Pellet Grill vs. Charcoal vs. Gas vs. Electric — A Smokehouse's Honest Take

For many people, grilling has always meant one of two things: charcoal or gas. From the time many of us were children, there are memories of bags of charcoal, lighter fluid or propane tanks along with the accompanying hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, chicken and veggies that came off the grill. Of course, new competitors have come and gone over the years, but the "new kid on the block" in the grilling world that's continuing to gain momentum is the pellet grill.

For those of you considering a new grill, we'll walk you through the pros and cons of a pellet grill vs. a gas grill, pellet vs. charcoal, and pellet vs. electric — to help you decide on the right outdoor cooking tool for your needs.

This isn't to suggest that you need to forget about a gas grill fueled by propane or natural gas — some people even like to have a couple of different kinds of grills at their disposal. You just need to know all the facts about each type of grill. That way, you can get a grill you're sure to use and love for the long haul.

Charcoal Grills — The Original

For years the charcoal grill was the standard for the home cooking grilling aficionado. Many purists claim that the flavor imparted from charcoal is the only way to grill. While many people are familiar with charcoal grills, it's worth noting that charcoal grills come in many shapes and sizes. Here are some of the more popular styles:

• Kettle grills are what most people think of when they think of a charcoal grill, with a round grill set atop a tripod with a lid and a vent. Often a popular choice as a portable grill — many smaller, lightweight models available for camping or traveling.
• Barrel grills are what they sound like, grills that are made out of barrels, or to look like traditional 55-gallon barrels, cut in half with a hinge and some legs to stand on.
• Cart grills are basically grills that look like modern gas grills but use charcoal for fuel.
• Kamado grills are egg-shaped grills made out of ceramic. The ceramic material provides insulation which helps create an even cooking temperature across the entire cooking area. Kamados can also achieve grill temperatures of 700 degrees or more, which makes them great for searing or using them as a pizza oven.

Pros of Charcoal Grills

• Charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal are usually less expensive than gas
• Added smoky, charcoal flavor
• Portable options
• Lightweight (most models)
• Inexpensive entry-level options

Cons of Charcoal Grills

• Take time to light and get up to temperature (sometimes up to 30 minutes)
• Takes time to cool down
• Need a fairly large amount of space to use
• Can be messy

Pellet Grills

Years ago, wood pellet grills were used sparingly. Now, they have become quite popular thanks to their benefits.

Pros of Pellet Grills

• Easy to use — barbecue like a pro even as a novice
• Delicious wood-smoked flavor
• Variety of wood flavors (hickory, apple, cherry, mesquite, pecan)
• Precise temperature control
• "Set it and forget it" cooking — set the temperature, insert a meat probe, walk away
• Act as both a smoker and a grill
• Maintains temperature in nearly any weather
• Fuel efficient (about a pound per hour of cook time)
• Easier to clean than charcoal grills

Cons of Pellet Grills

• More expensive than charcoal grills
• Slightly higher fuel costs
• Can't achieve the higher searing temperatures of charcoal kamados without special attachments
• Require electricity to use

Gas Grills

Gas grills are extremely popular, especially if you walk into your local big-box store. There are all the brand names you've come to expect, you can get as few or as many square inches of cooking space as you'd like, and the prices can range as high or low as you're willing to go.

Pros of Gas Grills

• Easy to light and get up to temperature
• Can achieve high temperatures quickly
• Keep their high temperatures steady throughout the whole cooking time
• Lots of available features like removable grill grates and replacement griddles
• No cleanup from fuel
• Ability to use a propane-to-natural gas converter to hook up to the natural gas coming into your home
• Short learning curve

Cons of Gas Grills

• Where's the taste? Gas has no inherent flavor, which puts the onus on you to get clever with seasonings.
• Gas grills don't smoke the food, so you don't have that irresistible smoked taste
• Gas grills don't usually perform well at lower temperatures
• Foods might not cook as evenly
• Fire-hazard considerations
• It can be difficult to control the temperature precisely

Electric Grills

Electric grills are somewhat different than other types of grills because they need to be plugged in to work. However, this can make them a viable choice for people who live in apartments and can't have gas or charcoal grills on their back decks or patios.

Pros of Electric Grills

• Turns on instantaneously and gets hot fast
• Press-button start and stop makes it easy for people squeamish about flames
• Maintenance is not hard
• Useful for indoor cooking in some situations
• Can store easily if they are smaller models

Cons of Electric Grills

• Need an outlet to supply them with electricity
• Only work when electricity is available
• Do not supply food with any additional flavors
• Can be expensive to buy initially and to run on a regular basis
• If liquid hits the electric grill, it can short-circuit the entire unit

How to Choose the Right Grill for You

Before making your purchase, think about:

• How much time you will devote to increasing your grilling prowess
• Who in your household will be grilling
• What budget makes sense
• Where you will use and store your grill
• What type of grill you currently have, and what you like and dislike about it
• Whether you want your grill to infuse your food with added flavors like mesquite or pecan
• How you want your grill to help you achieve your lifestyle and health goals
• Whether you want a grill that's portable
• What types of foods you intend to cook
• How much time you want to spend cleaning

Our Take From The Smokehouse

After four generations of smoking meat in Bemidji, Minnesota, here's what we'd say:

If flavor is your priority and you have time, a pellet grill or a real-wood smoker is the winner. The flavor profile from genuine wood smoke is something gas or electric simply can't replicate — and pellet grills bring that flavor to home cooks without the learning curve of a stick burner.

If you want speed and convenience, gas wins. You can have dinner on in 20 minutes flat.

If you want pure traditional flavor on a budget, charcoal still earns its place. A Weber kettle and a chimney starter is a starter kit that has been getting it right since the 1950s.

If you live in an apartment or have HOA restrictions, electric is your only realistic option — and it can still produce solid food, even if it's not the same as the others.

Whatever you choose, the meat you put on it matters more than the equipment. Start with whole-muscle cuts from a real butcher (we obviously have opinions about where to get those), season simply, and let the cook do the talking.