The knowledge library
Grilling & Smoking Guides: Best Picks, How-Tos & Fixes
39 guides from our testers: which grill fits you, how to cook on it, and how to keep it running.
- 39
- guides
- 14
- best-of guides
- 25
- how-tos & fixes
- October 25, 2026
- last updated
Buy · Find the right grill
Tested picks by budget, fuel and space.
Top picks & brands 03
Our overall best grills, the best for steak, and the best of one brand.
Best-of guide19 minBest Grills for Steaks and SearingSeven hand-tested grills ranked by how hard they sear, so you get a dark crust in minutes instead of a gray band.Read the guide 
Best-of guide20 minBest Grills of 2026One hand-tested grill for each fuel type and budget, with the reasons to choose it and the reasons to skip it.Read the guide 
Best-of guide18 minBest Weber GrillsSix hand-tested Webers matched to how you cook: gas, charcoal kettle, smoker, portable and electric.Read the guide
Best by budget 04
The best grill at each price, from under $200 to premium gas.
Best-of guide20 minBest Gas Grills $500–$1,000Five mid-range gas grills with sear zones, side burners and sturdier builds without premium prices, plus how to choose between them.Read the guide 
Best-of guide17 minBest Gas Grills Under $500One full-size cart grill and four portable gas grills, all hand-tested and usually under $500.Read the guide 
Best-of guide19 minBest Grills Under $200Seven hand-tested grills under $200 that are worth the money, and who should skip each one.Read the guide 
Best-of guide18 minBest Premium Gas GrillsThree hand-tested gas grills from about $950 up, showing where the extra money pays off at the grate and where it doesn't.Read the guide
Best by grill type & fuel 04
Pellet, charcoal and smokers, plus the wood that flavors them.
Best-of guide21 minBest Charcoal GrillsSix hand-tested kettles, offsets and charcoal smokers matched to how you cook and how much you want to tend the fire.Read the guide 
Best-of guide21 minBest Pellet Grills and SmokersSix hand-tested pellet grills matched to how you cook, from tabletop to crowd-size, with the trade-offs other lists skip.Read the guide 
Best-of guide20 minBest Smokers for BeginnersSix hand-tested smokers that hold low-and-slow temperatures while you learn, one for every fuel, budget and patio.Read the guide 
Best-of guide18 minBest Wood for SmokingFour smoking woods worth buying, which wood suits which meat, how much to use in each cooker, and how to keep the smoke clean.Read the guide
Best for small spaces & travel 03
Patios, apartment balconies and grills you can take with you.
Best-of guide20 minBest Electric Grills for Apartments & BalconiesReal grilling where flames aren't allowed: a balcony grill that sears, two countertop picks and a set-and-forget electric smoker.Read the guide 
Best-of guide20 minBest Grills for Small PatiosSix hand-tested compact grills matched to your space, your building's rules and how many people you feed.Read the guide 
Best-of guide22 minBest Portable GrillsFive hand-tested portable grills for tailgates, campsites and RV trips, matched to how far you carry them and how many you feed.Read the guide
Learn · Choose and cook
Comparisons, smoking and grilling technique.
Choosing a grill 05
Fuel types and brands side by side, so you know what you’re trading before you choose.
Comparison11 minGas vs Charcoal GrillSpeed, sear, smoke flavor, effort and running cost compared, with a clear pick for each kind of cook.Read the guide 
Comparison10 minKamado Grill vs Regular GrillA ceramic kamado smokes and sears on one fire; gas is faster and a kettle is cheaper. Our test results show which fits how you cook.Read the guide 
Comparison11 minPellet Grill vs SmokerSet-and-forget convenience or deeper smoke and bark? How pellet grills and traditional smokers compare on flavor, effort, weather and cost.Read the guide 
Comparison10 minTraeger vs Pit BossPolish and long warranties, or more grill per dollar and real searing? How the two biggest pellet brands compare in our tests, and which model to buy.Read the guide 
Comparison11 minWeber vs TraegerWeber grills and sears; Traeger smokes. Our test results show which brand fits how you cook, and which model to buy.Read the guide
Smoking meat 04
Low-and-slow plans for brisket, ribs, pork shoulder and chicken.
How-to13 minHow to Smoke a BrisketThis beginner-proof plan walks you through buying, trimming, smoking, wrapping, resting and slicing a brisket, with a dinner timeline and fixes.Read the guide 
How-to12 minHow to Smoke ChickenThis guide shows how to smoke juicy chicken with skin that bites through, with brining, temps, times by cut, wood choices and fixes.Read the guide 
How-to13 minHow to Smoke RibsThis step-by-step plan covers times by cut, when to wrap and glaze, the bend test for doneness and how to fix tough or mushy ribs.Read the guide 
How-to13 minSmoked Pork ShoulderThis guide takes pulled pork from shopping to shredding, covering the cut, rub, stall, wrap, rest, a cook-day timeline and fixes for dry pork.Read the guide
Grilling techniques 07
Heat zones, temperatures, searing and fire control.
Technique11 minCharcoal Grill Temperature ControlHow to set your vents and coals for smoking, roasting or searing, and how to fix a charcoal fire that runs too hot, too cold or won't hold steady.Read the guide 
Technique10 minDirect vs Indirect GrillingLearn which foods go over the fire, which cook beside it with the lid closed, and how to set up two zones on a charcoal, gas, kamado or pellet grill.Read the guide 
Technique10 minHow Long to Preheat a GrillPreheat times for gas, charcoal, pellet and electric grills, how to tell the grates are ready, target temperatures by food and fixes for a slow heat-up.Read the guide 
Technique11 minHow to Grill a SteakGrill a steak with a dark crust and a pink center using minutes per side by thickness, pull temperatures, a two-zone fire and fixes for gray or charred steak.Read the guide 
Technique11 minHow to Use a Charcoal GrillLearn to light a chimney without lighter fluid, build the right fire for your food, steer heat with the vents and shut a charcoal grill down safely.Read the guide 
Technique10 minMeat Temperature ChartThis chart gives safe, done and pull temperatures for every common cut, plus where to put the thermometer and how long to rest meat.Read the guide 
Technique10 minReverse Sear SteakCook a thick steak slowly at 225–275°F, pull it 10–15°F early, then sear it hard for an even pink center and a dark crust on any grill or oven.Read the guide
Maintain · Clean and fix
Care, seasoning and step-by-step fixes.
Cleaning, seasoning & care 04
Keep grates and griddles clean, seasoned and ready for next season.
Care guide12 minHow to Clean a GrillWhat to clean after every cook, every few cooks and twice a season, with deep-clean steps for gas, charcoal and pellet grills and fixes for flare-ups, rust and weak heat.Read the guide 
Care guide10 minHow to Clean Grill GratesThe two-minute after-cook clean, the right deep clean for stainless, cast iron and porcelain grates, safe brush choices, rust fixes and when to replace them.Read the guide 
Care guide11 minHow to Season a Blackstone GriddleBuild a slick, rust-resistant seasoning on a Blackstone or any steel flat top in 3–5 thin coats, then fix sticky, flaking or rusty spots.Read the guide 
Care guide11 minHow to Winterize Your GrillA one-hour checklist that keeps rust, pests and moisture out of your grill until spring, with notes by grill type, storage spots and a spring startup check.Read the guide
Fixes & troubleshooting 05
Ignition, heat, gas and sticking problems, solved step by step.
Fix-it guide11 minGas Grill Won't Light? Fixes, Likeliest Cause FirstWhy a gas grill won't light and how to fix it, from a two-minute regulator reset to a new igniter, with safety checks.Read the guide 
Fix-it guide10 minGrill Not Getting Hot? Fixes for Gas, Charcoal & PelletFind why your grill runs cold in one table, then fix it in order: regulator, burners, tank, vents, firepot, power and weather.Read the guide 
Fix-it guide11 minHow Long Does a Propane Tank Last on a Grill?Burn times for 20 lb tanks and 1 lb canisters, the simple BTU math, how to check what's left and why a tank runs out early.Read the guide 
Fix-it guide10 minHow to Replace a Grill IgniterConfirm the igniter is really dead, then swap the module or electrode safely in under an hour, with fixes if the new one won't spark.Read the guide 
Fix-it guide10 minWhy Is My Food Sticking to the Grill? Causes and FixesFind why food sticks to your grill grates in one table, then fix it: heat, timing, clean grates, oiled food, sauce timing and fish.Read the guide
Ready to compare grills?
Every model we’ve tested, ranked by type.
- Gas Grills8 testedFor weeknight family cooks who want push-button heat, even grates edge to edge and a grill that won’t rust out in five years.
- Pellet Grills7 testedFor low-and-slow fans who want real wood smoke without tending a fire: set the temperature, walk away, come back to brisket.
- Charcoal Grills6 testedFor flavor-first cooks on a budget: the hottest sear for the money, from classic kettles to set-and-forget charcoal smokers.
- Flat Top Grills & Griddles4 testedFor crowd breakfasts and smash-burger nights: one big, evenly heated steel plate that cooks the whole meal at once.
- Portable Grills6 testedFor campsites, tailgates and picnic tables: grills light enough to carry that still put out real searing heat.
- Kamado Grills5 testedFor cooks who want one cooker for everything: thick ceramic that sears hot, smokes overnight on one load and bakes pizza.
- Electric Grills5 testedFor balconies and kitchens where flame is banned: plug-in grills that actually brown, with indoor models ranked separately.
- Every category winnerThe top scorer in each grill type, side by side with its runner-up.
Written by the people who cook on the grills
Every guide is written by Marcus Reilly or Tom Bricker from our own cooks and fact-checked by the other before it goes live. Temperatures follow USDA safe minimums.