There are many different types of grills on the market, so here is a quick rundown of all the different types you can find. Gas grills are an easy choice for most people because they don’t require any charcoal or wood to heat them up. This also means that there is no need for any open flames anywhere near your food, which makes it pretty safe.
Gas Grills:
There are two different types of gas grills. The first is the standard grill that simply uses a rack with lava rocks to allow for flavor, while the other is known as a smoker grill. This type adds another layer or racks and has an entire separate chamber where wood can be placed in order to smoke the food instead of cooking it directly over the flame.
How Do Gas Grills Work?
Propane grills all work pretty much the same way. A gas tank is hooked up to a burner underneath the grill, which heats it up at high temperatures. Once hot, there will be lava rocks inside of holes throughout the surface that allow for the flavor to seep into your food. The food itself sits on top of raised racks that keep it from sitting down in the heat.
Average price range: $100-$2000 (depending on size and features)
What To Look For When Buying Gas Grills:
There are a couple of things you should look out for when buying a gas grill. The first is the BTU (British Thermal Unit) count. This number will tell you how much power it can output and thus how fast and hot your grill can get.
You want this to be as high as possible so that you don’t have to wait long for your food to cook, but you don’t want it to be too high or the food will only char on the outside without cooking properly.
The next thing you should look at is how many burners there are. For most grills, this is an even number between two and six burners since it allows them to divide up the heat. Some grills may have a single burner that is meant to be used solely for a rotisserie, but these are not very common since you can get a standalone one much more easily.
Pros
- No need to use charcoal or wood
- No open flames near cooking food
- Quicker than most other types of grills
- A good choice for people who are just starting out with grilling
Cons:
- Harder to maintain a consistent temperature compared to other types of grills.
- May not be the best for certain cuts of meat where you want the smoke to add flavor.
Electric Grills:
The electric grill is, as the name suggests, run by electricity instead of gas which makes them slightly less powerful. They are still very effective for many people because they can quickly heat up, but you lose a little bit of control over the temperature compared to some other options. A plus side with this type is that there is very little maintenance involved because there are no gas tanks to fill.
How Do Electric Grills Work?
An electric grill is made up of a wire rack that gets placed over the heating element which is an electrical coil. This will make it very easy to maintain a certain temperature because all you need to do is increase or decrease the amount of electricity pouring into the coils.
Average price range: $100-$300 (depending on size and features)
What to Look for When Buying Electric Grills:
As with gas grills, you want to look at the BTU count to see how many BTUs it produces. The main difference between this type and a gas grill is that you do not need to worry about checking anything else like whether or not it has lava rocks in the grate.
Pros:
- No need to use charcoal or wood
- Very little maintenance involved
- A good choice for people who are just starting out with grilling
Cons:
- Not as effective as gas and may take longer to heat up compared with other types of grills.
Charcoal Grills:
The charcoal grill has been used for hundreds of years and doesn’t require electricity or gas to function. They will always heat up, providing you with an even cook that can be fine-tuned by placing the food closer or further away from the heat. The downside is that they do take longer to heat up and you need to carefully monitor the temperature throughout the cooking process by adjusting the number of coals used underneath.
How Do Charcoal Grills Work?
Charcoal grills need a heat source, and the most common is charcoal. Basically, you light up the coals with either a lighter or some crumpled newspaper underneath, then once they are ready you put them into the grill which will provide additional heat.
Average price range: $40-400 (depending on size and features)
What to Look for When Buying Charcoal Grills:
The BTU rating is pretty much the same as with gas grills. You want to look at how much heat can be released, but also see what materials are used in the grill because this will make a difference to the way it cooks.
Pros:
- Brings a rustic feel to the barbecue
- Offers you more control over temperature compared with other types of grills.
- You can impart smoke in order to add flavor to your food
Cons:
- More time-consuming and slightly harder to cook on compared with other types of grills.
- You may need to use grilling gloves to protect your hands.
Infrared Grills:
This is a fairly new type of grill that uses infrared light to cook instead of flames or lava rocks. It still retains the ability to flavor foods, but it doesn’t get hot enough to burn them so you can use slightly less heat and get similar results. The downside is that this type of grill tends to be more expensive than many other options.
How Do Infrared Grills work?
Infrared grills work by having a very high heat source that heats up the food over the surface. This is known as conduction heating, which is when two objects transfer thermal energy to one another because of their temperature difference.
Average price range: $150-2500 (depending on size and features)
What to Look For When Buying Infrared Grills:
As with gas and charcoal grills, you want to look at the BTU rating which is how many BTUs can be released in an hour. This will allow you to find out how quickly and effectively the grill heats up and maintains a certain temperature.
Pros:
- Can cook food more quickly
- Tends to be a little cheaper than other types of grills.
Cons:
- Infrared light can damage some vitamins and minerals found in food, which means that they tend to lose some of the nutritional content when cooked on one of these grills.
Smokers:
The smoker grill is a unique type of grill that allows you to smoke your food instead of cooking it with direct heat. They work by placing the meat on racks above indirect heat, which can be provided by lava rocks or even propane burners. The benefit of this style is that the low temperature makes the meat safer to eat and allows it to cook for longer while still retaining all of the flavors.
How Do Smokers Work?
The smoker grill differs from the standard gas or charcoal grill in that it is designed to use indirect heat rather than direct heat. This means that instead of cooking the food directly over the fire, you place it on racks above the heat source. The benefit of this style is that it reduces burning and allows you to cook low and slow, which makes meats juicier and tastier.
Average price range: $150-2500 (Varies depending on the type of smoker)
What to Look For When Buying Smokers:
As with other types of grills, you want to look at the BTU rating as this allows you to find out how quickly and effectively the grill heats up and maintains a certain temperature. You should also look at if there is a water pan for smoking food as this will retain moisture and again helps to simulate low-and-slow cooking.
Pros:
- Allows you to smoke the food instead of cooking it directly over the fire
- Requires less heat than other types of grills which can help retain some of the flavor and moisture.
- A good choice if you’re looking for healthy options because there is no direct contact with flames or charcoals.
- Can add wood chips to add a smoky taste.
- Tends to be much cheaper than other types of grills.
Cons:
- Takes much longer to cook food compared with other types of grills.
- May not be the best for people who are in a hurry when cooking their food.
- May require more practice or skill before you can effectively use your smoker grill.
Propane griddles:
This is a relatively uncommon type of grill that works similar to electric grills but uses propane instead. This allows you to have more control over the heat and since it operates in a similar fashion to traditional griddles, you can also use it for cooking breakfast foods like pancakes or bacon. The main downside with this type is that they do not retain the smoky flavor that many people enjoy from larger grills.
How Do Propane Griddles Work?
Just like electric grills, propane griddles use electricity to generate heat. They work by heating up a large metal plate that is directly in contact with the food. This can be used to cook anything from steaks and burgers to pancakes and bacon.
Average price range: $150-$350
What to Look for When Buying Smokers:
As with other types of grills, you want to look at the BTU rating as this allows you to find out how quickly and effectively the grill heats up and maintains a certain temperature. You should also look at if there is a water pan for smoking food as this will retain moisture and again helps to simulate low-and-slow cooking.
Pros:
- Can cook a wider range of foods
- Tend to be cheaper than other types of grills.
- Great for cooking breakfast foods like pancakes and bacon.
Cons:
- Doesn’t retain the smoky flavor that food gets when cooked over charcoal or wood.
- May require more practice before you can use it properly.
Pizza ovens:
Last but not least, this type of grill is specifically designed to cook pizza. The heat radiates down from above and below allowing you to bake a perfect, crispy crust in just a few minutes. It’s important to note that these units are specifically for cooking and won’t allow you to sear the meat as other types will.
How Do Pizza Ovens Work?
The enclosed design is what makes them so effective at cooking a pizza in such a short amount of time. Since the heat has nowhere to escape it heats up the air and stone quickly causing that great crispy crust we all know and love. You’re not going to get any flavor from smoke or charcoal, but if you want an authentic slice in just a few minutes, this is the way to do it.
Average price range: $150-$500
What to Look For When Buying Pizza Ovens:
As with other types of grills, you want to look at the BTU rating as this allows you to find out how quickly and effectively the grill heats up and maintains a certain temperature. You should also look at if there is a water pan for smoking food as this will retain moisture and again helps to simulate low-and-slow cooking.
Pros:
- Can cook pizza very quickly
- Offers the flexibility of being able to grill other types of meat, vegetables, and even seafood.
Cons:
- Takes up quite a bit of space on your patio compared with other types of grills.
- Due to the nature of their design, they can’t be used for searing or barbecuing.
How To Choose A Grill For Your Needs?
While all types of grills have their own unique benefits, they may not be the best choice for every person. In order to choose a grill that will work best for you, it’s important to think about what kind of food you’ll be cooking as well as where on your patio or deck you plan on placing it. Once you’ve figured out your requirements, you should be able to choose the type of grill that will best serve your needs.
What Are Some Additional Things To Consider?
Price:
Most grills tend to fall within a pretty standard price range with the biggest jump in cost usually being from small tabletop grills all the way up to large pellet smokers. If you’re on a budget or are looking to spend as little as possible, it’s probably best to go with one of the smaller tabletop grills. If you plan on cooking for large groups of people more often, it may be worth spending more money in order to get a higher quality grill that will last longer and provide better results.
Material:
The material your grill is made from can make a big difference in how it functions and what kinds of food you can cook on it. One of the main factors that will determine this is the type of fuel that it uses. If your grill runs off charcoal or wood-like many traditional grills, you’ll need to find one with an enameled or stainless steel exterior to withhold the heat. If you’re looking for something that runs on propane or natural gas, then it’s probably best to find one made from carbon steel since these types of fuel don’t produce as high of heat output.
Size:
The size of your grill is something else to consider when shopping around. Obviously, the smaller the grill, the less cooking space you’ll have and will require more frequent refills of fuel and propane. If you plan on cooking for large groups of people often, then it may be worth spending the extra money to upgrade to a larger grill that can handle the volume. Alternatively, if you’re just looking for a grill to whip up a quick meal for one or two people, then consider going with one of the smaller tabletop grills.
Grill Accessories:
In addition to the standard accessories that come with a new grill such as a cover and a starter kit, there are also some other products that can make your life much easier when it comes to grilling. One of the most popular accessories available is built-in thermometers that will allow you to monitor the temperature without having to lift the lid of your grill. It’s also important to make sure your grill is stable and has wheels or casters on it if possible, so it can be moved easily when necessary.
Conclusion:
Although there are many different types of grills available, the most common choice for people who want to purchase their first unit tends to be electric or propane. While they may not offer the smoky flavor you get from charcoal or wood, they can still cook a wide range of foods and tend to be more affordable. Your choice will really depend on how much you plan to cook and what types of foods you prefer.
