The Best Grills And Smokers For The Perfect Bbq
If you’re anything like us, you love BBQ season. It’s an excuse to spend as much time outside as possible and enjoy some of the best food in the world – cooked slowly and with love over an open flame. But if you don’t have the right equipment, all that great meat can go to waste!
1. Gas Grills
What we like about this unit: Don’t get caught out in a wind that’s too strong, or you’ll end up with an awesome fire, but no heat. The wood-burning part of the grill is amazing!
What we don’t like: You’ll need to purchase a propane tank to run the smoker portion of your gas grill. Depending on the model, it can be expensive and inconvenient. And the reason you go gas is because of convenience – if you need to start a fire, there’s no way around it.
2. Pellet Grills & Wood Pellet Smokers
What we like about this model: Forget lighting charcoal and waiting an hour to get the right temperature. These units start-up in minutes, have precise temperature controls, and can be left unattended. They come with built-in meat probes to monitor internal meat temperatures to ensure your food comes out perfectly cooked every time.
3. Kamado Grills & Smokers
What we like about this unit: These grills are made of clay and can be used for smoking, roasting, and baking. The heat is controlled by the thickness and shape of the dome lid – which means you don’t need to rotate your food to cook it evenly. And you can use any type of wood or charcoal fuel to get the flavor you want.
5. Flat Top Grills & Gas Griddles
What we like about this unit: You can cook bacon, burgers, pork chops, steaks, eggs, pancakes, and a whole lot more on these units. They’re versatile and they’re perfect for throwing a backyard party.
Similar to the grills above, porcelain enameled griddles are popular in commercial kitchens as well as at home. Porcelain enamel is scratch resistant and comes in many colors that are sure to brighten up your kitchen.
7. BBQ Smokers & Smoker Grills
What we like about this model: This grill is the perfect choice for purists. It doesn’t have a side burner, it doesn’t have any electronic controls, and you don’t even light the thing! You just pile in your wood and fire it up. If you want real smoked meat, this is going to be your best option.
What we don’t like about this unit: You won’t get anything done while you’re cooking – your only job is to stand over the smoker and tend to the barbecue.
8. Outdoor Deep Fryers
What we like about this unit: Deep fryers are gas-powered and sit outside on your patio. They’re a great choice if you like fried food, but don’t want to deal with the mess and noise of an indoor deep fryer.
What we don’t like about this unit: You’ll need to be careful and use low temperatures to keep your oil from overheating. But if you do, you’ll be able to enjoy “deep-fried” foods on your patio all summer long!
9. Outdoor Pizza Ovens
What we like about this unit: Pizza ovens are an awesome way to cook pretty much anything. You just fire up a pizza stone and set it on the bottom rack of the oven. It holds heat, is designed to cook pizzas, and you can even use it as a smoker. What we don’t like about this unit: Be careful not to overcook your food. Pizzas will turn out crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
