Updated July 2021
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 and a pellet grill vs. a charcoal grill, and a pellet grill vs. an electric grill 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 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.
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 and a pellet grill vs. a charcoal grill, and a pellet grill vs. an electric grill to help you decide on the right outdoor cooking tool for your needs. This allows you to explore the wide world of charcoal, electric, pellet and gas grilling from a comprehensive perspective.
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 of charcoal grills:
Now that you know what your options are with charcoal bbq grills, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of cooking with a charcoal grill.
What are the upsides of turning to a charcoal grill? Check out some of the reasons that some people lean toward charcoal when examining a charcoal grill vs. wood pellet variety:
Of course, charcoal smoker grills may not always be best suited for your needs. Below are some downsides to charcoal vs. wood pellet:
If you’re not familiar with pellet grills you should check out our “What is a Wood Pellet Grill?” page. For the purposes of this post, however, we’ll provide a quick overview. A pellet grill will usually have the standard look of a gas grill or charcoal cart or barrel grill (with the notable exception of our Grilla model), with the addition of a pellet hopper on the side to holds quite a few pounds of pellets for fuel. There’s an electric powered auger at the bottom of the hopper that pulls the hardwood pellets into the fire pot where they are lit. From there, you simply set your pellet grill to the temperature you want and the pellet grill will use fuel as needed to maintain that temperature with convection-style cooking that makes for an even, smoky cook.
Years ago, wood pellet grills were used sparingly. Now, they have become quite popular thanks to their benefits:
Nevertheless, pellet grills do have a few cons that you should keep in mind before investing in a pellet vs. charcoal smoker:
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 that you’d like, and the prices can range as high or low as you’re willing to go. Gas grills often time come with some cool features as well, like side burners that run off of the fuel tank.
If you’ve been a Grilla Grills fan for a while, you’ll know that we offer a gas grill we call the Primate. It includes many of the above-mentioned features, in addition to offering a superb griddle surface. So it’s safe to say that we know — and appreciate — gas grills just as much as we do pellet varieties.
While gas grills are the most popular grills on the market there are some very clear positives and negatives in choosing a gas grill.
Gas grills are probably in the backyards of many of your neighbors. It’s no wonder, really, when you consider their advantages:
Despite the upshots of choosing gas grills, their negatives can be supremely problematic, especially for people who like their foods to have the flavor of cooking in the outdoors. Some of the biggest cons to buying a gas grill vs. a pellet grill include:
While we addressed the pros and cons of a pellet grill above, there are some slight differences between the pros and cons when comparing a pellet grill to a gas grill.
Feeling a little uneasy about getting a gas grill instead of a pellet grill, especially after thinking about the fact that gas requires more safety considerations and adds nothing to the taste of meats, poultry, veggies and other grilled foods? You may be better served with a pellet grill, especially since it offers the following benefits:
Are there any cons to owning a pellet grill? Yes, but they are not too off-putting to people who really enjoy smoking and grilling in the comfort of their own backyard:
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. In fact, some electric grills are so small that they can be used in an enclosed kitchen.
With that being said, electric grills are not necessarily right for all occasions or buyers who want to grill food. Check out the pros and cons of electric grills vs. pellet grills below.
Thinking about buying an electric grill? You should look at their advantages when lined up against gas, charcoal and pellet grills:
As you may have figured out, electric grills do have some cons to them:
Now, we once again come to pellet grills vs. electric grills. The advantages to opting for a pellet grill include:
In terms of disadvantages to pellet grills vs. electric grills, you should always think about the following:
Now that you have read through more information on pellet smokers, charcoal grills, electric grills and gas grills, you have a decision to make. Before making your purchase, be sure to think about several considerations:
Your answers will help you narrow down your final selection. We understand how overwhelming the choices between various grills can be. But we also know that when you pick the right grill, whether it’s a pellet grill, a charcoal grill, a gas grill or an electric grill, you’re sure to love cooking on it.
As you contemplate which type of grill to buy after reading through our pellet grill vs. propane vs. charcoal vs. electric guide, remember that pellet grills do offer a few characteristics that make them a healthier grilling option. First is their ability to maintain human interest. People who buy pellet grills tend to stick with grilling because a pellet grill is so versatile. For example, the same recipe can taste much different depending on which wood pellets you use. After all, hickory wood pellets transmit a flavor that is quite unique from applewood pellets.
Another health benefit of pellet grills relates to their allowing you to grill practically anything in a low, slow way. The freshness and juiciness stay in, making eating lean and nutritious foods a mouth-pleasing experience. No more dull “diet” meals. Your pellet-cooked ingredients burst with flavor, leaving you satisfied and feeling full.
Finally, pellet grills can be very cost-effective over the long haul, which is healthier for your budget, too! Spend a little more upfront to enjoy a type of cooking you can use season after season. Forget about slogging over the stove — you have a pellet smoker and grill to make life enjoyable and tastier!
Not convinced that a pellet grill is going to be ideal for your situation? A gas grill-griddle product offers you convenience and performance as well. You’ll need to add the seasoning because you won’t have the natural smoky pellet odor as a flavor infuser, but grilling on gas can give you a supremely spectacular result. It’s especially beneficial when you want to sear meat like the pros!
Purchase a Grilla Grill and become part of the growing pellet smoker grilling or propane gas grilling community today.
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558 E. 64th Street
Holland, Michigan 49423
616.392.7410