Who doesn’t love an all-American meal with smoky, crisp flavors and aromatic smells drifting through your neighborhood streets? Whether you’re shopping for yourself, a friend, or an ideal fit for your outdoor kitchen, we know how many options of grills there are. We’ve brought you a simplified list of the best outdoor grills the market has to offer.
At a Glance:
Best Overall: Lynx® Professional 36" Stainless Steel Built In Grill (LF36ATR-NG)
Best Value: Broil King® Crown Pellet 400 Black Free Standing Smoker and Grill (493051)
">Best Outdoor Grill With Smoker: Louisiana Grills LG Series Free Standing Grill-Black (LG 1100)
Types of Outdoor Grills
Outdoor grills are perfect for birthday parties, hosting your annual family reunion, or just catching up with friends while chowing down on some chipotle wings. But there are a lot of types you can choose from. One of the biggest factors is which fuel type you want to cook your barbecue meal on. We’ll walk you through which fuel type is best for you below.
Gas: Gas grills are the most common type you’ll find. They’re easy to use and typically have propane tanks that are accessible for refills. You can choose between two options: natural gas, which is cheaper to use compared to liquid propane tanks, which are a little pricier. Another plus is it’s easier to switch and have control over the heat so that you can seamlessly switch between searing and broiling your meals with a gas outdoor grill.
Charcoal: If you’re looking for that classic smoky flavor, then a charcoal outdoor grill is what you’re looking for. The flavor comes from burning charcoal briquettes (or lumps of charcoal), but one of the downsides is you’ll spend more time prepping for your food to get that amazing taste. Disposing of the charcoal ash can also take time away from hosting, however, you won’t have any complaints about your chipotle-honey glazed chicken. Charcoal grills are also the most affordable option and are typically portable.
Pellet: Pellet grills, similar to charcoal, yield a tasty flavor that comes with a slow-cooked meal. Unfortunately, pellets can be expensive to replenish every time you want to make a delectable dish. If you’re willing to make a few calls to find what’s needed for your grill, then you can’t lose on what pellet outdoor grills offer in flavor and style.
Whichever grill you choose, we know you won’t get that classic barbecue flavor anywhere else besides an outdoor grill. So, take some time to discover which ones best for you.
Best Overall: Lynx® Professional 36" Stainless Steel Built In Grill (LF36ATR-NG)
We chose our best overall outdoor grill based on its versatility and all-around capabilities for any occasion. A premium smoker box arrives with your grill and three Trident infrared burners will make sure all your cooking endeavors are a slow-cooked excellency. Nuances of wood, honey, and hickory will waft through your backyard while your meal simmers over seasoned wood smoke. To make it even better, a rotisserie system gives you the options to cook whole roasts, bulks of veggies, or your prized wings.
Features:
- Spark ignition
- Fuel type: natural gas
- 14,000 BTU
Best Value: Broil King® Crown Pellet 400 Black Free Standing Smoker and Grill (493051)
Cast iron cooking grids and a steel body make our best budget outdoor grill a steal. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled digital controls allow you to control your heat while watching the game. Searing, roasting, and smoking are convenient as ever with this Broil King Pellet grill. An easy-to-clean burn pot and removable grease trays give you more time to spend with family and friends. If you’re looking for a grill that will retain flavors for years to come, this product is for you.
Features:
- Cast-iron grids
- Fuel type: wood pellets
- Preset temperature buttons: roast, grill, or smoke
Best Luxury: Kalamazoo™ Outdoor Gourmet 83" Stainless Steel K750HS Hybrid Fire Freestanding Grill with Side Burner (K750HS1-LP30-S4)
This Hybrid Fire Freestanding Grill simply does it all. With this all-in-one grill, you can choose from wood, gas, or charcoal. Or, if you’re wanting that fresh-from-the-fire crispiness, choose the live fire cooking option. Three cast bronze burners each at 25,000 BTUs, and an infrared burner with a rotisserie system will make culinary excellence the only option for you from here on out. Impress your guests and your tastebuds with our luxury outdoor grill choice.
Features:
- Three cast bronze burners
- Fuel type: liquid propane
- 25,000 BTUs per cast bronze burner
Best Electric Outdoor Grill: Coyote Outdoor Living 3 ft Stacked Stone Brown Terra Electric Island (RTAC-E3F-SB)
You don’t have to sacrifice style for performance with our best electric outdoor grill choice. A chiseled, white two-inch thick concrete countertop provides 5.5 feet of space to prep your food and have everything accessible. This RTA electric grill island is the perfect fit for anyone with restrictions on gas or charcoal cooking methods. Also, if you have a smaller space to fit your outdoor grill, then this is the best electric outdoor grill for you.
Features:
- Smoke box and rotisserie kit included (for 30 series and up)
- Individual electric ignition
- 20,000 BTUs Infinity Burners
Best Charcoal Outdoor Grill: Broil King® Keg 5000 Freestanding Charcoal Grill-Metallic Charcoal Grey (911470)
This freestanding charcoal grill from Broil King is our choice for best charcoal outdoor grill because it features a heavy-duty cast iron cooking grid and a rust-resistant porcelain coated cooking chamber. All your meals will have that smokey, slow-cooked flavor that will bring all your neighbors to your backyard. A Deluxe Accu-Temp thermometer and a removeable steel ash tray ensures your meal will be the perfect temperature every time with a no-hassle cleanup.
Features:
- An extra 200 square inches in chrome cooking surfaces
- Fuel type: charcoal
- 480 square inches of cooking space
Best Gas Outdoor Grill: Napoleon Rogue® XT 525 60.50" Black Free Standing Natural Gas Grill (RXT525SIBNK-1)
This matte black Napoleon grill is our best outdoor gas grill choice. It’s easy-to-use and easy-to-maintain for any skill level. An integrated sizzle zone side burner gives you ample opportunities to delve into the world of culinary precision. Sear prime steaks and taste that perfect combo of juiciness and subtle crunch for a gourmet at-home meal. A built-in propane tank ring allows for security and easy to access positioning to allow for safe usage. An innovative ignition system lights each burner separately for easy and quick use.
Features:
- Five burners
- Fuel type: natural gas
- 57,000 BTUs
Best Built in Outdoor Grill: Napoleon Prestige® PRO™ Series 32.50" Stainless Steel Built In Grill (BIP500RBNSS-3)
Durability and style are no compromise with this best built in outdoor grill by Napoleon Prestige. When crafting your outdoor kitchen, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to cook on its stainless steel grids creating those perfectly iconic seared marks. Multiple burners with JETFIRE ignition systems allow you to cook in ways you’ve always imagined.
Features:
- Five burners
- Fuel type: natural gas
- 66,000 BTUs
Best Outdoor Grill With Smoker: Louisiana Grills LG Series Free Standing Grill-Black (LG 1100)
Bring your kids T-Ball team together with this Louisiana Grills outdoor grill and smoker. The capacity to feed all the hungry mouths you can muster while perfectly cooking your burgers is an easy task for this sleek-black cooker. With over 1,000 square inches of cooking space for corn, burgers, and hot dogs, this Louisiana Grills model gives you ample space for every need. A flame broiler allows for direct and indirect cooking and a cast iron main grid lets those smokey flavors linger for years. Have fun with friends while enjoy this outdoor grill and smoker.
Features:
- Direct and indirect flame cooking
- Fuel type: wood pellets
- 300 Watt Auto Igniter
How We Chose Our Top Picks
Based on value, performance, and a variety of options, the brands we’ve brought to you hit every facet of delicious outdoor cooking.
Top Product Brands
Napolean: Boost your barbequing skills with charcoal, gas, or a Napoleon electric grill. Built to last with gourmet performance and first-rate technology, you won’t miss a step when cooking up your bourbon-glazed chicken breasts. Napoleon has been given multiple awards for product performance.
Lynx: Lynx grills are luxury artistic appliances that will satisfy your functional needs as well as your visual desires. They are made to perform as a professional cooking product and have commercial-grade quality. Lynx is a top-of-the-line choice for your outdoor kitchen endeavors.
Broil King: Cooking versatility at its finest. If you’re looking for a luxury grill while sticking to a budget, these affordable grills will serve you well. Broil King grills provide the options to cook, sear, and roast anything your stomach desires with excellent performance and value.
Outdoor Grill FAQ
Here are our answers to some of the biggest questions when it comes to outdoor grills.
Q: How to clean an outdoor grill?
A: There are a few steps you can follow for retaining your grill and maintaining great flavor.
- Start by cleaning off any ash with a brush or steel-wool bristle cleaner. Too much ash can obstruct from that perfect flavor you’re looking for.
- Make sure to clean the grates or grids as well. Depending on if you have metal or cast-iron grids, you’ll either use soap or oil.
- To prevent having to deep clean your grill after every use, preheat the grill before you begin cooking. This will alleviate food from sticking as much as possible.
- One last tip to keep your grill fresh and clean is to add cooking oil to the grates before use. This will protect the metals further and give you a fresher taste.
Q: Who makes the best outdoor grill?
A: Who makes the best outdoor grills depends on your style, desired fuel type, and budget. Many of the brands we’ve walked through today have great options if you’re looking for a wood pellet grill or a cast iron grid grill. Some of our favorite options are those that retain the flavors of meals for years to come and that perform with high value.
Q: Where can I buy an electric outdoor grill?
A: You can buy an electric outdoor grill at Friedmans Appliance. A vast catalog of barbeque grills, Friedmans is sure to provide you with exactly what you’re looking for. We have unbeatable deals and an endless market of sizes and styles for your perfect outdoor grill.
Why Trust Us?
Our experts at Friedmans Appliance aren’t ones to pass up a good barbeque. They’re also not ones to leave performance and value at the door. Friedmans Appliance offers a vast catalog of grills for your outdoor kitchen dreams. We carry only the best appliances and brands on the market at deals you’ll find nowhere else in the Bay area.
We’re recognized as “The Best in the East Bay” by the East Bay Times, living up to our emblem as A Trusted Name in the Bay since 1922.
Shop the Best Outdoor Grills at Friedmans
Fulfill your desires and stomach for a reliable outdoor grill at Friedmans Appliance today. We only supply products we trust in, and count on the best appliance specialists in the area to find the ideal refrigeration for your needs.
Shop online, by phone at (925)-808-2950, or at our appliance showroom located at 2304 Monument Boulevard in Pleasant Hill.