The Ultimate Guide to Different Types of Grills: Which Is Best for You?

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Some may think that grilling is for warm weather, or a summer, activity. The truth is you can grill any time of year if you have the right equipment and space to fill.

Quick Navigation

What Is a Grill?

Do You Need a Grill?

Types of Grills

Electric

Gas

Charcoal

Ceramic

Wood Burning / Pellet

Portable

Indoor

Other Things You Might Need

Utensils

Aprons

Cook Books

Meat Thermometer

Hat

A Final Word

What Is a Grill?

This term refers to the general concept of cooking food on a grate over an open flame. If you think about it, this is the way we probably started cooking food in the first place. In contemporary society, we aren’t required to sit around an open flame with our kill. We’ve taken this concept of securing food over a fire to enhance the flavor to unbelievable heights.

Today, we enjoy the grill, and it’s the centerpiece of parties and enjoyable evenings with your family on a warm summer weekday. For some people, outdoor amenities can become the cornerstone of their cooking endeavors.

Do You Need a Grill?

Instead of answering this question I’m going to ask you a few of my own. Do you love to make grilled hot dogs and burgers for your kids?

How about chicken, steak, ribs, corn, and vegetables like portobello mushrooms, red peppers, tomatillos, jalapenos, tomatoes for salsa, corn, potatoes, eggplants, and almost every other plant-based food that won’t fall through the openings?

If you are anything like me and believe everything tastes better cooked over an open fire, then you know the answer to the title question.

Types of Grills

charcoals in fire and ready to grill meat

Image via: Pixabay

When it comes to the average everyday person, there are seven types of grills you can purchase. We’ve broken them down to seven types and listed them here from easiest to the most difficult to use.

Electric

First on our list is powered the same way most things in our lives are. As you have probably surmised, it is first on our list because it is the easiest to operate. You plug it into an outlet, let it heat up, and start grilling. Besides the obvious, there are other benefits to owning an electric grill.

Image via: Pixabay

Features

These types of grills come in different sizes and can even be put on a countertop, depending on the one you choose. They plug into any regular outlet from a 120-volt or 220 voltage power source or electrical potential energy per unit.

Voltage needs are also contingent on the size of the product. The smaller models plug into the 120-volt outlet while more massive, outdoor versions, require 220-volt. Electric versions come with simple startup options and timers.

The Good

When you use other types of grills, they require an energy source that will eventually run out like coal, wood, or gas, to keep the heat going. You won’t have that problem with an electric grill because, unless you run out of electricity or are somewhere without access, you will never have to replenish the source of heat. Due to this, an electric grill will cost you less in the long run.
Have you ever been sitting in a backyard when the smoke from the grill comes your way, and, no matter where you move, somehow it finds you and forms an everlasting cloud around your head? If you haven’t then you are fortunate. One way to curb this problem is to use an electric cooker.
All of the other grills require questionable heating sources. One slip up and you can get hurt badly. With an electric grill, the risk is minimal when compared to the other types.
Grill in Places Once Banned
I know a couple who lives in a second-floor condo with a lovely balcony looking over the landscape of Wisconsin. Their downstairs neighbors are allowed to own a grill but my friends cannot, out of fear of fire. The safety provided by electric grills offers you access to grilled food anywhere, within reason of course.
Wipe it down with a rag once it cools. It doesn’t get much easier than that, which is particularly true of the more compact versions.

The Bad

Convenience doesn’t come without a price. While there aren’t many, electric grills have a downside.

We pointed out the annoying aspect of smoke in your face, but the truth is when the grill is going, and the coals are burning, there isn’t a smell that can compare. So, in essence, while you are eating grilled meat and standing around the yard, you are missing an essential aspect of the culture.
While it’s convenient to plug it in, you can only use this type of grill near an outlet, which eliminates a lot of places you might want to use a smaller version like camping.
We plug in everything today, which puts a lot of strain on our home. Why overpower your electric source?

Price

Electric grills can run you anywhere from less than $30 to more than $200. Still, after you read the rest of the types listed, this kind comes in as being one of the less expensive.

Gas

Image via: Pixabay

Arguably the most popular of all the types on our list, gas grills decorate nearly every suburban, rural, and urban landscape in the United States. While they are not as easy to use as electric in the sense that you plug it in a start to cook, these types are purchased more frequently because of the ease in use.

Features

When looking for a gas grill, there are options to keep in mind. Ours has four burners, which makes it easy for me to cook a lot of food or place some of it off of a direct heat source. Also, ask about the propane consumption, so you are getting the most from every tank.

Also, make sure the grill material is what you want. Stainless steel and cast iron are attractive choices.

The Good

Gas grills have many advantages.

Sometimes you don’t have time to wait for coals to heat up. We live busy lifestyles, and gas grills are an excellent choice for anyone who doesn’t feel like eating. They are fast to reach the temps you desire no matter what you are making for dinner that night.
While some of us love a slab of ribs that have been labored over for hours, many of us want to throw it on, turn it at the appropriate time, and wait a little longer before having our meal. If you aren’t that serious about your skills and want to put in minimal effort, this is the type for you. It doesn’t take a lot of trial and practice to become accustomed to making great meals on a gas device.
Charcoal grills stay hot for a while, which is a hazard if you have small children running around. Gas grills cool down fast once they’ve been shut off and you don’t have to water down any embers that might be lingering in the ash.
Gas grills aren’t a “wipe and clean” option like their electric counterparts but, since there is not any ash to deal with, the cleanup still comes in at a much simpler level than charcoal or wood.

The Bad

Propane isn’t as charcoal, so in that way you are making out in the long run, but, the initial purchase will cost more. In comparison to electric grills, you will need to replenish the propane eventually, even if the gas usage is the most efficient.
While we might be repeating ourselves, when you take away the charcoal or wood, then there is an element of taste you will not have in your finished product. You know this fact going in and need to decide if that is an essential component for you.
If you enjoy getting high temps, you need to know that gas does not get as sizzling like a charcoal grill.

The Types

Within this one variety of grill are subcategories.

FreestandingThis type of grill can move around with ease in case you try to rearrange your yard.
When built into the outdoor decor grills tend to be smaller than freestanding versions. They work well if you don’t have a lot of space to work with, but they are more expensive than the moveable ones. They do add a charming aesthetic to your yard especially if you are adding to a cooking area with a wet bar or brick pizza oven.
Grills that use this type of gas heating source take advantage of radiant energy, which you can’t see with the naked eye, but puts off a lot of heat. The temperature you use is evenly dispersed on the surface when used in a cooking apparatus like this.
Natural
More and more people are opting for a natural gas grill. You can hook it up to the pipeline that feeds your home. They are fast, efficient, functional, and user-friendly.

Price

Gas grills can run anywhere from under $100 to several thousand. As the price climbs so do options and size.

Charcoal

Image via: Pixabay

When I think of barbeque, my mind goes right to this type of grill because I am a fan of the flavor and they remind me of charred hot dogs and apple pie. It’s not the easiest to master but you can if you try.

Features

They are typically simple in design, with a bowl holding room for burning coals, a catch for falling ash, a grate for cooking, and a lid with air holes you can open and close.

The Good

Chefs who love conventional methods swear by charcoal over gas for many reasons.

Some consider this the best type of outdoor cooking to meet the taste requirements of even the most critical barbeque lover. The flavors you get are tough to beat and hard to duplicate with other methods.
All you need to do is make a hill of charcoal, douse it in lighter fluid, strike a match, and bam! You have a fire. Let the fire go down and place your grate back on the grill. Let it heat up and cook. The key is to let air flow inside to stoke the fire.
Cooking on coals isn’t simple though, which we will cover later. But learning how to do it correctly is fun and the pride of those who have mastered the form. Anyone can put something on the stove, but to grill the perfect chicken over charcoal, that’s a learned skill.

The Bad

You can’t just light the charcoal, attach the grate, and put the food on the grill. This method would burn the outside and leave the inside raw. That approach might work fine for veggies but a big no-no for chicken. Typically it takes a half hour for charcoal to reach the right amount of burning embers for cooking, give or take a few minutes.
While you can let it go for a little while, ash from previous cookouts will begin to pile up in your charcoal grill, so you are going to have to clean it eventually. My travel grill folds up and is on wheels, which makes it excellent for tailgating, but when I have to clean it out, I get the elbow grease.
Gas grills offer you year-round barbeque because it doesn’t need the air to stoke the fire like charcoal so closing the lid is not an issue. When you are cooking over fire via charcoal, the air is essential, but on windy days it can be too much. Also, if it’s too cold, a fire may be challenging to maintain.
Cost
While you can get a charcoal grill inexpensively buying charcoal can add up to more than a tank of propane if you use it often enough.
Takes Expertise
On the one hand, learning to grill on charcoal is fun, but to reach the type of perfection you are looking for will take time and plenty of error. More so for some than for others. There is a skill to knowing how to use the hot spots for searing while leaving room on your grate that doesn’t sit over direct heat.
Takes Time to Cool
You can’t sear a steak without intense heat but, when you need to cool your grates down it isn’t easy to do on a charcoal grill, at least not in comparison to gas or electric. It is for this reason you need to learn how to place your briquettes correctly.
Takes Time in General
The central theme in all these features is that to cook on a charcoal grill you need to be ready to commit your time to get it ready, cook your meal, clean your grill, and the room to make a ton of mistakes before you learn to do it right. Charcoal is not for anyone into casual cooking or clean hands.
Always Need Charcoal
You better have a bag waiting if you decide to grill at the last minute. You can run out fast because you burn through it when the weather is beautiful. There have been several times, before our gas grill, when I wanted to cook-out for dinner and had to run back out to get charcoal.

Types

Charcoal is a general term for several subtypes. While researching remember that models with cast iron or stainless steel grates are the best.

Kettle These grills run on the smaller side and are easy to take with you no matter if it’s the beach or a hike in the woods.
Kamado
Traditional
If you are familiar with the landscape of the American cook-out, then you are familiar with this grill, which is made from cast iron that is thick and durable to withstand ridiculous temperatures.

Price

I once saw a small charcoal grill for $20, and I know there are large built-in versions for the serious chef that cost more than $2200, which is an excellent choice for larger families and people who like to throw parties.

Ceramic

Image via: Pixabay

Some of the Kamado grills we listed under charcoal are made from ceramic, and they deserve a category all their own because, as they become more and more popular, there are assets to this style of cooking that are unique.

Features

They look a bit different than the traditional kettle grill, but some aspects are the same. There is a catch for ash, a vent at the bottom, and an opening at the top with a circle of holes you can open or close. Be sure to take the size and thickness of the materials into consideration while looking.

The Good

The juicy meat is due to the air flow being more limited because ceramic grills close tighter, in the same style as a pressure cooker.
The tight lid on these cookers helps maintain keeping temperatures just where you want them. Ceramic grills are also great at keeping the temperature even-keeled over long periods, which works great when you want to keep cooking without starting up your cooker every time you change courses.
Due to the design, food in this type of grill is ready faster than traditional outdoor cooking methods.

The Bad

Buying a ceramic grill is a serious investment. They run higher in cost than any other type on our list.
Once you decide where you are putting your ceramic grill plan on keeping it there or get some help every time you decorate your yard.
Grills made from ceramic are some of the more difficult to use because, while you may be familiar with charcoal grilling, the casing is different, which means it requires a different approach. Be prepared to fail once in a while when using for the first few times.

Price

Plan on spending at least $400 on a ceramic grill, and that’s on the low end. Higher end products can run well into the thousands.

Wood Burning / Pellet

Image via: Pixabay

When humans first learned to cook food, it wasn’t actually over charcoal. More likely it happened over a wood fire. For some, they feel there is no substitute for wood. Some popular choices are sweet chestnut, English oak, and apple wood.

Features

There are fire pits that offer outdoor cooking without a cover, and large pellet grills that offer smoker options.

The Good

The flavor transferred to food via a wood fire is unbeatable to some expert taste buds. It is also unique and hard to duplicate synthetically.
Some of the professionals out there who are known for their techniques have studied this method of cooking for years. In some cases, it’s a family tradition passed down through generations. Cooking well over a wood flame is not something you learn to do overnight.

The Bad

Of all grills, this one is the most difficult to use.

Cooking over a wood fire is another skill that takes time in many areas. Starting the first takes a while, you have to wait for it to be perfect, the timing of your turns and flips is vital, and the time it takes to master.
Have you ever sat and watched wood burn? Sure you have, and you know when it’s time to throw another log in the fire. Cooking via wood fire takes a lot of concentration.
Wood burns fast, and some projects require a lot, which can add up.

Price

As for the cost of the actual grill, that depends on the type you buy. There are small camping systems that cost just under $200 and others that go into the high thousands.

Portable

Easy grilling with the use of portabel griller

Image via: Pixabay

Moveable grills fall all over the board when it comes to ease in use. Most of the types we discussed come in compact sizes for mobility.

Features

Depending on the type you choose to purchase, there are heat sources proved for some portable gas and charcoal grills. It is an excellent tool for anyone who is trekking over long distances, let’s say taking a few summer months to visit as many national parks as they can. How fun it would be to take a road trip and grill along the way.

Portable grills are great for apartment living when you don’t have the space to keep a standard sized cooker, for this need the electric grill works nicely.

The Good

They are small and easy to use, which makes them very attractive to the person who isn’t looking to make a big grilling commitment.

The Bad

The grate doesn’t offer much room, so make sure to time it right and have enough of your heating source available if it’s charcoal, gas, or wood.

Price

You can get a portable grill for a low price no matter what type you choose to buy.

Indoor

Pixabay

If the rain is falling so heavy that it looks like someone is throwing buckets of water at your window then no matter how wind resistant your kamado or gas grill is the last place you are heading is in the yard to make burgers. The same goes for people who live in areas that wait out massive snow storms.

The elements may not be cooperating, but you had your heart set on a grilled black bean burger. That’s the moment you realize you need an indoor grill.

Features

As much as you might love the taste of wood and charcoal, we do not recommend anyone use an open flame indoors. The only type of grill for indoor cooking is electric, specifically the smaller versions.

The Good

You plug it in and put your food on it. It’s that simple, and you aren’t dealing with a big machine.
When it cools down, you wipe it down with a clean wet rag. If the directions allow you can use soap, but pay attention to what the manual says about cleaning.
You don’t need to replenish any wood, gas or charcoal with this grill.
Doesn’t Take Up Space
When you are using it, the grill should fit on your counter. Afterward, it can be stored anywhere.

The Bad

Don’t start planning any barbeques in the middle of winter and invite your friends. You’ll be sorely disappointed by how long it takes to cook a big meal on such a limited space.
No charcoal and no wood equal less barbeque taste.

Price

You can obtain an indoor electric grill at a reasonable price.

Other Things You Might Need

Utensils you will need when grilling such as tong

Image via: Pixabay

Now that you have a better idea of the type of grill you want to get, there a few items you should consider.

Utensils

The tongs you have in your kitchen might not be long enough to reach over high heat. You will also need a long fork and spatula for flipping burgers. Some even come in cases and sets.

Aprons

You may not like the way aprons look but in cases like this function is more important than fashion. Useful aprons come with pockets to keep other things.

Cook Books

The best way to learn is by doing, but you learn what to do by reading books.

Meat Thermometer

As you will learn in some of those books, the internal temperature of any meat is crucial if you want to avoid getting you or your family sick. For example, you should never serve chicken before it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can get a good reading by putting a meat thermometer in the center.

Hat

We aren’t saying a fluffy hat is necessary for a chef to create an amazing meal, but it sure is fun and looks good!

A Final Word

A general rule of thumb when shopping for any grill is to know where it needs to fit and to keep in mind how much you plan on cooking at one time. Knowledge of what you want in comparison to what you can handle will help you decide. Also, ask yourself what you want to get out of your experience.

If you feel like pushing yourself, go for a challenge like charcoal and wood cooking, But, if that seems like too much of a hassle, stick with a gas or electric grill.

What Is a Grill?

Do You Need a Grill?

Types of Grills

Electric

Features

The Good

The Bad

Price

Gas

Features

The Good

The Bad

The Types

Price

Charcoal

Features

The Good

The Bad

Types

Price

Ceramic

Features

The Good

The Bad

Price

Wood Burning / Pellet

Features

The Good

The Bad

Price

Portable

Features

The Good

The Bad

Price

Indoor

Features

The Good

The Bad

Price

Other Things You Might Need

Utensils

Aprons

Cook Books

Meat Thermometer

Hat

A Final Word

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