Ultimate Summer Grilling Guide 2024

Essential Grilling Equipment

Understanding the importance of the right equipment can significantly elevate your summer grilling recipes. Here are the essentials every griller should have these items and our favorites listed on my gear page.

• Grill: Whether charcoal, gas, or pellet, choose a grill that suits your cooking style and preferences.
• Grill Brushes: To keep your grill clean and your food tasting great. 
• Grilling Tongs: For safe, easy flipping and moving of food. Look for long-handled tongs for the best fire safety. Keep three on the ready at all times—one for moving coals, one for raw meat, and one for cooked meat. 
• Grill Spatula: Ideal for flipping burgers and other flat foods. We love a long handle and a large metal surface. 
• Heat-resistant Gloves: To protect your hands when handling hot grates or food. Go for the best you can afford here. From pouring charcoal to moving grill grates, these protect you in the heat of the moment. 
• Meat Thermometer: A must for ensuring your meats are cooked to the perfect temperature. We love our instant-read thermometer by Thermapen for quality and accuracy. 
• Grill Basket: Great for grilling vegetables, seafood, and other small items that might fall through the grates. Yes, including tater tots.
• Basting Brush: To apply sauces and marinades while grilling. We use a silicon brush with changeable heads. 
• Chimney Starter: Our favorite way to light charcoal quickly and easily without using lighter fluid. 
• Smoker box: Use this handy tool on gas or pellet grills for added smoke flavor.

Grilling Techniques

Mastering various grilling techniques can help you make the most of your summer BBQ. Here’s some grilling 101 to get started with:

• Direct Grilling: Cooking food directly over the heat source. Ideal for small or thin cuts of meat and vegetables.
• Indirect Grilling: Cooking food next to, not directly over, the heat source on the cooler side of the grill. Perfect for larger or tougher cuts of meat.
• Smoking: The low-and-slow method that imparts that deep, smoky flavor. Great for large cuts of meat like ribs and brisket.
• Searing: Quickly apply high heat to the surface of meats to create a flavorful crust. We love using flattop griddles or cast iron for that perfect edge-to-edge sear. 
• Rotisserie Grilling: Cooking food (often whole poultry but also great for prime ribs or picanha) on a rotating spit for even, self-basting cooking and a fantastic crust. 
• Smoking on Planks: Cooking food on a wooden plank (commonly cedar or alder) that’s been soaked, imparting a subtle, smoky flavor. Ideal for delicate foods like fish and seafood.

Types of Grills

Choosing the best grill depends on your cooking preferences, lifestyle, and budget. Here are the most common types:

• Charcoal Grills: Offers a smoky, authentic flavor that many grill enthusiasts prefer. Requires more cleanup and grilling skills.
  • Pros: Great flavor, high heat for searing, low heat for smoking, relatively affordable. Iconic.
  • Cons: Longer start-up time, more cleanup, requires more skill for fire management.

Our Charcoal grill of choice: 22″ Classic Weber Kettle. 

Our smoker of choice: Pit Barrel Cooker. 

• Gas Grills: Quick, convenient, and easy to control. Great for weeknight grilling or when you’re cooking for a crowd.
  • Pros: Easy temperature control, quick start-up, minimal cleanup.
  • Cons: No smoky flavor (unless you use our tips for smoking on a gas grill), more expensive initial cost. 

Our Gas Grill of choice: Under $500: Char-Broil TRU-Infrared 3 burner gas grill. Expect to last 4 to 5 years if covered and well mainainted.

Over $1000 Hestan Outdoors 42 Inch Wide Natural Gas Built-in Grill 

• Pellet Grills: Uses pellets for a unique flavor profile and excellent slow-cooking capability.
  • Pros: Versatile (can grill, smoke, bake, roast), great smoky flavor, precise temperature control.
  • Cons: More expensive, requires electricity, needs specialized pellets, subtle smoke flavor. 

Our Pellet Grill of choice: Traeger Grills Pro Series 34 Electric Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker 

• Electric Grills: Ideal for those with limited outdoor space or prohibited from using gas or charcoal.
  • Pros: Convenient, easy to use, ideal for small-space grilling.
  • Cons: Less traditional flavor, requires electricity, may not reach high temperatures.

Our electric grill of choice: Masterbuilt 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker

• Portable Grills: Perfect for camping, tailgating, or beach cookouts. It can be gas, charcoal, or electric.
  • Pros: Mobile, convenient for outdoor activities, variety of fuel types.
  • Cons: Limited cooking area, may not have features of larger grills.

Our favorite portable grill: Ninja Woodfire Pro Outdoor Grill & Smoker

• Kamado Grills: Egg-shaped grills made from ceramic, excellent for high-heat grilling and low-and-slow smoking.
  • Pros: Excellent heat retention, versatility (can grill, smoke, bake), long lifespan.
  • Cons: Expensive, heavier and less portable, longer start-up time.

Currently testing: Kamado Joe Konnected Joe, an electric Kamado-style grill with automatic fire start and digital controls for heat settings.

Understanding Heat and Temperature

Controlling heat is one of the secrets to successful grilling. Here are some essential concepts:

• Direct vs. Indirect Heat: Direct heat (food directly over the flame) is best for searing and grilling thin cuts. Indirect heat (food off to the side of the flame) is perfect for thicker cuts that need time to cook internally without burning the outside.
• Temperature Zones: Setting up your grill with multiple temperature zones can give you flexibility for cooking different foods at their ideal temperatures. The 2-zone fire is the most commonly referenced, but a 3-zone fire can also be handy. 
• Grill Thermometer: Most grills come with built-in thermometers, but they are often not too accurate, and an additional meat thermometer can ensure precise cooking temperatures. We use an instant-read thermometer for quick cooks and a probe for long-smoking recipes. 
• Ideal Cooking Temperatures: Understanding the recommended internal temperatures for different meats ensures they’re safe to eat and perfectly cooked to your liking every time. 
• Preheating: Preheating your grill is key to achieving a good sear and accurate cooking times. Give yourself 30 minutes to an hour before you grill, depending on your grill, to make sure it’s ready to go.