Gear
Grills, smokers, and the tools worth the money.
A $20 thermometer will improve your food more than a $2,000 grill.
That is the whole shape of grilling gear. A small number of tools do real work, a large number of them sit in a drawer, and the expensive box mostly buys convenience rather than better food.
These guides say which is which, at each budget, and what to skip.
17 gear guides
Charcoal Science: Lump, Briquettes, and Airflow
What charcoal is, what briquettes actually contain, how lump really compares, and why the bottom vent and a chimney starter control your whole cook.
Kamado Joe vs Big Green Egg: Which to Buy
Two ceramic cookers that both hold 225 F for 12 hours and hit 700 F for pizza. The real differences are what comes in the box, how you buy parts, and price.
Lump Charcoal vs Briquettes: Which to Use
Lump burns hotter and leaves a fraction of the ash. Briquettes burn longer and cost less. Which one belongs in your grill depends on the cook, not the brand.
The Best Charcoal Grills, by Type and Budget
Charcoal grill picks by type and budget, from a $150 kettle to a ceramic kamado. What each does well, who should skip it, and the specs that change nothing.
The Best Gas Grills, by Size and Budget
Gas grill picks by size and budget, from a $200 two-burner to a $700 three-burner. Why BTU is the wrong number, what gas cannot do, and who should skip it.
The Best Grills for a Small Patio
What fits on a balcony or a 6-by-8 patio, what your fire code probably bans, and the small gas, charcoal, and electric grills that cook like full-size ones.
The Best Grills Under $500
What $500 actually buys in charcoal, gas, pellet, and flat-top, plus the corners cheap grills cut and the ones that matter.
The Best Meat Thermometers for Grilling and Smoking
Honest meat thermometer picks by type and budget, from a $20 instant-read to a wireless smoker probe. What each does well, who it fits, and what to skip.
The Best Pellet Grills, by Size and Budget
Pellet grill picks by size and budget, plus the failure modes owners actually hit: wet pellets, auger jams, and a grate that will not sear a steak.
Traeger vs Pit Boss: Which Pellet Grill to Buy
The two biggest pellet grill brands, compared on price, temperature control, searing, and the parts that break. Which one fits which cook.
Weber vs Traeger: Kettle or Pellet?
A $200 charcoal kettle and a $900 pellet grill both cook great food. They ask completely different things of you. Here is which one fits your weeknights.
Charcoal Chimney vs. Lighter Fluid: The Five-Minute Fix
Skip the lighter fluid. A $20 chimney starter lights charcoal in 15 to 20 minutes with no chemical taste and no fireballs. Here is how to use one.
Do You Need a Meat Thermometer? Yes, and Here Is Why
Doneness is a temperature, not a time. A $20 instant-read thermometer is the single best grilling upgrade you can buy. Here is why, and which to get.
Gas vs. Charcoal: Which Grill Should You Actually Buy?
Gas is faster and easier, charcoal is hotter and cheaper with more flavor. An honest breakdown with real price ranges to match a grill to how you cook.
Pellet Grills Explained: Are They Worth It?
How pellet grills work, what they cost, what they nail and where they fall short, and who should actually buy one.
The Best Beginner Smoker Under $300
A bullet-style charcoal smoker at $100 to $250 is the best first smoker for most people. Honest picks by type, with price ranges and who each one fits.
The Grilling Tools Worth Buying, and the Ones to Skip
A no-nonsense buying guide to grill tools that earn their spot, with real price ranges, plus the gimmicks safe to skip.
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