Elevate Your Grilling Game: The Best BBQ Grills of 2024
From fishnet dresses to boyfriend blush, the top summer trends are reviving our wardrobes and vanities this season. So why would we neglect our outdoor kitchens? Like the standout runway fashion that is now touching down on the streets, the 2024 BBQ grill trends will imbue your backyard gatherings and weekend cookouts with a fresh reset.
From New York to Paris, grilling has played a key role in themes of countless recent collections. Case in point: In February in Manhattan, Weber’s Genesis E325S was a “nod to the concept of making the everyday sublime—even a simple backyard barbecue,” the show notes said. The momentum of innovative grilling technology remained strong through Paris Fashion Week. With their Fall/Winter 2024 collections, both young designer brands such as Royal Gourmet and heritage houses like Traeger gave us archetypes of grill masters who embraced outdoor cooking with abandon, asking: Why not? Why not sear a steak to perfection on a high-heat burner, à la Weber? Or smoke a brisket for hours on a pellet grill, as displayed by Traeger?
The teeming supply of gas, charcoal, and pellet grills has magnified the transformative power of outdoor cooking and made the case for enjoying it every day. From compact, budget-friendly models primed for small patios to high-end, feature-packed grills that embrace a gourmet spirit, here are the top BBQ grill trends to enjoy this summer.
1. The Ultimate Convenience: Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545
The Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 is redefining convenience in the world of charcoal grilling. This grill combines the rich, smoky flavor of charcoal with the ease of gas ignition, making it a standout choice for both novice and seasoned grillers. The QuickStart™ Auto-Ignition feature allows for easy ignition of the charcoal with the push of a button, eliminating the need for matches or lighters. The DigitalFan™ maintains the desired cooking temperature, ensuring consistent results every time.
One of the most impressive features of the AutoIgnite Series 545 is its digital connectivity. The grill can be controlled via a digital control panel or the Masterbuilt app, allowing you to monitor and adjust the temperature and cooking time from your smartphone. This level of control is perfect for those who want to enjoy their time with guests without constantly tending to the grill.
The grill also boasts a generous cooking space of 545 square inches, making it suitable for large gatherings. The QuickSear™ Cast Iron Hopper Sear Plate is perfect for achieving those coveted grill marks on steaks and burgers. Despite its advanced features, the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 is priced affordably at $499, making it accessible to a wide range of consumers.
However, it's worth noting that the assembly process can be time-consuming and complex. Some users have reported issues with the fit and finish of the pre-production model, and a fire starter is required for ignition. Despite these minor drawbacks, the grill's performance and affordability make it a strong contender in the sub-$500 category.
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2. Best Budget Pellet Grill: Z Grills ZPG-450A
For those who want to enjoy the benefits of a pellet grill without breaking the bank, the Z Grills ZPG-450A is an excellent choice. This budget-friendly pellet grill offers a good balance of cooking space, temperature range, and pellet capacity. With 450 square inches of cooking space, it’s perfect for family gatherings and casual grilling sessions.
The ZPG-450A features a temperature range from 180 to 450 degrees, allowing for versatile cooking options from slow smoking to high-heat grilling. The grill can hold up to 15 pounds of wood pellets, ensuring long cooking sessions without the need for frequent refills. This makes it ideal for those who enjoy low and slow cooking methods.
One of the standout features of the ZPG-450A is its affordability. Priced competitively, it offers many of the same features as higher-end models at a fraction of the cost. This makes it an excellent choice for BBQ enthusiasts on a budget who want a reliable and versatile grill.
However, it’s worth noting that the ZPG-450A is not ideal for high-heat searing. It’s more suited for slow cooking and smoking, so if you’re looking for a grill that can achieve high temperatures for searing steaks, you might want to consider other options. Despite this limitation, the ZPG-450A offers great value for its price and is a solid choice for those looking to get into pellet grilling.
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3. Best Portable Pellet Grill: Cuisinart CPG-256
For grilling enthusiasts who need a portable and versatile grill for camping, tailgating, or small outdoor spaces, the Cuisinart CPG-256 is the perfect solution. This compact and lightweight grill offers a wide range of cooking options in a small package, making it ideal for on-the-go grilling adventures.
Weighing just 45 pounds, the CPG-256 is easy to transport and set up. It features a locking lid and carrying handle, ensuring that it stays secure during transport. Despite its small size, the grill offers versatile cooking options, including smoking, barbecuing, baking, roasting, grilling, braising, searing, and char-grilling.
One of the standout features of the CPG-256 is its auto-start feature and real-time temperature display. This makes it easy to monitor and adjust the cooking temperature, ensuring consistent results every time. The grill also features a smaller cooking space and limited pellet hopper capacity, holding up to 4 pounds of pellets. While this may require more frequent refills during long cooking sessions, it’s a small trade-off for the convenience and portability the grill offers.
Overall, the Cuisinart CPG-256 is an excellent choice for those who need a portable grill without sacrificing functionality. Its compact size and lightweight design make it perfect for camping trips, tailgating parties, and small outdoor spaces.
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4. Best Pellet Grill for Entertaining: Pit Boss 1150G
For those who love to entertain and need a large, versatile grill for cooking a variety of dishes, the Pit Boss 1150G is the ultimate choice. With its ample cooking space and convenient features, this grill is perfect for hosting large gatherings and BBQ parties.
The Pit Boss 1150G offers an impressive 1158 square inches of grilling space, making it one of the largest pellet grills on the market. This allows you to cook multiple dishes simultaneously, making it ideal for entertaining large groups. The grill features porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grids, ensuring even heat distribution and easy cleanup.
One of the standout features of the Pit Boss 1150G is its digital control board and stainless-steel meat probes. These features allow you to monitor and adjust the cooking temperature with precision, ensuring perfect results every time. The grill also includes a front folding shelf and built-in tool hooks, providing convenient storage and workspace.
However, it’s worth noting that the built-in thermometer can be unreliable. Some users have reported discrepancies between the displayed temperature and the actual cooking temperature. Despite this minor drawback, the Pit Boss 1150G offers excellent performance and versatility, making it a top choice for those who love to entertain.
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5. Best Pellet Grill for Heat Retention: Weber Smokefire EX4
For grilling enthusiasts who prioritize heat retention and precise cooking, the Weber Smokefire EX4 is a top contender. This high-performance pellet grill excels in heat retention and offers consistent and even heating, making it ideal for precise cooking and smoking.
The Smokefire EX4 features a temperature range of up to 600°F, allowing for a wide range of cooking options from low and slow smoking to high-heat searing. The grill’s consistent and even heating ensures that your food is cooked to perfection every time. The easy cleanup with a grease and ash bin makes maintenance a breeze, allowing you to spend more time enjoying your meal and less time cleaning up.
One of the standout features of the Smokefire EX4 is its LCD display and app control. This allows you to monitor and adjust the cooking temperature from your smartphone, providing convenience and control at your fingertips. The grill’s advanced features and easy cleanup make it a top choice for serious grillers who want the best in performance and convenience.
While the Smokefire EX4 is somewhat pricey, its performance and features make it worth the investment. If you’re looking for a pellet grill that offers consistent and even heating, precise cooking, and easy maintenance, the Weber Smokefire EX4 is an excellent choice.
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Conclusion
In 2024, the world of BBQ grills is brimming with innovation and variety, offering something for every grilling enthusiast. Whether you’re looking for the ultimate convenience with the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545, a budget-friendly option like the Z Grills ZPG-450A, or a portable solution with the Cuisinart CPG-256, there’s a grill to suit your needs. For those who love to entertain, the Pit Boss 1150G offers ample cooking space and versatility, while the Weber Smokefire EX4 excels in heat retention and precise cooking.
No matter which grill you choose, these top picks are sure to elevate your grilling game and make your outdoor cooking experiences more enjoyable and delicious. So fire up the grill, gather your friends and family, and enjoy the flavors of summer with the best BBQ grills of 2024.