5 Best Outdoor Grills Reviews and Buying Guide

This unit offers 360 square inches of total cooking area, suitable for grilling steaks, chicken and burgers for a large party.

It also includes 170 square inches of warming space in the form of a swing-away rack, perfect for sides or toasting buns.

The product has three stainless steel inline burners that produce 30,000 total BTU’s of heating output.

These heat up pretty fast so there is literally no downtime and they are easy to start by the piezo ignition system.

Each burner also has an independent temperature control knob that lets you adjust the heat according to what’s cooking on a given burner.

Thanks to porcelain-coated cooking grates, heat distribution is even for great results with no cold spots.

The firebox and grill lid is also made of porcelain-coated steel for enhanced durability, making the unit capable of withstanding tough weather.

The portability of this unit is evident in its size since it only offers 240 inches of cooking area and measures 7 by 19.7 by 20.5 inches (H x W x D). The unit is incredibly lightweight and easy to carry for almost anyone.

Its lid-locking feature functions great and adds to the ease of use of this grill. Unlike bulky 3-burner grills like the Char-Broil Classic 360, the Weber Jumbo Joe is easy and quick to assemble for even amateurs.

The ease of assembly means you can get grilling faster which is an amazing thing to have in a portable unit. In addition, the temperature control on this grill is excellent as vents on the top allow air out to control the heat as you grill.

A 1.2-pound propane tank is enough to power this grill but you can as well hook it up to a full-size tank with a separate conversion hose.

One amazing thing about this product is its scissor cart design. Weighing about 20 lbs, it has a locking lid and folding legs that allow it to be easily moved around.

The functionality of two stainless steel burners is amazing because you can keep food warm on one side while grilling hot on the other burner.

This grill obviously doesn’t offer the heat output of a full-sized gas barbecue but it compensates that by being portable. As a matter of fact, most units of this size have one burner, reducing the grilling versatility.

Another good feature is the porcelain-coated, cast iron cooking grates, which are very good at transferring heat more evenly for the best results.

If this format doesn’t work for you, you can always transform the hanging rack into legs to make a free-standing grill.

Another design benefit lies in the locking retainer pins that ensure the mounting bracket is secured throughout.

The 214 square inches of cooking surface available is enough to cook for 3 to 4 people in one go.

The design includes an adjustable flame controller which lets you keep an eye on your food and there’s an upper grill deck that increases the cooking surface.

Indeed, this unit can be folded down for easy transportation, and the lid can be locked to prevent the contents from being affected or getting lost while in transit.

In terms of build, it boasts a powerful steel construction combined with a durable powder coat finish, porcelain grill grates, and all-terrain wheels.

The item is really sturdy when assembled and easy to tow to storage after every use. An outstanding attribute about this grill is that it uses 100% natural wood pellets as fuel.

The manufacturer claims the wood adds a certain nice flavor to the food you’re cooking.

Then there’s the 6-in-1 versatility, meaning this grill can additionally be used for smoking, baking, roasting, braising, and BBQing food such as ribs and apple pie.

Ease of use was carefully considered during the design as this grill has some pretty intuitive controls with the temperature being one of them.

The grill grates transfer heat effectively to ensure consistent and reliable results while their non-stick nature means they are easy to clean no matter the food you cook.

If you are looking for a sizeable grill to entertain a party and probably want something away from wood o gas, this Traeger Grills TFB88PZBO is the real deal, though it would an expensive undertaking.

Buying Guide

When it comes to buying the best outdoor grills, there is a lot to think about including:

Type of grill

From gas to charcoal grills, the options are many, and this the primary factor to consider.

Gas grills have this major benefit of quick starting, allowing them to begin grilling immediately. They do have temperature regulation features that facilitate even cooking and some with multiple burners can even be individually controlled to cook at different temperatures.

If you are the kind of person who wants their food on the table real quick without worrying about preparing and cleaning up charcoal, then a gas grill is your best companion.

Charcoal grills, on the other hand, need time to get going because the charcoal has to get hot first before you start cooking. These grills are perfect for purists who yearn for that smoky, grilled flavor.

If you also enjoy smoking meats with family and friends or you regularly host garden parties, a charcoal grill will do for you.

Charcoal typically burns at a greater temperature than gas, allowing you to easily sear meat. In addition, it adds a distinct aroma that is clearly lacking with modern gas grills.

Size of grill

The grill size determines the amount of food you can cook at a time.

For big parties, it’s a no-brainer that you need a large grill in the range of 500 to 900 square inches of cooking area, such as the Traeger Grills TFB88PZBO Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill and Smoker.

If you want something for occasional use and you don’t normally entertain large groups, a more compact model with two to three burners would be a great option, something like the Char-Broil Classic 360 3-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill.

Ideally, consider a cooking space of around 350 to 500 square inches. This should be enough to cook around 20 burgers at a time, enough for most family grilling occasions.

Then there are even smaller, more portable grills that are perfect on the go or for balcony grilling. These are very quick to assemble and easy to store, but they can only serve a few people.

Examples include the Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18 Inch Black and the Traeger Grills TFB88PZBO Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill and Smoker.

Grill construction

The grill’s frame can be made from stainless steel, cast aluminum or painted steel. Stainless steel is good-looking and rust-resistant. Most of the expensive grills are made from stainless steel.

Cast aluminum material is also highly rust-resistant and durable. Painted steel is impressive at first, but it is susceptible to rust as soon as the paint starts to peel off due to scratches.

When it comes to the cooking grates, porcelain-coated cast iron is the most preferred material. It transfers and retains heat well, thus a solid choice for searing meat.

Porcelain-coated steel grates are also available and are good at retaining heat but not as impressive as cast iron.

Some models use heavy-gauge stainless steel grates and this too are very good at heat retention as well as durable, rust-resistant and easy to clean.

BTU’s

A grill’s heat output is measured in BTU’s and the higher this figure, the hotter the frizzle. The number of burners will determine the total BTU’s offered by a grill, hence the Char-Broil Classic 360 with three burners delivers 30,000 BTU whereas Napoleon TQ285X-BL model offers just 12,000 BTU from two burners.

Transportation and storage

Obviously, a small grill is portable enough to be moved to and from the shed anytime you’ll need to use it.

If you buy a large grill, make sure it has wheels so that you simply need to push it to and from the grilling area. Look for solid handles as well.

Additional features

This is where you consider things such as the ignition method, built-in temperature gauge, side burners, and locking lids.

These are features that add to the convenience of using the grill and you can carefully analyze the ones that make matter to you before spending your money.

Finally

It’s no doubt that food tastes better on a grill. What we can’t agree on is our choice for the best outdoor grill because our needs are different and neither is right or wrong.

So we have had our say from the five grills above and now the ball is in your court. Have you found one that suits your needs, style, and budget? Let us know about your experiences.