Every year there’s a crop of new grills and tools to up the ante on your BBQ game. We see advancements in pellet burning, automatic temperature control, and wireless monitoring that make cooking your favorite meals easier, tastier, and more enjoyable. In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies
And the accessories that go along with backyard barbecuing aren’t just getting smarter, they’re also continuously being refined and redesigned. Take a look at what we think are the best barbecue grills and tools on the market for spring/summer 2022.
Courtesy Image
- Char-Broil Cruise Gas Grill You can’t deny the convenience of grilling with gas, and Char-Broil’s Cruise might be the most convenient cooker of all. It’s the first gas grill to let you set and hold heat like an oven to maintain specific temps beyond the standard “low, medium, high.” And a max-heat mode zooms to 700 degrees for the perfect seared steak. But our favorite feature? The auto clean mode that cleans and shuts off the grill at the end of each grilling session. Convenient, right? [$699; charbroil.com] Get it!
Courtesy Image 2. Camp Chef Apex Pellet Grill Pellet grills’ smoky versatility has won over many a grill master, but most won’t let you get a true flame-broiled fix. Enter the Camp Chef Apex. This unique hybrid combines the perfection of pellets with the blaze of gas, all in the same main chamber (easily switchable with a button). Add a gasketed lid, double-wall construction and internal lighting, and you’ll never go back to a one-dimensional grill. [Available June 1, from $1,599; campchef.com] Get it!
Courtesy Image
- Original PK Franklin Edition With so many grills on the market, it can be hard to stand out. Not so with the PK. For starters, its clam-shaped design made of heavy-duty aluminum is unique to the company, which was started in 1952. And while this one comes in teal, what really sets the Franklin apart is just that—its name. Based on the classic PK300, this is the PK300AF, as in Aaron Franklin, founder of Franklin BBQ in Austin, TX, which is considered by many to be the very best in the world. “As soon as I started to make enough money to go buy a nice home grill, I went to the local hardware store and the PK caught my eye,” says Franklin. “I’m a nut for 50s design and I’ve been a big fan ever since. So a collaboration with these guys was a natural [fit].” The Original PK looks simple, but has a whole rack of features. For starters, it doesn’t rust and aluminum conducts heat much faster than steel so everything cooks evenly. The grill doubles as a smoker with several vents for temperature control and a 20-year warranty is thrown in for good measure. The AF edition also sports twin shelves on either side of the grill and two underneath for all those burgers, ribs, and brisket. There’s a bottle opener, obvs, and it’s taller than the standard grill—a major plus for anyone over 5’8”. Best of all, the whole grill easily lifts off the stand for quick cleaning. That is, if you’re into that sort of thing. “I’m still cooking on my original one that’s been left in the yard and never cleaned once,” says Franklin. How’s that for a pro tip! [$799.99; pkgrills.com] Get it
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- Napoleon TravelQ PRO285X Portable Propane Gas Grill It’s a sad fact that not everyone can enjoy a backyard barbecue when warm weather rolls around—because they simply don’t have a yard. That’s when the compact Napoleon TravelQ grill shines—it’s small, and powerful, enough to fire up a feast on a tiny footprint, whether a balcony, patio, or rooftop. The small gas grill, which sits on top an easy-folding scissor cart, has premium features built around its 285 square inch, porcelain-coated cast iron cooking surface (enough for 17 burgers) like a cast aluminum lid, stainless steel burners pumping out 12,000 BTUs, and instant ignition. [$549; napoleon.com] Get it!
Courtesy Image 5. Oklahoma Joe Blackjack Kettle Gas might be easy, but purists love charcoal, and Oklahoma Joe’s Blackjack Kettle is the Cadillac of charcoal grills. The superior build includes a porcelain-coated fire bowl and lid for increased durability, and an adjustable smokestack and air intake for top-notch temperature control. The 363 square inches of cooking space is big enough for a dozen burgers; and smart features like a hinged lid, a side table for food prep, and a towel bar for hanging tools increase usability. [$329; oklahomajoes.com] Get it!
Courtesy Image 6. Pit Barrel Classic 18.5″ Drum Cooker Get serious enough about backyard culinary pursuits and you’ll find your way to barrel smoking, a simple system for cooking inside a chamber of 360-degree heat. Pit Barrel’s Classic Drum Cooker gives you everything you need to start smoking in an 18-gauge steel drum lined with porcelain. Layer the bottom of the drum with charcoal and wood chunks, then hang meat or veggies from the rack. [From $400; pitbarrelcooker.com] Get it!
Courtesy Image 7. Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub Flip alerts. That’s the beauty of the Connect Smart Grilling Hub, which pairs digital thermometers with an app on your phone, turning any cooker into a smart grill that tells you exactly when to flip your steaks, chicken, brats, etc., then alerts you when your meat has reached the perfect temp. No more cutting or poking the meat to see if it’s done. [$130; weber.com] Get it!
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Courtesy Image 8. Permasteel Grill Light It doesn’t matter how good you are on the grill. You have to be able to see what you’re cooking to achieve barbecue beatitude. Enter the Permasteel Grill Light—two separate LED lights (each containing nine bulbs) with heavy, magnetic bases that stick to any part of the grill. Adjust the flexible goosenecks to direct 75 lumens at the grate and ogle your perfect, sizzling chops. [$18; permasteel.net] Get it!
Courtesy Image 9. Material Angled Board The 1-inch-thick Material Angled Board is so pretty, it doubles as a serving tray. One side of the cutting board has grooves to catch juices while slicing, and the other side is smooth for presentation. Choose your wood and finish—either walnut or ebonized white oak—either way, the timber is FSC-certified and sustainably grown and harvested in the U.S. [$95; materialkitchen.com] Get it!
Courtesy Image 10. Benchmade Station Knife Every barbecue ninja needs a good blade by his side, and Benchmade’s Station Knife combines the hefty attributes of a chopper with the delicate tip of a slicer to make short work of thick ribs or expertly process slabs of steak. Pull up the online customization website and you can choose between two high-quality steels and finishes (black or polished), laser etching on both sides of the blade, and three durable handle materials—G10, Richlite, or carbon fiber. [From $280; benchmade.com] Get it!
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Courtesy Image 11. FlipFork Most guys would think that a spatula is a spatula—until you wield the FlipFork, which is more of a MacGyver-esque multitool than a ho-hum burger flipper. A sharp knife’s edge slices, a blunt edge tenderizes and a protruding prong helps manage all the tricky forking, poking, and flipping required when the flames start jumping. There’s even a bottle opener, too, for grill-side brewskis. [$26; myflipfork.com] Get it!
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Every year there’s a crop of new grills and tools to up the ante on your BBQ game. We see advancements in pellet burning, automatic temperature control, and wireless monitoring that make cooking your favorite meals easier, tastier, and more enjoyable.
In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies
And the accessories that go along with backyard barbecuing aren’t just getting smarter, they’re also continuously being refined and redesigned. Take a look at what we think are the best barbecue grills and tools on the market for spring/summer 2022.
1. Char-Broil Cruise Gas Grill
You can’t deny the convenience of grilling with gas, and Char-Broil’s Cruise might be the most convenient cooker of all. It’s the first gas grill to let you set and hold heat like an oven to maintain specific temps beyond the standard “low, medium, high.” And a max-heat mode zooms to 700 degrees for the perfect seared steak. But our favorite feature? The auto clean mode that cleans and shuts off the grill at the end of each grilling session. Convenient, right?
[$699; charbroil.com]
2. Camp Chef Apex Pellet Grill
Pellet grills’ smoky versatility has won over many a grill master, but most won’t let you get a true flame-broiled fix. Enter the Camp Chef Apex. This unique hybrid combines the perfection of pellets with the blaze of gas, all in the same main chamber (easily switchable with a button). Add a gasketed lid, double-wall construction and internal lighting, and you’ll never go back to a one-dimensional grill.
[Available June 1, from $1,599; campchef.com]
Courtesy Image
3. Original PK Franklin Edition
With so many grills on the market, it can be hard to stand out. Not so with the PK. For starters, its clam-shaped design made of heavy-duty aluminum is unique to the company, which was started in 1952. And while this one comes in teal, what really sets the Franklin apart is just that—its name. Based on the classic PK300, this is the PK300AF, as in Aaron Franklin, founder of Franklin BBQ in Austin, TX, which is considered by many to be the very best in the world. “As soon as I started to make enough money to go buy a nice home grill, I went to the local hardware store and the PK caught my eye,” says Franklin. “I’m a nut for 50s design and I’ve been a big fan ever since. So a collaboration with these guys was a natural [fit].” The Original PK looks simple, but has a whole rack of features. For starters, it doesn’t rust and aluminum conducts heat much faster than steel so everything cooks evenly. The grill doubles as a smoker with several vents for temperature control and a 20-year warranty is thrown in for good measure. The AF edition also sports twin shelves on either side of the grill and two underneath for all those burgers, ribs, and brisket. There’s a bottle opener, obvs, and it’s taller than the standard grill—a major plus for anyone over 5’8”. Best of all, the whole grill easily lifts off the stand for quick cleaning. That is, if you’re into that sort of thing. “I’m still cooking on my original one that’s been left in the yard and never cleaned once,” says Franklin. How’s that for a pro tip!
[$799.99; pkgrills.com]
4. Napoleon TravelQ PRO285X Portable Propane Gas Grill
It’s a sad fact that not everyone can enjoy a backyard barbecue when warm weather rolls around—because they simply don’t have a yard. That’s when the compact Napoleon TravelQ grill shines—it’s small, and powerful, enough to fire up a feast on a tiny footprint, whether a balcony, patio, or rooftop. The small gas grill, which sits on top an easy-folding scissor cart, has premium features built around its 285 square inch, porcelain-coated cast iron cooking surface (enough for 17 burgers) like a cast aluminum lid, stainless steel burners pumping out 12,000 BTUs, and instant ignition.
[$549; napoleon.com]
5. Oklahoma Joe Blackjack Kettle
Gas might be easy, but purists love charcoal, and Oklahoma Joe’s Blackjack Kettle is the Cadillac of charcoal grills. The superior build includes a porcelain-coated fire bowl and lid for increased durability, and an adjustable smokestack and air intake for top-notch temperature control. The 363 square inches of cooking space is big enough for a dozen burgers; and smart features like a hinged lid, a side table for food prep, and a towel bar for hanging tools increase usability.
[$329; oklahomajoes.com]
6. Pit Barrel Classic 18.5″ Drum Cooker
Get serious enough about backyard culinary pursuits and you’ll find your way to barrel smoking, a simple system for cooking inside a chamber of 360-degree heat. Pit Barrel’s Classic Drum Cooker gives you everything you need to start smoking in an 18-gauge steel drum lined with porcelain. Layer the bottom of the drum with charcoal and wood chunks, then hang meat or veggies from the rack.
[From $400; pitbarrelcooker.com]
7. Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub
Flip alerts. That’s the beauty of the Connect Smart Grilling Hub, which pairs digital thermometers with an app on your phone, turning any cooker into a smart grill that tells you exactly when to flip your steaks, chicken, brats, etc., then alerts you when your meat has reached the perfect temp. No more cutting or poking the meat to see if it’s done.
[$130; weber.com]
7 Knives Every Cook Needs in Their Kitchen
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8. Permasteel Grill Light
It doesn’t matter how good you are on the grill. You have to be able to see what you’re cooking to achieve barbecue beatitude. Enter the Permasteel Grill Light—two separate LED lights (each containing nine bulbs) with heavy, magnetic bases that stick to any part of the grill. Adjust the flexible goosenecks to direct 75 lumens at the grate and ogle your perfect, sizzling chops.
7 Knives Every Cook Needs in Their Kitchen
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7 Knives Every Cook Needs in Their Kitchen
[$18; permasteel.net]
9. Material Angled Board
The 1-inch-thick Material Angled Board is so pretty, it doubles as a serving tray. One side of the cutting board has grooves to catch juices while slicing, and the other side is smooth for presentation. Choose your wood and finish—either walnut or ebonized white oak—either way, the timber is FSC-certified and sustainably grown and harvested in the U.S.
[$95; materialkitchen.com]
10. Benchmade Station Knife
Every barbecue ninja needs a good blade by his side, and Benchmade’s Station Knife combines the hefty attributes of a chopper with the delicate tip of a slicer to make short work of thick ribs or expertly process slabs of steak. Pull up the online customization website and you can choose between two high-quality steels and finishes (black or polished), laser etching on both sides of the blade, and three durable handle materials—G10, Richlite, or carbon fiber.
[From $280; benchmade.com]
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11. FlipFork
Most guys would think that a spatula is a spatula—until you wield the FlipFork, which is more of a MacGyver-esque multitool than a ho-hum burger flipper. A sharp knife’s edge slices, a blunt edge tenderizes and a protruding prong helps manage all the tricky forking, poking, and flipping required when the flames start jumping. There’s even a bottle opener, too, for grill-side brewskis.
The Best Bacon Cookers For Your Kitchen
Read article
The Best Bacon Cookers For Your Kitchen
[$26; myflipfork.com]
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