Grills · Smokers · Gear · 2026
Straight-talking grill and smoker recommendations built on real specs and the heat science that makes food taste better. No fluff, no fake reviews.
The real skill is heat
Every great cook lives somewhere on one scale. Learn the zones and any grill, fuel, or cut starts making sense.
Brisket, ribs, pork shoulder. Hours of gentle, smoky heat that breaks down tough cuts into tender, juicy results.
Whole chickens, vegetables, burgers, and chops. The everyday workhorse range where most weeknight cooking happens.
Steaks and anything that needs a hard crust. Maximum heat for the Maillard reaction that builds deep, savory flavor.
Find your grill
Start with how you want to cook. Each path leads to our current picks, with the real trade-offs spelled out.
Wood-fired flavor with set-and-forget digital control. The easiest path to smoke.
Explore Pellet Grills
Classic live-fire flavor, from the $100 kettle to the ceramic kamado.
Explore Charcoal & Kamado
Turn-the-knob convenience and fast, dependable weeknight heat.
Explore Gas Grills
Dedicated low-and-slow machines, from plug-in electric to gravity-fed charcoal.
Explore Smokers
The thermometers, tools, and upgrades that actually change your results.
Explore AccessoriesWhere we'd start
The all-rounder we'd hand a first-time pellet owner. WiFIRE lets you set temperature and monitor from your phone, the 572 sq in fits two racks of ribs, and it swings from low-and-slow brisket to a hot, fast burger. Not the cheapest, but the one with the deepest support and accessory ecosystem.
Across the board
The four pieces of gear that come up most often, one from each corner of the lineup.
The default answer to "which gas grill should I buy?" Three burners give real zone control for searing on one side and holding on the other, the GS4 system improved ignition and burners, and porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates lay down clean sear marks. Around $500 and hard to beat at the price.
The grill that defined backyard charcoal. 22 inches handles a family cook, the One-Touch system sweeps ash into the catcher in seconds, and the lid thermometer takes out the guesswork. Bulletproof, endlessly supported, and the best first charcoal grill most people can buy.
The closest thing to set-it-and-forget-it smoking. Set the digital temperature, load chips from the side without opening the door, and walk away; the 4 racks and 970 sq in handle a serious amount of meat. If you want smoke-ring results without babysitting a fire, start here.
The instant-read thermometer pros reach for. A genuine one-second reading means you check doneness without standing over an open lid bleeding heat. The single highest-impact upgrade most grillers can make; it's the difference between guessing and knowing.
Heads up: prices and availability change constantly. Buttons take you to the live retailer listing for current pricing.
Five minutes with our buying guide will tell you which type of grill actually fits how you cook and where you live.
Read the buying guide