From the Grill

Buying guides, brand comparisons, and expert advice to help you spec the right grill, smoker, or outdoor kitchen for how you actually cook.

DesignMay 2026

Backyard Entertaining Setup: Workflow, Lighting, Seating, Music

A great grill doesn't make a great backyard party. The workflow does — where guests stand, where the cook stands, where drinks live, where light comes from after sunset. Here's the field-tested setup.

Buying GuidesMay 2026

BBQ Islands Buying Guide: Prefab vs Custom, Materials, Sizing

A BBQ island is the fastest path from "I want an outdoor kitchen" to "I have one." Prefab gets you there in a weekend; custom takes 3-6 months. Here's how to choose and what to budget.

Installation GuidesMay 2026

Built-In Grill Install Guide: Cutouts, Gas, Drainage, Clearances

Installing a built-in grill is half measurement, half code compliance. Get the cutout wrong by 1/4 inch and the grill won't drop in. Get the gas line wrong and the warranty voids. Here's the install-grade walkthrough.

Brand GuidesMay 2026

Bull BBQ Brand Guide: Models, Construction, and Who It's For

Bull is the workhorse of the carried-brand lineup — Made in USA, family-owned, full 304 stainless on the premium series. Here's how the models stack up and which one fits your build.

Brand GuidesMay 2026

DCS by Fisher & Paykel Brand Guide: Series 7 vs Series 9

DCS is the commercial-kitchen pedigree pick. Restaurant heritage, all-304 construction, dual ceramic infrared that out-sears almost everything else in the tier. Here's the lineup decoded.

Brand GuidesMay 2026

Hestan Outdoor Brand Guide: Aspire, Insignia, and the Marquise Lineup

Hestan is what you spec when the grill is the centerpiece. Trellis twin-tube burner technology, jewelry-grade fit and finish, and color finishes — Bora Bora, Citra, Pacific Fog — no other premium-grill brand offers.

Buying GuidesMay 2026

Smoker Buying Guide: Offset, Pellet, Vertical, and Kamado Compared

Four smoker styles, four different cooks. Offset for purists, pellet for set-and-forget convenience, vertical for capacity, kamado for fuel efficiency. Here's how to pick the right one without overspending.

Installation GuidesMay 2026

Vent Hoods for Built-In Grills: Sizing, CFM, and When You Need One

Outdoor grill under a covered structure means a vent hood. NFPA 96 sets the rules — and getting the CFM math wrong creates either grease buildup or wasted money. Here's the install-grade breakdown.

MaterialsMay 2026

304 vs 430 Stainless Steel: Why the Grade Matters for Your Grill

The number on a stainless steel grill spec sheet looks innocuous. It's actually the single best predictor of how long your grill will last outdoors. Here's what 304 and 430 really mean.

Buying GuidesMay 2026

Grill Cover Buying Guide: Vinyl vs Polyester vs Sunbrella

The cheap cover that came in the box has already failed by year two. A real outdoor grill cover protects the investment underneath. Here's what each fabric actually does and what to spend.

DesignMay 2026

Outdoor Kitchen Design Guide: Layout, Materials, Workflow

Most outdoor kitchens get built around the grill and worked outward. That's the wrong order. Start with the workflow, then the layout, then pick the appliances. Here's the framework we use.

Buying GuidesMay 2026

Searing Burners Explained: ProSear, Infrared, and What Actually Matters

Every premium grill has 'searing power' as a selling point. The technology underneath varies wildly. Here's what ProSear, infrared, and ceramic actually do, and when each is worth paying for.

Buying GuidesMay 2026

Side Burner Buying Guide: Wok Power, Searing, Sauce Stations

A side burner turns an outdoor grill into an outdoor kitchen. Sauces, sides, wok cooks, sears — everything you'd normally do on the kitchen range. Here's how to pick the right one.

Buying GuidesMay 2026

How Many BTUs Do You Need? A Real-World Grill Sizing Guide

BTU is the most misunderstood number on a grill spec sheet. Bigger isn't always better. Here's how to size yours to the cook style, the burners, and the build quality.

Decision GuidesMay 2026

LP vs Natural Gas: Which Is Right for Your Grill?

Liquid propane or natural gas? The answer changes how your grill cooks, what it costs to run, and whether you can move it next summer. Here's how we help customers pick.

Buying GuidesMay 2026

Best Grills of 2026: The 8 We Stand Behind (and Why)

Our buyers' picks across gas, charcoal, pellet, and hybrid — at every price point. The grills we'd buy with our own money for our own backyards.

Buying GuidesMay 2026

Built-In vs Freestanding Grills: Which One Belongs in Your Yard?

Built-ins anchor outdoor kitchens; freestandings keep you flexible. The right call depends less on price and more on how — and where — you actually cook.

Brand ComparisonsMay 2026

Bull vs Summerset: Where to Spend and Where to Save

Two heritage California brands at very different price points. Where the build quality genuinely separates them — and where it doesn't.

ReviewsMay 2026

Coyote C-Series Review: The Best Mid-Tier Built-In in 2026?

Infinity burners, infrared rear rotisserie, and the cleanest cabinet lines under $4K. After three months of testing, here's where it shines — and one spec to know before you buy.

Buying GuidesMay 2026

Gas vs Charcoal vs Pellet: Three Grill Types, Three Different Cooks

Convenience, flavor, or set-and-forget — every fuel type optimizes for one thing. Pick the one that matches how you actually want to cook.

Care & MaintenanceMay 2026

How to Keep Stainless Steel Grills Looking New for 20 Years

Surface rust, hard-water spotting, and discoloration are usually preventable. A specialist's guide to weekly care, seasonal deep-cleans, and the products worth buying.

Buying GuidesMay 2026

Grill Sizing Guide: How Many Burners You Actually Need

3 burners feeds a family. 4 handles a dinner party. 5+ unlocks real low-and-slow with multiple zones. Why bigger isn't always better.

Brand ComparisonsMay 2026

Hestan vs DCS: Two Premium Grills, Honestly Compared

Both are restaurant-grade. Both are made in California. So why is one $1,500 more than the other? Trellis burners, infrared, and how each cooks differently.

Design GuidesMay 2026

7 Outdoor Kitchen Mistakes We See (and How to Avoid Them)

Undersized gas lines, the wrong hood, refrigeration too far from the grill — common spec mistakes that kill ergonomics and budget. Plus what to do instead.

Buying GuidesMay 2026

Pellet Grills, Explained: Why Memphis and Traeger Cook Differently

Hopper sizing, controller logic, and direct-fire flexibility. Two leading brands, two very different bets — and which one fits your cooking style.

Buying GuidesMay 2026

Outdoor Pizza Oven Buying Guide: Gas, Wood, or Hybrid?

Crust style, temperature ceiling, and turnaround time vary wildly by fuel type. Here's how to pick an oven you'll actually use weekly.