Buying Guide: 7 Grills For 7 Guys

Gas or charcoal? Indoor or outdoor? Grills are like girls — there’s no such thing as a perfect one, only different flavors to suit particular tastes. So why not browse our selection and take your pick. And once you have your gear all sorted out, here are some tips on how to cook it all like a grilling god.

Buying Guide: 7 Grills For 7 Guys

1. The Urban Dweller [electric]

Maybe your vision of The Great Outdoors is limited to a rusty fire escape or pint-sized patio. This is more certainly OK with the electric Weber Q 140. Its surface area is large enough to cook up to four steaks, and there is never a need to tend to coals. Naysayers say that fire-free cooking leaves certain flavors to be desired, but a smoking gun will solve the problem in a flash. $279, weber.com

2. The Caveman [charcoal]

Modeled after the kamado, an ancient Japanese cooking vessel, the extra-large Big Green Egg is ideal for smoking and cooking Flintstone-sized racks of ribs over coals. Ceramic construction provides excellent heat retention, and a cast iron cooking grate leaves perfect cross hatch marks on your meat. It’s pricey, but grill aficionados swear that this unit will unleash your inner BBQ beast. approximately $1,000, biggreenegg.com

3. The Tailgater [gas]

The king of cookouts requires two things in a grill: portability and enough workspace to feed a small army of game-goers. The Brinkmann Tailgate fits that bill. The gas unit pumps out 48,000 BTUs—enough to heat an ample 490 square inches of grill space—and its collapsible construction allows you to set-up and break down with ease. $250, basspro.com

 

4. The College Kid [electric]

Even the young and the hopeless can channel their inner gourmet chef with the Cuisinart Griddler. This plug-in, counter-top model doesn’t provide the same primal feel of cooking with fire, but it does a perfectly acceptable job of grilling burgers, steaks, and fish—all while sparing you the sweat or smoke. $99, cuisinart.com

5. The Food Serious [charcoal]

Designed for Japanese yakitori (meat on sticks) this small tabletop unit by Korin is an exotic alternative to a standard, clunky charcoal grill. A tightly meshed grill grate adds extra caramelization (read: flavor) to your meat’s surface area, while its minimalist shape will satisfy your inner design snob. A hundred dollar bag of Japanese charcoal is optional, but adds to the highbrow mood of cooking with this device. $169.00, korin.com

6. The People Pleaser [charcoal, gas]

Avoid any debate over the superiority of gas versus charcoal with the Char-Griller Duo. Fire up the charcoal half for low and slow heat—perfect for ribs—and employ the propane side for searing meat at higher temperatures. Add the side fire box (sold separately) for smoking your meat, and you have a complete, all-in-one dream machine. $299, lowes.com

7. The Rich Guy [gas]

The luxury of a large and lovely yard requires a cooking unit to match. The Luxor 42” Freestanding Grill is a handsome, all-stainless steel gas grill with over 1,000 square inches of cooking space. Use the smoker box to add depth of flavor to brisket and ribs, or skewer chicken and legs of lamb on the mechanical rotisserie and let your dinner cook itself. $5,759, bbqguys.com

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