Different Types of BBQ Grills

How Many Types of Grills Are There?

There are countless different bbq grills on the market. They can generally fit into four main types of grills.  The four main types of grills are charcoal, gas, electric, and pellet grills.  There are some hybrid grills that have come out recently but we will cover those in another post.  What we will do is cover the four main types of grills in more detail below.

Charcoal Grills

We are going to lump in offset smokers in this type of grill. As you can use either wood chunks or charcoal to cook with this type of grill.

Benefits

• Nothing beats the smoky barbecue flavor that a charcoal grill produces. To produce the tastiest food there is no beating a charcoal grill.
• Charcoal grills are able to deliver impressive levels of heat for searing. They also have the ability to slow cook so your tough cuts of meat can become more tender.
• Generally these are also the cheapest kind of grills as well.

Downsides

• The main downside in using a charcoal grill time. To keep a steady temperature constant attention is necessary. You have to pay attention to your fire and fuel source. Otherwise, you can ruin your food.
• Newbies can have difficulties lighting the fire at first. Lighting charcoal or wood chunks can be difficult in the beginning. With experience and the right tools this shouldn’t be an issue.
• No temperature knobs. This means that you can’t set a temperature and forget about it. Temperature regulation takes more attention and technique than most other grills.
• Charcoal grills take longer to heat and cool down. This is due to the grill’s excellent level of heat retention.
• Cost of the fuel source. If you use the grill often the cost of wood or charcoal can add up quickly.

Gas Grills

We are going to lump in propane grills in this type of grill.

Benefits

• Currently, this is the most popular type of grill out there.  It’s so popular because of its high levels of convenience which we will go over.
• Ease of starting flame. Most gas grills are able to ignite with a push of a button.  Even if the button stops working a flame should ignite the burners.
• Temperature control knobs allow the user to have complete control over flame size. Think of it as cooking on your indoor stove top.
• Versatility – Most gas grills come with more than one burner.  Having more than one burner allows you to create cooking zones. Cooking zones allow you to cook food at different temperatures all at the same time. This can save you a ton of time if you are cooking many items on your grill.
• You also have the option to forgo buying propane tanks by connecting your grill to your home’s gas line.  This will supply you with a cheaper unlimited fuel supply.

Downsides

• This might not matter to some but for us, the biggest downside to a gas grill is no smoke flavor.  Some don’t like the smoke flavor or don’t care about it so they can ignore this one.  We do want to mention there are ways to get some smoke flavor on your food. But these options can’t come close to either a charcoal or pellet grill.
• Setup and Portability – Gas grills need a lot more setup than most of the other grills.  They also are usually pretty big and hefty so transporting the grill around from place to place is not ideal.
• Safety – With gas grills there needs to be some more precautions taken. First is to check there are no gas or propane leaks from the tank or line. Also, before each cook an inspection should take place for grease or debris. If food drips grease or fat on the flame you can have huge flare-ups or even fires that are not easy to put out.

Electric Grills

Electric grills are the best on this list when it comes to being user-friendly and convenient.  But there are also some negatives as well so continue reading to find the whole truth.

Benefits

• Electric grills do not need any fuel.  As long as you have electricity you can use the grill.
• They heat up very fast. You can usually get started soon after you are ready. This is because you don’t have to wait around for the temperature to go up or down.
• Come in a variety of sizes. There are very small electric grills which are convenient when transporting. They also come in regular sizes as well so you don’t have to sacrifice surface area. So pretty much all you need is an outlet nearby to use.
• Easy to clean since there’s no carbon buildup from gas or charcoal fuel. Most electric grills can be partially disassembled. This makes it easier to clean and wipe down the inside of the grill.
• Most electric grills are very affordable.  You can usually save money by choosing electric over gas, charcoal, and pellet grills.  In most cases, the cost of using electricity is cheaper than the other fuel sources.

Downsides

• Again the biggest downside for us is the no-smoke flavor
• If there is a power outage or you don’t have electricity in a spot you can’t use the grill.
• Electric grills are usually smaller compared to the other types of grills.  Thus cooking area could be a concern for those who cook a lot of food at one time. Most electric grills cook for up to four people. While the larger-sized ones can cook for up to 10 people.
• If used out in the open could have performance issues in the winter.  Cold ambient temperatures force the heating elements to work harder. This causes most models to struggle to maintain a high surface temperature. Moving the grill to a covered area can help out a bit depending on temperature.
• Most electric grills are pretty reliable. Although most still aren’t as durable as gas and charcoal grills.  The electric element, temperature regulator, and other electric components can fail over time.  So if you invest in an electric grill it’s a good bet you will replace it sooner than a gas or charcoal grill.

Pellet Grills

Wood pellet grills have become very popular.  They are a sort of hybrid of all the other 3 different types of BBQ grills. This is because they use elements of each.  Keep reading for more details.

Benefits

• Since the fuel on pellet grills is actual wood you will get a bit of that smoky flavor in your food.  It will not be as strong as with a charcoal grill but for some that is a good thing.
• Pellet grills are super easy to use.  The following is pretty much the procedure: First, load the hopper with your pellets of choice. Secondly, Make sure the unit has power. Finally set the temperature and wait for it to heat up. Once you arrive at your ideal temperature place your food on the grill and walk away. This is something you can’t do with a charcoal or gas grill.
• If you are looking for the most bang for your buck then a pellet grill might be your best option.  As we mentioned earlier a pellet grill is almost a combo of all the other grills.  You are almost getting an oven, grill, and smoker all in one unit.
• Offers unmatched heat control.  Pellet grills have electric controllers to regulate temperature. In high-end models, owners can control the temperature to extreme precision.
• Most current pellet grill models include a drip pan under the grates.  The drip pan reduces the risk of flare-ups.  Something most gas and charcoal grills cannot currently offer.

Downsides

• Pellet grills are on the expensive side compared to the other different types of BBQ grills.
• These grills do not perform well in extreme cold or wet conditions. The pellets deteriorate when wet. If exposed to moisture the pellets can affect the fire and temperature within the grill. Also, lower-end models aren’t made with the best materials. What happens because of this is it can be hard to increase grill temperatures in the extreme cold.
• All the versatility of this grill does come with costs.  You need electricity and a fuel source, unlike the other grills which use one or the other.  There are ways around this but with more purposes or modifications.
• The Pellet grill’s internal components are electric and moving. This means they can break down over time. Look for a good warranty if buying a top-of-the-line model.

The Bottom Line on the Different Types of BBQ Grills