Best grill 2022: 8 of the top gas, wood pellet, and charcoal grills

If you're looking for the best grill to buy for 2022 then we've pulled out all the steaks to bring you this comprehensive guide. Now is the time to buy a grill with new products, and some old favorites, in stock ready to be shipped out to you. 

We appreciate that sifting through a grill’s technical specifications is a cumbersome task. Big-named brands such as Weber, Char-Broil and Big Green Egg all have some really awesome features and if you're unsure whether a gas, wood pellet or charcoal grill is the best option for you, then the shopping experience can be a little intimidating to say the least.

Below you'll see that we have gathered eight of our favorite grills for this year so far. We're in the process of reviewing grills which have recently landed so, if they make the cut, we'll be updating this list with our honest bbq reviews. We’ve made sure to point out all the important aspects of a grill, from the burners to the design features, and the impact this has on the flavoring of food. 

Keep scrolling to see our shortlist that we're sure will make backyard barbecues a weekly (if not nightly!) experience at home. We also have a guide to the best gas grills, which would also be worth checking out if you know you like to cook with gas.

The best grills of 2022

Enjoy the convenience of a gas grill and the wood-smoked flavors of a charcoal grill with our top pick: the Z GRILL ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker. This grill does it all: grill, barbecue, bake, roast, braise, smoke, sear, and char-grill. But even with so many options, it’s still pretty easy to power up this grill and get to cooking. 

Buy a bag of wood pellets and add them to the 15-lb hopper. A 20-lb bag (which is usually how they’re sold) offers 20 hours of cook time. From there, set the temperature, put your meats or veggies on the grill, and go about your business. You don’t have to watch or feed the fire or hassle with a heavy propane tank. With PID Technology, the Z Grill maintains the temperature you need (between 180-450 degrees) throughout the entire cooking process. 

The flavor-packed effects of this grill are astonishing. Meats are juicy, smoky, and tender, which is why it’s our top pick. With 452 square inches of cooking space, you can easily cook enough for a family of four or five. A foldable shelf and wheels are added perks to the design. 

The only drawback is that the grill is powered by electricity so you will need a nearby outlet. 

If you like smart tech then you're going to love cooking on this smart grill. Once you've built the Weber Genesis II EX-335 GBS gas BBQ (it takes a bit of time), you'll be able to monitor everything from your phone, so you can simply let the gas grill do all the hard work while you relax in the backyard.  It's this built-in smart technology which gives this BBQ its premium price, however, so if you like the sound of the Weber BBQ but aren't too fussed about the smart tech then you may prefer the Weber Barbecue Spirit II E-210, as below.

There's no denying that this grill is big in stature so if you want to store it inside during the colder months then you'll need a large space in your shed or garage. The side tables don't drop down flat either, so you can't even reduce the width of the BBQ to help with storage. It would be worth investing in a suitable cover if you want / need to keep it outside.

It's advised in the manual that the grill will need a thorough deep clean at least twice a year, but if you use it fairly regularly then you should aim to do this quarterly. The instructions are pretty comprehensive and is something which took us around 45 minutes to do when reviewing it.

All in all, the Weber Genesis II EX-335 GBS gas BBQ is a brilliant buy but comes with a big price tag, hence being our #2 in this guide.

Read our Weber Genesis II EX-335 GBS review for more info

As far as gas grills go, you’ll be hard beat to find a Weber grill that doesn’t offer a great grilling experience. The Spirit E-210 is the perfect choice for those who want to a quality grill, but many not have the space for a larger one. This grill will fit a small patio or balcony and is designed to hold your grilling items in one place. Hang your grill tools on the six hooks and utilize the fold-down side tables when you need prep space. 

There is 450 square inches of cooking space which allows you to cook a full meal for a group of 4-6 people. The built-in lid thermometer will help you manage the inner temperature while the Flavorizer bars seals juices and smoke into grilled meats and veggies.

While grilling does require some clean-up, Weber has tried to make it as easy as possible with a front access grease tray with a catch pan. They also added a fuel gauge, so you know exactly how much propane is left in the tank.

If you have preconceived notions about charcoal grills – throw them out. The Large Big Green Egg, as featured in our best kamado grill (opens in new tab) guide, surpasses everything you think you know about charcoal grilling and is a great one to introduce you to this grilling style. This kamado-style grill and smoker is designed with an interior ceramic material which allows for temperatures of up to 750 degrees and versatile cooking experiences, including baking, roasting, grilling or smoking. 

Many people dislike charcoal grills because the lighting process can seem complicated, but that’s not the case with this egg. Just fill up the Large Big Green Egg with lump charcoal (never use briquets or lighter fluid), open the chimney and bottom draft door, and then light a fire starter. It takes 15 minutes to heat to about 400 degrees. Manage the temperature by opening and closing the chimney and watch the temperature move up and down on the built-in gauge. 

You can cook quite a bit on the Large Big Green Egg, from steaks to ribs, vegetables, soups, and chili. Smoking meats, like fall-of-the-bone ribs, brisket, or salmon, is easily done with this grill. Bake desserts, bread, or even a pizza (especially with the added purchase of a convEGGtor, a ceramic barrier that allows for indirect cooking). The only drawback is that the price for the Large Big Green Egg doesn’t include a cart to hold the grill, which is necessary if you don’t have an outdoor kitchen that you want to integrate the grill into.

Read our full Big Green Egg review for more info

Can't decide whether to cook on gas, or cook on coal? The Char-Broil Gas2Coal can do both. This is something which our reviewer loved about it; it was so convenient to be able to cook with gas, and tasty after throwing on some authentic smokey charcoal. The cooking results were preferred when cooking with charcoal, but the gas burners were so easy to ignite and made for a quick BBQ with painless clean-up. It really is the best of both worlds.

Assembly, however, did take a while but it was totally worth it. And another thing to note is that the side burner grate is positioned high above the burner itself, which means it's vulnerable to gusts of wind and also takes a while to heat a saucepan or frying pan. This is easy enough to just put down the cover of this burner and use it as a resting place, though. 

Cleaning and maintaining the Gas2Coal is relatively easy and is something which should be done after every use. It's a little messier to clean after using the coal owing to having to dispose of the ashes, but this is something which is to be expected when cooking with this fuel type.

Read our Char-Broil Gas2Coal BBQ review for more info

If you want to taste the best fall-off-the-bone ribs or the juiciest brisket, you need to invest in a smoker. Barbecue grill masters swear by them because they’re designed to cook meats for long periods of time resulting in juicy and tender meat with a rich smoky flavor. Our favorite smoker is the Dyna-Glo Signature Series Heavy-Duty Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker and Grill. 

As the name implies, this piece of equipment is two things in one. You have a charcoal grill on one side and a vertical smoker on the right side which makes for a total of 1,382 square inches of cooking space. The smoker is outfitted with five chrome-plated cooking grates and pre-installed sausage hooks. 

You’ll need to use charcoal to fuel this smoker. It’s designed with a removable offset charcoal grate and ash pan so you can easily add more fuel and remove the pan at the end to dispose of the ash. The spring grip handles are cool to the touch, even during the smoking process. 

To ensure you’re reaching the right temperatures for the best smoking experience, refer to the stainless-steel temperature gauge which has a designated 'Smoke Zone'.

The Char-Broil TRU-Infrared 3-burner Gas Grill is a gas grill, so you will need a propane tank to cook. However, unlike other gas grills, it’s outfitted with infrared cooking technology which can make the grilling experience much better. 

Char-Broil uses infrared technology to spread 24,000 BTUs of heat across their special cooking grate. This allows for a few things. First, it prevents hot or cold spots, so your food cooks evenly. Second, it minimizes the chance of flare-ups. Most grillers contend that infrared technology results in far juicier meats than other gas grills which uses a different type of heating system that can dry out your chicken, pork, or beef. 

This grill is outfitted with 450 square inches of grill space (that’s about 24 burgers!) and has a push button electronic ignition. You can swing the warming rack out of the way if necessary. 

The additional side burner has a 10,000 BTU output and is the perfect spot to prepare sauces or sides. 

If you have a courtyard backyard, don't want to brave the cold or just want to grill a feast, the Chefman Electric Smokeless Indoor Grill is perfect for you. It's for use inside the home, only, which is to be connected to the mains electricity supply.

It has 150-square-inches of grilling space which is enough room to cook a couple of steaks and a bundle of asparagus with, perhaps, some room to spare depending on the cut of meat you choose. You needn't worry about the smoke alarm going off either since the handy water tray can be filled to cool grease, preventing a lot of smoke from occurring. And if you don't like washing up, the good news here is that the grill plate and water tray are both dishwasher safe, too.

How we review grills

So we can be sure that we are sharing what is the best grill, we need to have hands-on experience with them. You'll know when we have tested them by keeping a look out for our Gardeingetc badge, any which you see without this means that we are currently testing them or we have an equivalent in our backyards.

Our reviews cover all the really important things which we would like to know before we were to make such an investment. We look at; how easy it is to set up, cook meat and veggies and store and maintain after each use. The overall look and size of the BBQ is also something for consideration because, after all, we don't all have a large yard to flex our outdoor cooking skills.

It'll take us up to eight weeks to try out the grills, which is a little dependant on the weather so it may take us a bit longer for us to share what we think of them. Whilst we work our way through the list we've considered what other customers think about the product and have also called upon our barbecuing knowledge thus-far so we can help you decide what would be the best grill for your this summer.

What is the best grill type for you?

There is a lot to consider when buying a grill for your BBQ area, but the most important factor is the fuel. That’s because the type of fuel a grill uses can tell you what your cooking experience will be like and how your food might cook. Here’s what you need to know before you start kitting out your outdoor grill station: 

Gas
Gas grills are super popular, especially among those who don’t have a lot of experience with grilling. Simply open the gas valve, turn or push the ignition button, and the grill is ready to go in about 10-15 minutes. For many, that’s a simple and efficient way to grill, especially on a week night or when you have a lot of mouths to feed. 

That said, gas grills aren’t known for producing the tastiest of flavors among grills. Sure, they can achieve those delightful grill lines and the food will taste good, however, if you want a gas grill and juicier flavors choose an infrared gas grill or one that has flavorizer bars. Though they work in different ways, they both result in food that’s tastier and tender. 

Wood pellets
If a grill uses wood pellets, there are a few things you can assume about it. First, it will need an outlet to work. Second, it will be designed so that you can put the wood pellets in a hopper, set a timer, and leave the grill alone until the food is ready. Wood pellet grills are pretty self-sufficient, and many are outfitted with Wi-Fi (though not all). Plus, they’re great for smoking or grilling meats because they add that woody-smoky flavor that you could only otherwise achieve with actual wood.

Charcoal 
Many barbecue enthusiasts swear by charcoal grills and smokers, because they allow you to smoke meats. If you buy a charcoal grill, you’ll need to see if it allows for briquettes or lump charcoal (or both). Many modern charcoal grills will have a basket that makes ash clean up quite easy. When it comes to how to cook on a charcoal grill, keep in mind that it will take a bit longer for the charcoal to heat before you start cooking, though some charcoal grills are designed so that it only takes 15 minutes. 

Now you've chosen your preferred grill, make sure you read up on how to clean a BBQ (opens in new tab), so you can keep your grill on great condition regardless of whether you've opted to cook with gas, wood pellets or charcoal.

• You've reached the end of the page. Jump back up to the top ^