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4 Types of Outdoor Grills Explained With Pros and Cons

Posted On Tuesday, 23 August 2022 17:59
4 Types of Outdoor Grills Explained With Pros and Cons

Cooking outside is one of the most popular pastimes in the summer months. Whether you’re searing some steaks on a flat top grill or flipping burgers on a traditional barbecue, the smell of dinner wafting through the air is sure to get your guests' attention. Not all grills are the same, and deciding which one fits best in your backyard takes a little knowledge. Here are four of the most common grill types with the benefits and drawbacks to help you decide!

Charcoal Champ

The OG of outdoor cooking, charcoal grills are the most recognizable style around. Having long been the go-to for barbecuers everywhere, these units use accelerant-coated briquettes as a fuel source, which add a smokey flavor that many chefs are drawn to. A classic model, called a kettle grill, looks like a black ball with a round top. The vent at the bottom allows chefs to adjust airflow, increasing or decreasing the interior temperature.

Generally, charcoal barbecues use the standard grid-style cooking grill thanks to the imprecise nature of charcoal. Poor heat regulation and the need to adjust the coals themselves make this a poor choice for cooks looking for a flat top grill style since you won’t have access to the heating chamber. Some charcoal options, called Kamados, are made of heavier ceramics and control heat much more easily.

Charcoal Grill Pros and Cons

  • Pros:
    • Simple design, easy to use
    • Delicious smokey flavor
    • Can be portable
  • Cons:
    • Poor temperature control
    • Difficult to clean
    • Long preheating times

Gas Genius

While charcoal is the classic fuel choice, the popular ones have to be propane and natural gas. These ubiquitous grills heat up more quickly and have much less clean-up time than their coal-powered counterparts. Stationary models can even be directly connected to your home's own gas lines! Ranging in size, these grills can be just as small as a kettle model or large enough to cook a full three-course meal.

Because fuel is provided via gas lines, many such grills have a separate heating element on the side, too. Just like a stovetop, it gives chefs many more options when preparing meals. Choosing propane as fuel is great for a flat top grill because of the ease with which you can regulate the temperature, even creating hotter and cooler zones for more efficient cooking.

Gas Grill Pros and Cons

  • Pros:
    • Quick preheating
    • Easy to operate
    • Variable sizes
  • Cons:
    • More expensive 
    • Only adds heat, no flavor
    • Needs a tank or home fuel line hookup

Electric Eclectic

When planning your outdoor event, the last thing you want to worry about is running out of charcoal or propane. Electric grills take care of that issue by requiring no fuel at all! Powered directly from an outlet, these cookers don’t have an open flame, so many chefs find them a safer alternative to their fuel-consuming counterparts.

Electric options are always a great choice for people who live in a condo or apartment complex where traditional grilling isn’t allowed. Some models even come with interchangeable cooking surfaces, transforming your basic barbecue into a flat top grill in seconds. However, just like the burners on an electric stove, these grills tend to take some time to get themselves up to the right temperature.

Electric Grill Pros and Cons

  • Pros:
    • Simple design
    • Generally compact and light
    • Safer for smaller spaces and apartment living
  • Cons:
    • Somewhat expensive
    • No added flavor
    • Long preheat times

Smoker Sous-chef

When it comes to that baked-in barbecue flavor, nothing beats a smoker. Like a slow cooker, smokers take the grilling concept to the next level by preparing food at a lower heat for a longer amount of time. This helps the smokey taste seep into meats and vegetables, creating a unique experience that no other method can replicate. These grills typically use either traditional or pellet fuel sources. For intense barbecue enthusiasts, nothing comes close to a smoker.

Once the purview of Michelen-star chefs, these units are finding their way into outdoor kitchens everywhere. They can also be used as a traditional gill for larger cuts of meat. Some smokers can even be modified to act like a flat top grill, allowing you to use smokers for an even wider variety of menus. However, this method isn’t for the faint-at-heart since it takes a lot of time to get everything to come out just right. 

Smoker Pros and Cons

  • Pros:
    • Fire-and-forget cooking
    • Richer smokey flavor
    • Large cooking area
  • Cons:
    • More costly than a standard grill
    • More expensive to fuel
    • Very long cooking times

Grilling Guidance

When it’s time to choose your perfect outdoor grill, look for one that matches how you like to cook. Don’t like waiting around to start cooking? Look for a gas grill with speedy heating times. If you want the most intense barbecue flavor, take a smoker for a spin. Once you have the right grill, it won't take long before you’re wowing guests at your next big barbecue event!

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