Shopping Guide: Outdoor Grills

How to buy a barbeque that matches your menu, taste, and budget

Written by John Loecke

For the grilling aficionado, the choice between charcoal and gas comes down to a matter of taste. That debate aside, the variety of features and technologies offered on the newest grills make them easier to use and deliver better results than those sold a decade ago. While this is good news for grillers, the myriad options can make it tough to choose the perfect model. Hungry for help? Keep reading.

First, focus on the food, not the grill. Considering what you cook will help you navigate the numerous features and narrow your choices. If steak seared to perfection is a priority, a grill with high Btu (British Thermal Units, a measure of heat energy) output or infrared burners will serve you best. Rotisserie features with rear-mounted infrared burners work well for roasting poultry—especially turkey. Some foods, like pork, require high initial heat for searing followed by lower heat for thorough cooking; fish requires lower temperatures. In both cases gas works nicely, as it can be easily controlled.

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