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The Grills, Pellet Smoker and Pizza Oven We Constantly Recommend

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Looking to cook more outside this year? Consider this a shortcut in your journey for new equipment.

Ooni

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Outdoor cooking season is about to kick into full swing. We’ve tested plenty of gas grills, charcoal grills, flat-top grills, pizza ovens, and grilling accessories and have multiple recommendations in every category to suit any budget and buyer.

Still, our editors always wind up recommending some products more consistently than others for most people. 

To make things easier for you — and admittedly us — we’ve collected our most frequent outdoor cooking equipment recommendations in one place.

Welcome to Just Get This. We understand most of you have better things to do than spend hours researching what to buy (that’s our job). This series synthesizes the entirety of our product research to simplify and streamline your decision making.

Best Overall Gas Grill

Weber

Best Overall Gas Grill

Weber Genesis E-325s 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill

The Genesis E-325s features nearly 800 square inches of prime cooking real estate which equates to Weber’s largest sear zone for super high-heat cooking. With its PureBlu burners, flames are hot and even, and ignition is reliable and consistent. The grill features Weber’s new grease management system that makes cleanup easier than ever so you can spend more time grilling and hanging out and less time scrubbing and scouring.

Specs

Cooking Area

787 sq. in.

Fuel

Propane or Natural Gas

Max Temperature

~600° F

Dimensions

48.1″ H x 61.5″ W x 27″ D

Pros

Large grilling area

Easy to use

Grease cleanup is a breeze

Cons

Side tables don’t have a side burner

We prefer steel grates over Weber’s iron grates


$899.00 at Home Depot

$899 at Weber

$899 at Ace Hardware

Best Overall Charcoal Grill

Weber

Best Overall Charcoal Grill

Weber Original Kettle Premium

This is the slightly souped-up version of the classic Weber kettle, and if you’re going to be charcoal grilling often, the one you want. The biggest difference between the original and the premium versions is the latter’s ash catch, which makes cleanup significantly quicker and tidier. Another bonus of investing in Weber kettles is the vast collection of aftermarket accessories you can get for one.

Specs

Cooking Area

363 sq. in.

Fuel

Charcoal

Dimensions

39.5″H x 22.5″W x 27″D (Lid Closed)

Diameter

22″

Warranty

2 – 10 years depending on part

Pros

Exceptional price-quality ratio

Improved ash catch

Extremely versatile with cooking methods

Cons

Size is an issue if grilling for a crowd

Built-in thermometer isn’t accurate enough to use


$239.00 at Weber

$219 at Amazon

$219 at Home Depot

Best Overall Pellet Smoker / Grill

Traeger

Best Overall Pellet Grill

Traeger Pro 575

Traeger is the original pellet grill and smoker brand, so naturally, it still makes the best in the biz. The Pro 575 is affordable, easy to set up, simple to use (it even includes integrated Wifi controls) and is built like a tank. From beginners to seasoned smokers, this is pellet paradise.

Specs

Cooking Area

575 sq. in.

Total Weight

124 lbs

Connectivity

WiFire a.k.a Wifi-enabled control

Max Temperature

500° F

Pellet Hopper Capacity

18 lbs

Dimensions

53″ H x 41″ W x 27″ D

Pros

Great stainless-steel build

Easy to assemble

Excellent wheels

Cons

On the smaller side

Grill needs to be plugged in

Lower max temp compared to gas and charcoal options

No side tables for food prep staging


Read our full review of the Traeger Pro 575

$799 at Traeger.com

$799.95 at Amazon

$799.95 at Home Depot

Best Overall Flattop Grill / Griddle

Amazon

Best Overall Flat Top Grill

Blackstone Original 36-Inch Griddle Cooking Station W/ Hard Cover

Blackstone is the name in flat top grills and the company’s Original 36-inch Griddle remains the best option for most people. The four burners each offer precise individual zoned control over the 769 square-inch cooking surface, a pair of folding tables offer prep space when you need it and hide away when you don’t and the patented rear grease management system is arguably the least messy in the business. But what truly sets Blackstone apart is the griddle itself: a beastly plate crafted from 7-gauge rolled carbon steel that’s built to withstand years of abuse and living outdoors. Keep in mind that different variations exist of the same base griddle with or without a hard lid or shelves which may account for price differences at select retailers.

Specs

Cooking Area

768 sq. in.

Fuel

Liquid Propane Gas

Dimensions

62.5″D x 22″W x 36″H

Weight

120 lbs

Pros

Rolled carbon steel griddle will last for years

Efficient grease management system

Large cooking surface with four zones

Tables fold away when not needed

Cons

Lid isn’t attached

Propane tank can’t be hidden


$449.99 at Amazon

$449.99 at Blackstone

$397 at Walmart

Best Overall Pizza Oven

Ooni

Best Overall Pizza Oven

Ooni Karu 16

Ooni is perhaps the company most responsible for the outstanding current state of at-home pizza ovens. We’ve tested almost every single one of them, and the Karu 16 is the best pizza oven Ooni offers. Full stop. It’s also the only home pizza oven to have the distinction of being “Recommended for Domestic Use” by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the world’s foremost authority on Neapolitan pies. Many home pizza ovens have a steep learning curve, but this oven provides helpful features like an exterior digital thermometer that monitors the ambient temperature of the oven along with the “ViewFlame” hinged glass door that allows you to safely view your pizza as it cooks to make sure it doesn’t burn.

Specs

Cooking Area

16.7″ x 16.7″

Weight

61.6 lbs

Materials

Oven body powder coated carbon steel and stainless steel

Fuel

Wood or Charcoal. Gas requires separate accessory

Warranty

5 years when registered with Ooni

Pros

Consistently outperforms the competition

Easy to control, even for beginners

Can cook with wood, charcoal or gas

Cons

More expensive than most other pizza ovens

The gas adaptor costs extra

Heavy and awkward to move around


Read our full review of the Ooni Karu 16

£799.00 at ooni.com

$799 at Huckberry

$799 at Amazon

$799 at Sur La Table