What Bbq To Buy
When it comes to barbecue cooking, the debate over gas versus charcoal grilling is age-old and people often fall firmly into one camp. Is one really better than the other? Does that smokiness only come from proper charcoal, and what is 'proper' charcoal anyway? Let us break it down for you.
what bbq to buy
This pinpoint precision has its pitfalls, reducing the overall radiant heat (unless the lid is shut). Because they lack the even blanket of heat of a traditional charcoal barbecue, many gas barbecues try to compensate with added tech (lava rocks and ceramic plates etc). However you'll still struggle with heat retention and find it difficult to build flavourful crusts on larger cuts.
You will be limited when it comes to indirect cooking and/or smoking. Imparting wood smoke will also be slightly more tricky, with soaked wood chips above the flames being your only real option.
Versatility is really the key here with the consistent radiant heat helping you along the way. You can sear really hot and fast (quicker than gas), slow-cook large cuts (briskets, ribs etc) indirectly and place produce directly into the hot coals, though we'd recommend wrapping in foil.
Indirect grilling, which is cooking slowly with the heat source to the side of the produce (the key to smoking), is also more viable thanks to the radiant heat. The simplicity and space of the grill will allow you to play with wood smoke, choosing whole pieces of hardwood, or chunks, as well as the more conventional chips.
Heat control is more of a struggle with live fire and it'll take some care, intuition and plenty of practice. With time, you'll be able to cook almost anything thanks to the radiant, high heat that charcoal provides.
Charcoal grills can be slightly restrictive in size. They can have smaller cooking areas and often no cooling shelves. Mix this with the slightly lengthier start time and tricky heat regulation (charcoal burns out and needs to be topped up in advance), and you'll soon notice you're spending more time managing the cook, rather than relaxing with your guests.
On the other hand, briquettes, made from compressed biomass including coal dust, leftover charcoal, paper and sawdust, are often laced with additives that help them burn, which can impart an unpleasant chemical hint to your food as it cooks. However, they are convenient, easy-to-find, quick to ignite and provide a long, consistent burn.
With all this in mind, it's helpful to buy the best quality charcoal you can afford, and to tailor it to your cooking. Cheaper lumpwood will often be smaller and so will burn too quickly for anything other than burgers, whereas more expensive charcoal (look for 'restaurant grade') will come in larger chunks and is best for slow-cooks.
When buying a charcoal barbecue, think about capacity, storage options, build time, longevity and quality of materials. Charcoal barbecues can be cheaper than gas, with small portable charcoal barbecues being especially reasonable. However, larger grills from specialist barbecue brands can be expensive. We reviewed charcoal barbecues under 100 to bring you some pocket-friendly options.
In the end, it really depends on individual preferences. If you're a super-keen cook who would like to practice and learn how to carefully cook over wood or charcoal, then embrace that, get out there and impress your friends. Try cooking brisket, a beer-can chicken, or some super-smoky charcoal-baked spuds.
However, if you simply want to cook for a crowd, grilling burgers and sausages (and maybe the odd kebab) with minimal prep and planning, or simply want to do some quick outdoor grilling, then invest in a solid gas grill that will last you long-term.
Weber grills consistently rise to the top in our outdoor grill tests. They have solid builds with porcelain-enameled cast iron grates that heat evenly and create nice grill marks. This Genesis EX-335 Smart Grill toasted bread the most evenly in our gas grill test and made a delicious steak with beautiful grill marks, a juicy pink center and no flare-ups. It has top-of-the-line features, including two temperature probes so you can monitor the internal temperature of food directly on the control panel or via the Weber Connect app.
In addition to being a smart gas grill, it's loaded with other standout details like a flashlight that attaches to the lid handle; knobs that illuminate when they're in use; large, sturdy side shelves and plenty of storage space. It has three burners, a searing section and a side burner. If you can do without the smart features and are looking to spend a bit less, consider the Weber Genesis E-335 which also performed well in our tests.
It can be tough to find a great quality grill for under $500, but the NexGrill 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill is an A+ choice for the price tag. In our tests, it showed an impressively even heating pattern and was excellent at searing steak. It delivered perfect grill marks with no noticeable smoking or flare-ups.
It earned top scores for ease of use with its two side shelves, hidden storage space and convenient access to both the propane tank and grease drainage system. It includes a side burner as well and has a gleaming stainless steel exterior.
This Weber kettle is iconic in the industry and well-loved by consumers, so it's not surprisingly a best-seller (and its slightly less expensive version, which has an exposed ashtray, has more than 1,400 five-star reviews on Amazon). It's powered by charcoal and features an enclosed ash collector below the grill that makes cleanup easy; just use the lever to swipe the ash into the metal bin. The structure is sturdy but still lightweight, with solid accessories and a removable lid that can be rested on the side of the grill, and it can be rolled around easily for storage. In our tests, the handles stayed cool during cooking and it was easy to load and maintain the charcoal during the cooking process.
We appreciate the many features that make it pleasant to use like sturdy side shelves, tool holders and a shelf to stash extra items. We also appreciate the propane tank holder that lets you know how much gas is left in the tank (a feature on many Weber grills). It comes with porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates.
This Char-Broil grill heated quickly and evenly in our tests and didn't flare up once, which makes it great for beginners. It turned on with no effort at all and got hot enough to sear steak and chicken without burning them. This model features Char-Broil's Tru-Infrared technology, which is basically a large metal plate that sits below the cooking grates and traps the food's juices as it cooks. Once the juices hit the plate, they steam and infuse the food with more flavor. This design also helps prevent flare-ups since the burners themselves are shielded. Results were juicy and not dry, though some testers missed the charring from the direct flame.
In addition to the Char-Broil's cooking performance, we liked the simple, two-knob design that quickly responded to adjustments. When you're done cooking, the entire grill is easy to move and store away.
In our tests, we found the grill to be easy to use, and it cooked a strip steak with beautiful sear marks to 145ºF in about 8 minutes. Chicken thighs came out juicy and golden, too, in under 30 minutes.
Not only is this grill cute and compact, but it performed great in our tests. It heated bread evenly with only a few light spots on the very edge of the grill. Plus, it seared a juicy steak and made tasty chicken with limited flare-ups. While it didn't get as hot or heat as quickly as other grills we tested, we appreciated that we didn't have to worry about burning during cooking or too much smoking.
The folding side shelves offered ample space to store trays, and the gas tank and grease tray were easy to access. The small footprint and lightweight construction of the grill made it easy to roll away for storage. It's the perfect grill for small spaces or someone on a budget who doesn't want to sacrifice quality. It comes in two other colors (black and a camel-colored brown.)
This portable grill is good enough to stand in as your full-time grill. It has a solid and sturdy build that can stay put year-round, but it's still easy enough to fold up and light enough to roll around. We love that it has a latch that locks the lid in place when it's in the folded position for easier movement. It has a porcelain-enameled cast iron grate that can fit up to 15 burgers and reaches full heat in less than 10 minutes.
In our tests, steak and chicken got beautiful sear marks, and we didn't experience any flare-ups. It lights with the press of an igniter button and uses a one-pound propane tank (or you can purchase an adaptor hose that allows it to be used with a full-size propane tank). It uses a disposable drip tray, which isn't common among the portable grills we tested and makes cleanup easy.
This grill from Kamado Joe is our pick for the best overall Kamado grill. It has thick ceramic walls that retain heat well and can withstand temps up to 750ºF. It's loaded with accessories like a built-in thermometer, side shelves, an ash removal tool, a pull-out ashtray and more. It also comes with a two-tier grilling grate so you can better control your grilling experience.
Pellet grills are excellent for slow-cooking meats, fish and veggies at low temperatures using smoke. This one from Traeger is one of the brand's most popular models. It's made from heavy-duty stainless steel and feels as sturdy as it looks. It has a temperature range from 165ºF to 500ºF, and you can program it right from the control panel or from the connected app that monitors the entire cooking process. 041b061a72