The Best Grills According to the MYMOVE Team

Home doesn’t really feel like home until you’ve cooked some meals outside. Unfortunately, grills are notoriously tricky to move, and you might be better off leaving your old one behind. 

But for a piece of technology that is essentially just “flame + food,” there are an awful lot of decisions to make when it comes to buying a grill. Gas, charcoal, or pellet? How many burners do you need? What are your thoughts on grilling apps?

To make summer in your new home a little easier, we asked the MYMOVE team to share the best grills they’ve ever had. The results have something for everyone, whether you’re planning a Fourth of July party or just a perfectly cooked ribeye for one. 

Our favorite grills

• Big Green Egg: Best for all-in-one cooking
• Blackstone Griddle: Best for flat top grilling
• Weber Performer Premium: Best for charcoal grilling
• Camp Chef SG 24: Best for smoking
• Weber Smokey Joe Grill: Best for affordability

Big Green Egg: Best for all-in-one cooking

 

Grill features

 

• Uses lump charcoal
• Precise temperature control
• Sears, roasts, and smokes
• Lifetime warranty
• Easy clean up

Buy it here

If you know anyone with a Big Green Egg, you’ve probably already heard plenty about the Big Green Egg. To own it is to love it, and its believers will eagerly tell you about its precision temperature control, the superiority of charcoal to gas, and the Egg’s all-in-one versatility. 

And it really is more than just a grill. Sure, you can cook some burgers, but the Egg’s heat-retaining ceramic shell also lets you roast, smoke, and bake to your heart’s content. Just light the lump charcoal with a lighter or natural starter, and it’s ready to use within minutes.

It’s far more expensive than the typical grill, but if the idea of cooking your Thanksgiving turkey on a grill excites you, the Big Green Egg is the one for you. 

Blackstone Griddle: Best flat top grill

 

Grill features

 

• Battery push start ignition
• Two cooking zones
• Shelves on both sides and under grill
• Grease catcher in back
• Hard cover for outdoor storage

Buy it here

Ever find yourself fantasizing about another life as a line cook? The Blackstone Griddle uses a diner-worthy griddle instead of grates, and it comes in five sizes between 17 and 36 inches.  

The 28-inch version is a happy medium for most people — enough to cook 18 burgers at once. With separate burners you can set to different temperatures, you can dedicate one side of the grill to warm buns and the other for searing steak. 

The Blackstone Griddle is so well-liked that it was the only grill to be recommended by multiple MYMOVE team members. That said, it’s not quite as maintenance-free as other grills. “It does require more upkeep on the griddle to keep it in working condition than a regular grill — we weren’t prepared for that when we bought it,” said Erica D., Editorial Director at MYMOVE. You’ll want to season the griddle before using it for the first time, and coat it with oil after every use. 

Weber Performer Premium: Best charcoal grill

 

Grill features

 

• Built-in lid thermometer and timer
• Charcoal storage container
• Lid holder on the side
• Removable ash catcher
• Rack for grilling tools

Buy it here

Weber is synonymous with charcoal grilling, and the Performer Premium is one of the most decked out grills in its lineup. You’ll get enough space to fit 13 burgers at once, plus a slew of thoughtful features like a hinged grill to easily add more charcoal, a high-capacity ash catcher, and a storage container so extra fuel is always within reach. The Performer Premium has wheels, too, so you can easily move it around the yard.

Camp Chef SG 24: Best smoker

 

Grill features

 

• Control smoke and temperature on grill or app
• Temperatures as low as 164 degrees Fahrenheit
• Removable ash catcher
• Adjustable settings for direct grilling
• Available in black and bronze

Buy it here

If you love the taste of slow-cooked barbeque but don’t want to spend all day babysitting a brisket, then a pellet grill like the Camp Chef SG 24 is the perfect middle ground. It uses compressed hardwood sawdust pellets as fuel, automatically adding as many as needed to get the perfect flavor. You can set the Smoke Number and temperature directly on the grill or through the Camp Chef smartphone app. 

Weber Smokey Joe Grill: Best cheap grill

 

Grill features

 

• Lightweight and portable
• Cooks up to five burgers at once
• Lid holder on side
• Handle for easy transportation

Buy it here

Sometimes all you need in a grill is a place to combine fire and meat. If smartphone apps, built-in thermometers, and fancy ignitions make your head spin, a classic Weber charcoal grill is as reliable and time-tested as any grill out there. The handle and light weight make it easy to bring along on camping trips and tailgates, and you can still cook about five burgers at a time. 

The bottom line

For a method of cooking that’s supposed to take us back to our caveman days, shopping for grills can start to feel like comparing desktops. But remember: grilling is about enjoying great food with people you love. Now you get to do it in a place you love, too.