Over the last 28 years selling BBQs, and with more than 54 years of cooking experience, I’ve learned one important thing: choosing the right BBQ has less to do with price or size and more to do with how you actually like to cook.
Today, there are more options than ever. From charcoal and gas to pellet smokers and flat-top grills, every style offers a different cooking experience. Some people want quick and easy weeknight grilling. Others want to spend all day perfecting ribs or brisket low and slow.
Before you pick a grill, picture your perfect backyard meal. What’s cooking?
Charcoal BBQs
If you’re after authentic BBQ flavour, charcoal is hard to beat. The smoky taste and high heat create incredible results, especially for steaks, burgers, and traditional barbecue cooking. It does take more time and effort, but for many backyard cooks, that’s part of the experience.
Gas BBQs
If convenience matters most, gas is the way to go. Propane and natural gas BBQs heat quickly, are easy to control, and work great for everyday cooking. They’re reliable, versatile, and perfect for families who grill several nights a week.
Wood Pellet Grills
Pellet grills like Traeger and Pit Boss have exploded in popularity for good reason. They combine real wood flavour with set-it-and-forget-it convenience. If you enjoy taking your time and experimenting with smoked meats, this style might be for you.
Flat-Top Grills
Flat grills such as Blackstone offer a completely different cooking style. Think breakfast, smash burgers, fajitas, stir fry, and even hibachi-style meals. They’re incredibly versatile and fun for entertaining.
Portable BBQs
Portable units are perfect for camping, tailgating, fishing trips, or condo living. Small doesn’t mean limited anymore. Many portable grills now deliver serious performance in compact designs.
Combo Units
Can’t decide? You’re not alone.
Combo units are becoming more popular because they allow you to do multiple styles of cooking all in one setup. One standout is the BakerStone combination system: gas BBQ, flat grill, pizza oven, and side burner all together. One unit, endless possibilities.
Popular Brands to Consider
There are many excellent brands on the market today, including:
- Weber
- Napoleon
- Pit Boss
- Traeger
- Blackstone
- Laflamme
- And many more
Each brand offers something a little different depending on your cooking style, budget, and experience level.
The Serious BBQ Cook
For the true outdoor cooking enthusiast, there’s also the Santa Maria Gaucho-style grill. Simple in concept: build fire, cook meat. Open-flame cooking at its most traditional.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, there’s no single “best” BBQ. The right one is the one that fits your lifestyle, your cooking style, and the kind of meals you want to create.
Whether you’re grilling burgers for the family, smoking brisket for friends, or making breakfast on a flat-top on a summer morning, outdoor cooking is about bringing people together.
And that’s what BBQ season is really all about.
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements, and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media LLC (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses, or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability, or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party.
