Relishing grilled foods is one of the most enjoyable things in life, but achieving the perfect grill yourself can be a challenge. Grilling takes patience and effort but most of all, the right grill. You can always do it over a bonfire or in an oven, but nothing can compare to the work of the right outdoor grill.
Types of Grills
Choosing a grill entails a lot of factors to consider, given that there are different kinds of grills on the market. Here are the most common types you can have:
Charcoal
Charcoal grills are one of the most common types of grills. Setting it up however can be laborious, not to mention that controlling its temperature can be a challenge for novices. Also, cleaning it up can be quite messy due to ash. Nonetheless, charcoal grills can give the distinct smoke flavor in food which is a must to achieve a slice of tasty grilled meat.
Gas
Powered by burners, gas grills provide great controls over the temperature and they can achieve high temperatures within a minute or two. They use natural gas lines or propane tanks, but once everything has been set up, you will love it due to its convenience.
Electric
If the convenience of setting up a grill is your main concern, nothing can beat electric models. You just need an outlet and it’ll be ready to grill anything you throw on it. However, they can take a longer time to heat.
Pellet
If there is one type of grill that can dethrone charcoal grills, it is the pellet grill. It works just like charcoal models, only it uses wood pellets. The big advantage about pellet outdoor grills however is that you have the choice over the type of pellet to use. Wood pellets have a variety of “flavors” so they can aid the seasonings you have used to highlight the flavor in the grilled foods.
How To Choose the Right Grill?
Besides the types of outdoor grills, it is also important to take into account other points such as the size of the grilling surface. Since grills normally come in big sizes, you might want to measure the space you want to allot for the grilling area. This is important if you only have a patio with limited space or living in a condo with just a small balcony. Cuisinart CCG190RB and George Foreman GGR50B are good choices for this situation, especially for apartments that do not allow huge grills.
On the other hand, it is also a need to properly determine the process on how you would want your food to be grilled. Do you want to have a smoky flavor? Or do you just want to grill fast and with less effort? In that case, check the attributes of each type of grillers we mentioned above.
Looking for the best outdoor grills? Check out this page for recommendations. Additionally, if you're interested in creating a stunning outdoor grill station, click here for inspiring ideas and designs to elevate your outdoor cooking experience.
And if you are already decided, we ranked the 5 best outdoor grills that we had selected from the shortlist of 20 leading models this 2021. To give you a better understanding of their performance and to properly see how they would perform in actual setups, we grilled meat, burgers, hotdogs, and other kinds of food in them. We noted how fast they achieve our target temperatures and how easy it is to use them. Here are the best highlights about them before you decide what to have:
Best Outdoor Grills Comparison & Rating
1. Z GRILLS ZPG-450A Pellet Grill
Brand | Z GRILLS |
Type | Pellet |
Grilling Space | 450 square inches |
Side/Bottom Storage | Yes |
Having a charcoal grill is great but controlling its temperature precisely is not possible. Gas grills, on the other hand, can be truly convenient but the flavor it can give to the grilled food can be very limited. Wood pellet grills like this Z GRILLS ZPG-450A can do both.
Z GRILLS ZPG-450A is a grill and smoker that uses wood pellets. This will allow the grilling process to leave authentic wood-smoked flavors in foods. Even better, there are a wide variety of wood pellets available out there such as cherry, hickory, apple, mesquite, and pecan. In our test using pecan pellets, ZPG-450A did a great job in ribeyes, burgers, and hotdogs we grilled. Besides the seasonings added, it left a subtle pecan taste in the meat which further enhanced the flavor.
Further, it controls temperature digitally. According to the input, it will add the right amount of pellets you need to achieve the right temperature. You can control it using the dial that has a temperature range option from 180°F to 450°F. It has a pellet hopper with a 15-pound capacity, which is good enough for 10 hours of continuous use of the grill. It easily heats up, too! Within 5 minutes, it reached the max temperature in our test without problems.
It has a capacious grilling surface measuring 21.4” x 15.5” and another 22.5” x 5.8” for its warming rack. It can simultaneously cater to a considerable number of steaks and more and there will still be some space to spare. We also love the additional wide working shelf, so you can put plates directly in front of it as you work.
2. Weber Spirit II E-310 Gas Grill
Brand | Weber |
Type | Gas |
Grilling Space | 424 square inches |
Side/Bottom Storage | Yes |
Famous among the grilling community, the Weber Spirit II E-310 has all the features that can satisfy anyone. It boasts the brand’s GS4 Grilling System composed of 4 important components: Infinity ignition, 3 burners, flavorizer bars, and a grease management system. Each one works in unison to make the primary cooking area the perfect spot to grill all kinds of food.
It offers a total of 30,000 BTU input per hour. Using the built-in lid thermometer in the cover, it heated up quickly and reached the 500°F target temperature within 8 minutes in our test. Igniting it is truly flawless and the grilling area seemed to heat up evenly with no problematic hotspots that burned the food items we grilled. The patties and bread we toasted and grilled were cooked at the same time and we were able to grill ribeyes to a nice medium rare without problems.
The grease management system was also a great experience for us. You can place a disposable drip tray under the cookbox to get the excessive grease. The Weber Flavorizer bars catch some of the grease drippings, producing smoke that contributes to the additional flavor of food.
You’ll also love the reversible cooking grates which give you the options for a thin and wider side. The porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates are incredibly easy to clean. Most of all, it is wide enough to simultaneously grill foods. It has a 424 square inches cooking area and there is an additional 105 square inches area for the warming rack.
The open-cart design and its 42-inch foldable side tables give you more space to place plates and food items. It also includes 6 tool hooks, making the Spirit II E-310 a complete grilling station for you. You can also easily move it anywhere, thanks to the 2 large wheels that aid in its mobility.
3. Char-Griller E1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill
Brand | Char-Griller |
Type | Charcoal |
Grilling Space | 250 square inches |
Side/Bottom Storage | Yes |
Char-Griller E1515 Patio Pro is a charcoal-type grill. Unlike the conventional models in the market, however, it has a much smaller footprint, making it ideal even in a crowded backyard or patio. Yet, when it comes to its cooking surface, you have a generous 250 square inches area. We were even able to grill a good number of steaks and a half dozen burger patties at once.
E1515 Patio Pro also boasts excellent engineering. It has heavy-duty steel construction and a powder coating finish. The cooking grates are made of cast iron and are thick. Under it, there is a second section where you can place the charcoal. The distance between the charcoal pan and the grill is just right to deliver indirect yet powerful heat to the food, allowing better control over your grilling process. It is also removable, which means fast and easy disposal of ash once you are done grilling.
4. George Foreman GGR50B Electric Grill
Brand | George Foreman |
Type | Electric |
Grilling Space | 240 square inches |
Side/Bottom Storage | No |
For households with very limited space or for apartments that won’t allow gas or charcoal grillers, George Foreman GGR50B is the best way to enjoy grilled meals.
It has a stand that leaves a small surface footprint. Nonetheless, you have the option to remove it and instantly transform the griller into a countertop unit. Even without its base, it doesn’t consume too much space on the counter.
The griller has a circular non-stick surface measuring 17 inches across. It works fully using electricity and offers 5 heat settings from 250°F to 500°F. With this, you have full control over the grilling process. During the test, it reached the max temperature within 8 minutes but besides its fast heating performance, we found the heat distribution across its surface very impressive. It grilled evenly 8 hamburger patties simultaneously in our first test and 4 cuts of ribeyes afterward with ease. The GGR50B has a dome-shaped lid, allowing us to trap the moisture and give the meat a hint of smoky flavor. We also didn’t encounter any problem with grease management the entire time of the test, since the ridges of the grill are slightly angled toward the center. This creates the continuous flow of grease under the grill surface where a drip tray is located.
The grill plate is removable and the good thing about it is that it really has a non-stick coating. Besides preventing foods from sticking on the grilling surface, it also makes the cleanup incredibly easy. With just a wipe or running water and soap, the grease will be removed in no time.
5. Cuisinart CCG190RB Portable Charcoal Grill
Brand | Cuisinart |
Type | Charcoal |
Grilling Space | 150 square inches |
Side/Bottom Storage | No |
Firing up your big outdoor grill just to cook a slice of steak or two is a strenuous job. With this, you might need a smaller model like Cuisinart CCG190RB.
It is a portable outdoor grill with an overall grilling surface of 150 square inches. It only weighs 2 pounds and measures 14.5" x 14.5" x 15". It is small, indeed, and can handle no more than 3 burgers, but this is the reason why many grill fans love it. It is perfect for a single serving of grilled dishes and the grill itself can be placed anywhere from tables to patios.
Further, despite its size, it can hold a substantial amount of charcoal and heats up pretty well. It has a dual venting system, giving you power over the charcoal management and temperature control. You can fully open both the top and bottom vents to achieve the highest temperature and grill in the fastest way possible. Once you’re done, you can simply close the intake and exhaust and it will extinguish the heat to save the remaining coals for your next use.
Best Outdoor Grills - Buyer's Guide
The type of grill will greatly affect the taste of the grilled food. While gas and electric types of grills offer a fast and easy grilling experience, they sometimes offer little addition of distinct grilled flavor in the meat. On the other hand, though setting up charcoal or pellet grills can be strenuous, they can create amazing improvements in the taste of food.
If you are just renting an apartment where there are strict rules to follow, you know that gas, charcoal, and pellet grills are commonly prohibited. In that case, most individuals in such a situation resort to electric grills which are usually small and do not emit too much smoke.
Grilling can be a hard task, especially if you do not have the option for the temperature levels. This is where electric, gas, and digital pellet grill models excel. They will let users adjust the heat, giving you the option for slow or fast cooking.
Small grills usually come in simple designs with a firebox, grill grate, lid, and ash/grease catcher in them. However, if you are looking for a big grill, it is better to have one with additional features that will make your work easier such as foldable workspace, wheels, hooks, and storage for your utensils like knives and basting brush.
Cheap models like the portable Cuisinart CCG190RB are a good purchase for those who just need an occasional and backup grill at home. Its price is just a portion of bigger models, so do not expect the best out of it. On the other hand, if you are looking for a model for serious grilling, bigger models like Z GRILLS ZPG-450A and Weber Spirit II E-310 Grill are better. They might be pricier but they are good investments that can last for decades.
Best Outdoor Grills - FAQs
If you just have food items that cook easily, you can just leave the lid opened. However, if you’re grilling thick slices of meat like steaks or whole chicken, it is better to close the lid to achieve faster cooking.
Yes, you can. However, make sure to leave it in an area where it will stay dry and safe, especially right after using it and you have children and curious pets. For the winter, a grill can stay outside as long as the temperature won’t go down lower than -44°F as it will affect its performance.
It is always suggested to season the grill after receiving it and before use. This will not just prevent rust, but it will prevent the food from sticking on the grilling grates.
