety of the 189-square-inch cooking area.  

Another portable element of the Q1200 is its fuel, which is designed to pair with 14- or 16-ounce propane cylinders as opposed to large tanks. Each one will last at least an hour, so it's perfectly suitable for some vacation cooking and traveling light. 

This grill is still being put through its paces – these are our first thoughts.

(Image credit: Everdure)

11. Everdure FUSION Grill

The best adaptable grill

Specifications

Cook surface: 284in2

Dimensions: 35.4 x (Poles Up: 42.6 in) x 28.7 (Rod Inserted: 33.8 in) x 16.1 in

Fuel type: Charcoal

Best for: Rotisserie and versatile portability

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Smart and sleek, modern design

+

Rotisserie function

+

Can be adapted into a portable grill

+

Fast flame ignition

Reasons to avoid

-

Smaller cooking surface area than others

-

Rotisserie function could be more sturdy

A stylish, modern design that fuses together the timeless qualities of cooking on a charcoal fire with innovative, modern technology and the speed of gas, the Everdue FUSION Grill by Heston Blumenthal embodies a truly versatile design.

The grill's fast flame ignition means that the FUSION can be set-up and ready for cooking in less than ten minutes. Featuring a grill-plate as well as a rotisserie function, the design allows for you to cook all manner of meals.

Relatively simple and easy to use, the grill has a detachable pedestal and can be adapted into a handy portable design, ideal for use away from the home.

With everything powered more or less by the simple click of a button, we love the Everdure FUSION Grill by Heston Blumenthal's smart and efficient design, and how it can integrate into both small patio spaces and larger backyards alike.

What is the best grill in 2022? 

Our top pick of the best grills is the Weber Genesis II E-335 . It has everything we love from Weber, including a smart sear station to ensure your steaks and burgers get those classic char-marks. We think the three burners are a good size for most families and would serve well at small-to-medium-sized gatherings.  

If you want to step away from gas cooking, the Traeger Grills Ironwood 650 is also a top pick. It runs on wood pellets and has an in-built meat probe to make cooking easier. 

How we test grills 

We like to get hands-on experience with the products featured in our guides, and the grills are no exception. From Traegar to Z Grills, it's our mission to test as many of these grills in our backyards as possible. Our expert panel combines close-and-personal experience with customer reviews to get the lowdown on these grills' strengths and weaknesses. We assess factors such as the ease of set-up and use, cleaning, maintenance and storage and ultimately, how well each grill cooks.

For further information about how we conduct our reviews and for our product-testing process explained, explore how we test on Homes & Gardens.

Head of Reviews

Millie Fender is Head of Reviews at Homes & Gardens. Formerly our head of all things cooking, she has tested pizza ovens, grills, and even fire pits.  

Millie recently finished her Weber SmokeFire EPX6 Wood Fired Pellet Grill STEALTH Edition review, which almost converted her away from the ease of gas grilling. 

Contributing Editor

Alex Temblador is a award-winning author and freelance writer based in Dallas, Texas. With an expansive outdoor space for thorough testing, she has tested everything from hot tubs to grills for Homes & Gardens and our sister brand, Gardeningetc. 

Alex tested the Weber Genesis SPX-435 Smart Gas Grill, assembling it with the help of her cousin for three hours straight. Once assembled, she was wowed by the quality cooking she was able to achieve with this large and impressive gas grill. 

Which type of grill is best? 

The most conventional type of grill is a charcoal grill, which will slow-cook all manner of dishes for smoked meat or chargrilled vegetables. Gas grills are loved for their convenience. They are easy to ignite and you can work the burners independently, whether that is at different temperatures or for smaller servings without wasting gas.

More popular in recent years is the smoker grill. Powered by pellets, they often feature intelligent temperature probes and auto-dosing burners to keep your grill cooking for hours on end, even when unattended. 

Charcoal grills

Pros: Charcoal grills provide a phenomenal smoky flavor to food, which is especially tasty in meats.

Cons: They take longer to heat up and the temperature can be somewhat harder to control. Even grills that have charcoal boxes that keep the ash contained require some time toward cleaning. 

Liquid propane or gas grills

Pros: Gas grills are quick to heat, easy to adjust the temperature, and don’t require a lot of prep or clean-up time. Gas grills are best for those who are new to grilling.

Cons: They may offer great sear and grill lines and have the capabilities to keep your meats juicy and tender, but unless the grill is outfitted with a built-in or separate wood box, you can’t achieve the same delicious smoky flavor that's provided with charcoal or wood pellet grills.

Electric grills

Pros: Some electric grills can be used indoors and others must be used outdoors. They heat quickly and don't require a lot of post-grilling maintenance. 

Cons: Indoor electric grills are small. If you have an outdoor grill that needs electricity, like a wood pellet grill, you’ll need an outdoor outlet, which may not be placed in the most ideal (or safe) grilling location.

Wood pellet grills

Pros: Meats come out juicy, tender, smoky, and fully-flavored with a wood pellet grill. Once you set the temperature on a wood pellet grill, the grill maintains that temperature for you, so your attention can be elsewhere. If you like cooking with wood, you'll love the best pizza ovens. 

Cons: These types of grills require electricity to function, so you’ll need a good outlet in a safe location outdoors.  

Which type of grill is easiest to clean?

All grills need regular care and maintenance in order for them to be working at their best, so learning how to clean a grill  and how to clean grill grates is essential.

Round up of today's best deals

Reduced Price

Weber Original Kettle

£219.99

£199.99

View

See all prices

Weber Genesis II EX-335 GBS Smart

£1,699

View

See all prices

Traeger Ironwood 650

£1,499

View

See all prices

Weber SmokeFire EPX6 STEALTH Edition

£2,199

View

See all prices

Reduced Price

Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic II Charcoal

£1,499

£1,056. 67

View

See all prices

Weber Genesis II E-310 GBS

£1,169.99

View

See all prices

Weber Q 1200 Portable Grill

£314.99

View

See all prices

Everdure Fusion Grill

£999

View

See all prices

powered by

Alex Temblador is a Mixed Latinx award-winning author and freelance writer based in Dallas, Texas. Her work in the home space has appeared in outlets like Real Homes, Dwell, Architectural Digest, Culture Trip, and Neighborhoods.com, among many others.  She writes on a wide variety of topics for H&G, and has tested everything from vacuum cleaners to fitness equipment and pizza ovens in the name of product research. 

Choosing a grill - 25 stupid mistakes and the best models for the home.

If you want your food to be tasty and healthy, and you can cook it with a minimum amount of oil or without it at all, then you can not do without a universal helper in the kitchen - an electric grill.

What is most remarkable, with a good grill your culinary skills will not matter and even a beginner will get such gastronomic masterpieces that you will lick your fingers.

A high-quality appliance can completely smooth out your inability to cook, choose the right roast, etc. nine0003

Some people buy a grill and cook on it not so much to satisfy their hunger, but for pleasure. Dishes made on such a thing are very difficult for a non-professional cook to repeat in a regular frying pan.

But how to choose such a wonderful grill, because there are a lot of criteria for buying? What is better Tefal OptiGrill, GFgril, Delonghi, Bosch?

Let's try to calculate the formula for a good electric grill, regardless of its brand, and consider the main "pitfalls" during operation. nine0005

Which heating element is better?

The first step is to decide on the type of grill. The most popular is contact - this is in which the heating element is located under the work surface, and the food comes into contact with it.

We will study it in the most detailed way. There are also so-called rocket launchers. They have two tiers at once.

The bottom one is for melting cheese or making scrambled eggs. And the upper one is for roasting bread, meat and vegetables. nine0003

This type is mainly suitable for preparing breakfast, not rich varied meals.

At the same time, please note that there are contact grills in which the heating element is not built into the body, but is tightly built into the work surface itself.

In such grills, although the panel heats up faster and more evenly, however, do not forget about the moments of operation.

Heating elements tend to burn out sometimes. If such a heating element burns out in the grill body, then it can be easily replaced. nine0003

What if this happens to an element embedded in a cast surface? What will you do then?

You will have to buy other panels, and they cost almost as much as a new grill in a pair.

Error #1

In addition, not all of these panels can be placed in the dishwasher or under the hot water in the sink.

Specify this immediately upon purchase.

Regarding the shape of the heater.

Error No. 2

With the same power, a dog-bone or butterfly-shaped heating element is considered more effective than others. nine0003

The one in the photo on the right, the inner space of the rectangles warms up a little less. Very often people complain that the edges of the surface fry much better than the middle.

But the spiral ones have dead zones in the corners. As a result, the heating turns out to be uneven and a situation is observed when something burns out, while the other does not fry at all.



Also note where the heating element contacts are located. These sites are the coldest during operation. nine0003

Error #3

The farther they are from the edges of the plate (and closer to the center), the worse.

Checking the heating of the grill with a thermal imager

Uneven heating and poor location of the heating element is clearly visible on the strips on vegetables.

It is immediately noticeable from them that the roasting is done in parts.

Open or closed?

Contact electric grills are open and closed. Open - this is far from the best option for a kitchen at home. nine0003

Here are its shortcomings:

In the room, such a thing will take up a lot of space.

If you still want to buy an open grill, do not choose models without a protective glass cover. nine0003

It will somehow protect you from hot grease splashes. In addition, with a lid, you can turn on the extinguishing mode at a medium or low heat level.

By the way, there are such closed models that can be unfolded 180 degrees and easily turn into open ones with one hand movement! A kind of barbecue area.

Error No. 4

The grill body itself is better to choose from metal, not plastic.

Although it will cost a little more, it will last much longer. Good thermal insulation saves the metal case from excessive heating. nine0003

Error #5

The grill legs must not slide on the surface.

All cheap models sin with this. Check this defect directly in the store.

With closed grills, all the disadvantages of open grills are automatically inverted and turned into advantages.

This grill is just perfect for beef steak. During the cooking process, the meat is sealed on both sides and does not lose its juice.

As a result, steaks are cooked not only faster, but also tastier. nine0003

One thing about closed grills is that if the pieces of meat or fish are too thick, the lid may not close properly.

Error #6

Just do not press the steak with your hands in this case.

It is not necessary to force all the juices out of it.

Worktop

It goes without saying that the grill worktop is the most critical structural element. It should be of high quality, without scratches and swelling. nine0003

But the most important thing to pay attention to is the following point:

Error #7

Do not buy electric grills for the kitchen without a removable worktop.

No one will put the whole appliance under cold water immediately after cooking. But when the grill cools down, all the remnants of the dish will dry out and tightly stick to the walls.

Detachable models have no cleaning problems. Take the surface out of the grill while it's still warm, and calmly wipe off the fresh stains under hot running water without any effort or chemicals. nine0003

Error #8

Never scrape off food residues with metal objects - scrapers, knife, fork, etc.

Some non-stick surfaces are even scratched by salt crystals and spices!

If the fat has hardened and stuck, do not rush to immediately put the panel into the dishwasher.

Here is what can happen to it due to such aggressive washing (review of one of the buyers who previously washed the panel only under water in the sink):

How lucky you are with the manufacturer and the thickness of the layer.

How to properly clean the removable grill plate

Take a large plate. Put a grill plate on a plate and put it all under a stream of not too hot water (so that your hand holds).

The plate is necessary so that the grease to be washed off does not stick to the bottom of the plate. That is, the panel should be above the water flowing into the sink.

Literally in a few minutes, all the burns will turn sour, soften and lag behind the surface. After that, with a soft foam rubber (not abrasive!) Sponge + fairies, wash off the remaining fat from the plate. nine0003

Don't forget the underside too! At the end, gently blot the plate with a clean disposable paper towel so that no drops of water remain on it.

DO NOT RUB! You just blot.

Smooth or serrated, non-stick or cast iron?

Error #9

A grill with only a smooth top is a very unfortunate option.

In principle, when it comes to grills, images of the stripes left by the corrugated plates immediately pop up in our heads. nine0003

However, the ribbed panel is not only prettier, but also plays another important role in cooking.

When the food is heated, all excess fat flows into the grooves and evaporates in them, making meat, fish and other products more healthy.

This could all be in your stomach when cooking without a grill.

Removable double-sided panel is considered a universal option.

Ribbed on one side, smooth on the other. With such a surface, you can cook almost any dish. nine0003

The panel cover itself can be made of:

Which one is better?

Error #10

The first two are suitable for restaurants and bars, not home cooking.

They have 100 preparations a day and more, and you have one or two.

Ceramics must be handled with the utmost care. One bad fall or cold water splash on a hot surface and you no longer have a grill. nine0003

Therefore, for home use, electric grills with non-stick panels are usually taken.

Error No. 11

Do not confuse, non-stick does not always mean Teflon!

Recently, numerous studies and problems of the impact of Teflon on human health have significantly influenced its use in kitchen appliances.

Here is an example of a DeLonghi Multigrill 1030 representative's response to this claim:

Error #12

Just don't use strong detergents or coarse brushes to clean these surfaces. nine0003

The plates wear out very quickly and everything starts to stick to them. Here, as mentioned above, paper towels are the best option.

Error #13

Also, do not wipe the hot panel with a soft sponge.

Sponge may start to melt. If pieces of food have already begun to stick in some places, then each time you will have to lubricate the surface with a brush with oil.

Error #14

A good panel should not be too light and thin. nine0003

The heavier it is, the better it will maintain the required heat.

Directly in the store, ask the sales assistant to get the work surface from various appliances and hold them in your hands. Other things being equal, choose the grill where the surface is thicker and heavier.

You don't need a "waffle maker" with corrugated plates in the form of sheet metal.

The real power of a good grill

The power of the appliance is NOT ONLY responsible for how long the grill will heat up and how long it will take to cook food. nine0003

Error No. 15

Do not put food on a poorly heated or cold surface and only then turn on the device.

Therefore, in this matter, never pay attention to saving electricity. This is not a heater that works all day long.

Error #16

Do not buy grills less than 2kW.

Good models should be powerful enough, not economical!



The ability of the grill to give the highest possible temperature in the range of at least 230-250C is just related to its power.

Error No. 17

At lower temperatures, instead of a fried crust, you will get a half-stewed something.



Vegan shawarma will fry the most, but forget about normal meat 😊

Error No. 18

Even when choosing power, do not forget about such a moment as a voltage drop in your house. nine0003

If there is no full-fledged 220V (200-210V and below) in the socket, then you will never get the declared power of 2 kW.

Error No. 19

It is especially not recommended to connect a powerful electric grill through an extension cord of an incomprehensible section.

Cooking will turn into a continuous torment. And the grill will have nothing to do with it, no matter how you scold the manufacturer.

Error #20

Pay attention that during the cooking process, the factory cable of the appliance does not touch the grill body anywhere. nine0003



This often happens if the outlet is in close proximity and there is a lot of cord left. The metal is often heated to high temperatures and begins to melt the insulation!

Control - mechanics vs electronics

Control is el.mechanical (knobs) and electronic (buttons).

Electronic intuitive and simple. You choose a circle with the desired picture, click and go about your business. nine0003

Mechanics will have to be studied properly to begin with. These grills have only two knobs.

One is responsible for the time, the other for the temperature. In this case, often there is no temperature scale in degrees.

There are only inscriptions: minimum-maximum or numbers 1-2-3. How hot the surface is, guess for yourself.

Error No. 21

Therefore, if you take mechanics, buy only with a clear temperature gradation and avoid any “simplification”. nine0003

Electronic, by the way, can also have twists. But in this case, they have a display on the panel with all the necessary information.

Most of us prepare new dishes according to recipes from the Internet, but they do not write there - “turn on the meat mode”, but they say how much and at what specific temperature to cook.

In addition, in such models, you can set different heating temperatures for the top and bottom panels.

This is especially useful when you turn the grill 180 degrees and cook different dishes on different halves at the same time. nine0003

Just be careful when operating the grill when open.

Error No. 22

In this case, it is not recommended to fry only on one surface, leaving the second turned on at maximum.

Separate panel temperature control is not in vain. When constantly frying on the bottom surface with the top open, the top of the grill without food will periodically overheat and quickly become unusable.

For some reason, many manufacturers are silent about this, and after that people complain that they got an unsuccessful model. nine0003

Additional options

A modern grill must be multifunctional. But even here you need to know the measure.

Some of the additional functions are not needed by everyone, which means that it makes no sense to overpay for them.

For example, the option to use the grill as an oven. This is done using a special (not very cheap) nozzle.



In this case, the main bottom plate is removed and a baking sheet is placed in its place.

Although it is designed to save you space in the kitchen, it is still better to cook a dish that should be cooked in the oven in the oven.

The delayed start function is also redundant. Advice from one of the sites for choosing a grill:

How is this supposed to work? You break an egg on a cold grill in the evening, it lies all night, and is fried in the morning? 😉

Tilt and drain fat

But a really useful option is the ability to adjust the angle of the work surface. The optimal angle of inclination is 7 degrees.

At large angles, vegetables begin to simply roll down until they are pressed down with the top cover.

In non-tilted, on the sides you have to substitute separate containers, or artificially put something under the body.

Factory models do this with adjustable feet.

This will allow all grease to drain into the drip pan. nine0003

As a result, there will be no smoke in the kitchen and the dish will not burn. True, when laying the next portion, the remaining streaks still begin to burn and smoke well. For some reason, bloggers reviewers are silent about this.

To avoid this, after each filling, you will have to wipe the gutters with paper towels, or turn on a good hood.

Tray - internal or external?

The drip tray must be removable, or even better integrated into the body. nine0003

That is, so that it does not protrude and does not take up extra space. Separate troughs that are attached to the corners are very inconvenient.

Although some think otherwise.

Error No. 23

After cooking, the inner container can simply be forgotten to be pulled out and, when the appliance is moved, fill all the insides with fat.

And this, by the way, is one of the reasons for the refusal to repair under warranty!

Error #24

Such a container for collecting liquid should not be small. nine0003

Otherwise, when cooking a large amount of meat, the fat will simply pour directly onto the table.

Error #25

The experience of housewives also shows that the best location for the container is at the front of the appliance, not at the back.

Particularly for narrow worktops. Otherwise, the hot grill will have to be unrolled every time to get this container. And when you turn, you can accidentally spill the contents.

It's even better if the built-in tray protrudes slightly from the back of the grill. So all drops and streaks from the top panel, when it is opened, will not fall on the table, but into the protruding container. nine0003



Another useful accessory is the waffle maker.



In this case, both panels are dismantled, and others with large squares are put in their place.

The secrets of steak grills

For those who are more interested in cooking steaks, take a look at models with built-in sensors for meat thickness and its current temperature. nine0003



Such helpers allow even a non-professional to make himself an excellent steak of any roast - Well Done or Rare.

However, quite often such “automation” periodically gets out of hand and takes out the brain, requiring constant calibration, which is not so easy for an ordinary user to do.

How to calibrate a broken grill (using Tefal OptiGrill as an example).

nine0056


Do not forget that the meat after frying should “rest” for 3-5 minutes.

During this time, the heat inside the surface evenly penetrates to the center, and the meat continues to cook without overcooking and remaining juicy. Plus, during these minutes, the pressure inside equalizes and when cutting the steak, the juice will not flow out.

If the meat is not allowed to rest, it will remain raw and the juice will not be distributed evenly throughout the piece. nine0003

Another option for auto-cooking a steak with a temperature probe is not always convenient and too expensive.

The formula for the perfect grill

So, summing up all of the above, let's formulate the formula for the perfect electric grill for the home kitchen.

A good grill = closed + removable, ribbed, angle-adjustable panels + built-in voluminous fat container + power >=2kW + clear manual temperature control + reasonable versatility. nine0003

Obviously, inexpensive grills can cook just as well as expensive grills. If you are not a gourmet, then you will not notice a significant difference in taste.


Especially if you take good meat, fresh products and handle them correctly. But do not forget that when buying a grill, we overpay money primarily not for taste, but for ease of use and maintenance.

It's one thing to have a cheap grill that you won't be able to even wash it + you have to constantly stand next to it and control the whole process. And quite another thing is convenience and useful options. nine0003

Weber Q 1400Tefal Optigrill + XL GC722D34De’longhi Multigrill CGH 1030D

And you can check the current prices for the most popular of them HERE or HERE.

Best electric grills, top 10 rating of good electric grills