It's grilling season, and the infinite debate of “hot dogs or hamburgers” is perhaps only overshadowed by one other: which grill brand you should buy.
Some people are wild about Weber, other people are die-hard Dyna-Glo fans, what brand works for you though is going to depend on your unique grill preferences and desired features.
In this guide, we have reviewed the 5 best grill brand of 2020 and each of their best grilling products.
|
PRODUCT |
FEATURES |
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
Types of Grills
Before deciding on a grill brand you need to decide which kind of grill you want to buy. Each of the brands reviewed makes exceptional grills, however, they all have their specialty. Because of this, by identifying your favorite type, you can easily deduce which brand you should buy from.
Charcoal
Charcoal grills use charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal to cook food. They take longer to cook meat, vegetables, or whatever else you may grill on them, however, they add an extra smoky flavor that can’t be beaten.
Briquettes or lump charcoal can be expensive, costing more than gas, however, the charcoal grills themselves cost way less than gas grills.
They tend to be on the smaller side and portable which is great if you want to bring them on the go.
Learning how to use a charcoal grill is fairly simple but there definitely is an art to it. To learn how to operate a charcoal grill the correct way check out the video below!
Gas
Gas grills are one of the most popular kinds of grills to buy.
Unlike charcoal grills, anyone can operate gas grills without any training. They turn on with the switch of a knob, and cook your food quickly and evenly.
Using propane or natural gas, these grills have a fairly inexpensive power source. However, the grills themselves tend to be expensive.
They are much less messy than charcoal grills but don’t impart the same unique, smoky flavor that most of us associate with grilled food.
Gas grills are typically not portable because they are normally rather large and fairly heavy.
Electric
Electric grills are a compact, eco-friendly option for people looking to grill on the go.
There is no fire-starting required. For some people, this is a positive attribute in the grill’s favor, since it makes them hassle-free and relatively mess-free.
However, they also have zero trace of your typical smoky, grilled-flavor, so if that’s why you grill, this is not the option for you.
Using electricity, they cook food on heated grill plates.
An example of electric grills is the George Forman grill. They come in designs similar to the George Foreman, or in styles similar to outdoor grills.
Their compact size makes them perfect for tiny yards or balconies. Because of there small size, they are easy to take with you places, but remember, they need an outlet for electricity!
Smoker
I’ve mentioned a couple of times the sought-after smoky grill flavor. If that’s what you are after, then a smoker is the option for you.
It upgrades the smoky flavor you get from charcoal grilling and multiplies it by 10, making food that is more flavorful and tender than you would get from normal grilling.
Smokers tend to vary in which power source they use, some use electric and some use propane. Both have advantages, and both require you to also add wood and water to the smoker.
Decide what you want to use your smoker before buying it. They come in numerous sizes, some much bigger and some much smaller, some that will smoke a turkey and some that will smoke a handful of wings.
They cook food at a low temperature using indirect heat from smoke, which infuses it with flavor but also takes quite a bit of time.
Grill Features
Now that you know which type of grill you want to get, consider the features that you want your grill to include and buying criteria you want it to meet.
Warranty
Warranties can greatly range depending on which brand you’re buying your grill from. Some brands have 1-year warranties, some have 10-year ones, some have full warranties others have limited ones. Obviously, the longer the warranty and the more it covers, the better.
Price
When it comes to grills you get what you pay for. If you are dropping a lot of money on a grill, it will probably last a long time, masterfully cook food, and contain loads of features. If you buy a cheaper one, it might not have these attributes. It’s not like you have to spend a ton of money, but splurge a little to make sure your grill is a worthwhile investment. Grills can be anywhere from $100 to $10,000.
Size
The size of your grill should depend on how many people you are feeding with it and what type of food you are cooking on it. For a couple of people, buy a grill with about 200 square inches of grilling space. For four people, buy one with about 450 square inches of grilling space. If you throw a lot of BBQ parties, splurge for a grill with 550 square inches of grilling space. Also consider the space that you want to put your grill in, and what will fit comfortably in that space.
Grill Grates
What your grates are made of is very important. Stainless steel grates are easy to clean and the best at maintaining consistent grilling temperatures and searing meat. Plated steel cooking grates last the longest and are also easy to clean.
Porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates are some of the most durable grates you can have on your grill. They are fragile though when off it, so be careful when handling them.
Extra Features
What will they come up with next? Grill designers are consistently coming up with incredible new features to add to grills.
Interested in a side burner? An app that lets you know when your grill has reached the perfect temperature? Grill lights? A rotisserie burner?
There are so many features! Just remember, they will cost you.
Grill Accessories
Grill brands often sell a variety of grill accessories as well as their traditional grills. Some examples of these extra products include grill covers, charcoal, aprons, pans, grilling tools, grill cleaners, and so on. If you can use it on or near a grill, most grill brands have a version of that product.
Top 5 Grill Brands Reviews
Weber
Weber is one of the most trusted grill brands, having some of the best gas and charcoal grills you can buy.
This premier brand makes quality grills that last. They make electric grills, smokers, charcoal grills, and every grilling accessory under the sun.
Their products are expensive but they are quality and backed by a serious warranty. This brand is best for serious grillers who are willing to splurge to get a top product.
This powerful, compact grill pairs ease-of-use with Weber’s impressive quality standards.
- Quality products
- Excellent warranty
- Awesome charcoal and gas grills
- Expensive
|
|
Weber has impressive quality standards that are fulfilled in this incredible propane-powered grill. It features porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates, a built-in lid thermometer, fold-down left side tables, and a stainless steel heat deflector, all of which make grilling easier so you can focus on what’s really important: making sure your steak is as decadent as you dreamed it would be.
This grill is perfect for beginners looking to invest in a grill for the long-run or advanced grillers looking for a dependable grill they can keep in a small space.
Traeger
Traeger’s specialty is pellet grills, which use electricity and wood pellets to grill food, infusing them with a delicious, smoky flavor. Traeger, quite literally, invented the pellet grill, filing a patent for it back in 1986. Their products pair innovative designs with ease of use, making cooking delicious food look easy.
Because of their experience and authority in regard to pellet grills, this is absolutely the brand to buy from if you are hoping to buy one.
This incredible pellet grill cooks meat perfectly with its 6-in-1 versatility and durable steel design.
- Innovative pellet grill design
- Durable frame
- 6-in-1 versatility
- Expensive
- Shoddy cover
|
|
This pellet grill does the Traeger name proud, allowing you to easily cook delicious, smoke-infused food using their innovative pellet system.
Not only is the cooking method admirable, so is the design of the grill as a whole with its 6-in-1 versatility that allows you to grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ.
It features precision temperature control through its Digital Pro Controller which maintains a +/- 15 degrees F temperature control so you can monitor your meat and make sure it’s at the exact ideal temperature.
The grill is durable, with a steel frame and powder coat finish that make it easy to clean.
Need to feed a hoard of hungry people? No worries, this grill has enough room to take them on easily, with extra room for veggies.
It is on the pricier side and it should be noted that the grill cover you can buy with it does a bad job protecting it, so you may want to go with a different brand for that.
However, if you are looking for a pellet grill, Traeger is the brand to beat.
Nexgrill
If you are looking for a bargain grill than Nexgrill is the brand for you.
Nexgrill famously sells quality grills for affordable prices. They have a wide array of grills to choose from, all using either charcoal or gas as their power source. They also sell grilling accessories that are compatible with their grill.
Their products are highly rated but it should be noted that the “get what you paid for rule” does apply to Nexgrill products. The quality of these grills is not as high as some of the other ones on the list, and Nexgrill has a weak warranty program.
Because of this, Nexgrill’s products are best suited for beginner grillers who are just dipping their spatula in the world of grilling.
This deluxe grill is ginormous, featuring 6 stainless steel burners that were designed to evenly and perfectly heat whatever you cook on them.
- Huge size
- Affordable
- Stainless steel structure
- Weak warranty
- Flare-ups
|
|
This deluxe grill isn’t just huge- it will also be a huge hit at your next BBQ. With 806 square inches of cooking space, you will be able to cook everyone’s burgers at once along with a whole chicken, rack of ribs, and whatever sides you feel like preparing.
Crafted from stainless steel with porcelain-coated steel materials, this grill was built to be elegant and durable. It features an even-heat system, enhanced grates, and angled flame tamers. This grill does tend to have a lot of flare-ups though so be wary of that, and it doesn’t handle natural gas very well.
Dyna-Glo
The Dyna-Glo brand is well-known and it’s no wonder why with their quality products and excellent customer services. Dyna-Glo has a vast amount of grill offerings, featuring charcoal grills, gas grills, and smokers. The only downside of this brand is that it may be hard to choose between all of their top-rated products! These grills are perfect for someone who wants to explore a brand with a range of quality grill options.
This heavy-duty charcoal grill features an innovative design that maximizes its grilling space and allows easy temperature control.
- 686 square inches of cooking space
- 8-inch resin wheels for easy relocation
- Charcoal smoky taste
- Heavy
|
|
This heavy-duty charcoal grill is the perfect home grill from a real bbq boss: the cooking surface holds up to 24 hamburgers at a time, the shelves and cart provide tons of storage for marathon grilling for a crowd, and the adjustable charcoal tray, cast iron racks, and adjustable flue allow for fine-tuned grilling conditions.
Masterbuilt
Masterbuilt is one of the top brands to buy affordable smokers from. They have existed for 45 years but they continue to be creative, refining and perfecting their smokers with groundbreaking, new features like built-in thermostats, side wood chip loading systems, remote controls, Bluetooth technology, and a digital LED display that controls the temperature within.
These smokers are durable, innovatively made, and produce delicious smoke-infused food. You can choose from electric, gas, and pellet smokers.
This brand is best for grillers who want to buy a quality smoker for an affordable price.
This durable smoker is extremely easy to use, just plug it in, set the analog dial, and it will do the rest of the work for you.
- Easy to use
- Delicious smoky flavor
- Some quality issues
|
|
This electric smoker not only produces perfectly smoked meats, but it also features incredible additions like an analog dial for temperature control, a built-in temperature gauge, and a sliding wood chip tray that makes ash removal easy. The three chrome-coated smoking racks and 1,500-watt heating element within ensure that your meat has an even, consistent smoke. This smoker is easy to use, all you have to do is plug it in and set the analog controls. This is an excellent smoker for its affordable price, however, is it of the same quality as a more expensive smoker? Well, no. But for the occasional or beginner to intermediate griller, this is an excellent option.
Conclusion
Smoking the competition, Weber is the undeniable king of grill products.
The beat out the other brands because of their quality products, which although expensive are worth the money because they are built to last. They cook meat evenly and quickly, being a great grill for beginners because they are easy to operate, but also a great grill for masters because of their versatility.
Keep in mind that all of the brands on this list are quality, so if Weber doesn’t have what you want, go with one of the other excellent choices.
I hope you found this guide helpful! If you did, be sure to share it and let me know in the comments which grill brand you decided to go with.