Backyard Embers — Grills, Smokers & Pizza Ovens, Chosen Honestly

Backyard Embers

Grills, smokers & pizza ovens, chosen honestly.

Research-led picks and plain-English guides — from your first cook to low-and-slow. No hype, no fake testing, just the homework done for you.

See how we choose →
Meet Michael

Glowing embers in a backyard grill at dusk with drifting smoke

What we cover

Pellet Grills

Set-and-forget wood-fired flavor, from starter units to family-size combos.

Browse pellet grill guides →

Small propane gas grill glowing warmly with drifting smoke on a backyard patio

Gas Grills

Propane grills for every patio, from tabletop portables to full-size cart grills.

Browse gas grill guides →

Smokers

Low-and-slow, done right — electric, offset, and everything between.

Browse smoker guides →

Pizza Ovens

Wood-fired, gas and multi-fuel ovens for backyard Neapolitan nights.

Browse pizza oven guides →

Glowing embers in a backyard grill at dusk with drifting smoke

Deals

Black Friday & Cyber Monday buying guides — how to spot a genuine discount, price-banded and research-led.

Browse deal guides →

Flat-lay of outdoor grilling accessories in warm light

Accessories & Consumables

Pellets, rubs, wood, covers and thermometers — the gear that keeps a good cook going.

Browse accessory guides →

Meat thermometer probe in food on a grill grate

Technique

First cook, temp control, cleaning and seasoning — the depth beyond the gear.

Browse technique guides →

Kamado Grills

Ceramic and steel egg-shaped cookers — sear, smoke and bake, all from one charcoal grill.

Browse kamado guides →

A kettle-style charcoal grill glowing with ember light on a small backyard patio at dusk

Charcoal Grills

Kettle and portable charcoal grills for small patios, balconies and tailgating — steel, not ceramic.

Browse charcoal grill guides →

How we choose

We research — we don’t run a testing lab, and we never fake “as tested.”

Research-led: manufacturer specs, owner-review patterns, and reputable published testing
No paid placement, ever
Price-bands, not scraped prices
Every pick screened against active safety recalls

Read our full methodology →

Learn the low-and-slow

First-cook walkthroughs, temperature control, cleaning and the smoke times that matter — the depth that turns a new grill into a good cook.

Browse all technique guides →

Stock the pantry

Pellets, rubs, wood, covers, thermometers — the accessories and consumables that keep a good cook going.

Browse all accessory guides →

Latest guides

A whole turkey on a smoker cooking grate with thin drifting smoke at dusk

Technique

How Long to Smoke a Turkey

Times by weight, and why 165°F is both the safety line and the doneness target.

Charcoal Grills

Best Charcoal Grills Under $200

8 genuinely current picks that stay under $200 — kettles, a mini kamado and big-capacity barrel grills.

Technique

Propane & Charcoal Grill Safety

The leak-check test, safe clearance distances, carbon monoxide risk, and what to do if you smell gas.

Gas Grills

Best Gas Grills for the Money

8 full-size cart grills ranked by honest value — overall, budget, build quality and warranty.

Technique

How Long to Smoke Ribs

Times by cut, the bend test, and the 3-2-1 method — honestly, including when to shorten it.

Charcoal Grills

Best Charcoal Grills for Beginners

8 genuinely forgiving kettles ranked on vent simplicity, ash-catcher design and price forgiveness.

Technique

Best Grills for Small Spaces: Charcoal, Gas or Pellet?

The honest fuel decision guide — plus what fire codes actually restrict on balconies.

Charcoal Grills

Best Charcoal Grills for Small Spaces

8 kettle and portable picks for balconies, small patios and tailgating — steel, not ceramic.

Technique

How to Start a Charcoal Grill

Chimney starters, the 15–20 minute rule, and the two-zone setup that fixes most charcoal cooking.

Kamado Grills

Best Kamado Grills

8 ceramic and steel kamados ranked by real buying use — and the honest case for and against one.

Technique

How to Control Temperature on a Smoker

The intake-vs-exhaust rule, the 10–15 minute patience rule, and troubleshooting for every fuel type.

Technique

How to Season a Grill (and New Grates)

The honest, material-first answer — cast iron, porcelain-enamelled and stainless.

Technique

How to Use a Pellet Grill

Your first cook, step by step — startup to shutdown.

Pellet Grills

Best Pellet Grills Under $500 & $1,000

8 honest picks across two budget tiers, with what you give up at each.

Gas Grills

Best Small & Portable Gas Grills

8 propane picks for balconies, tailgating, camping and small patios.

Pellet Grills

Best Pellet Grills for Beginners

8 forgiving first pellet grills, ranked on controller stability and cleanup ease.

Pellet Grills

Best Small & Portable Pellet Grills

8 compact picks for tailgating, camping, balconies and small patios.

Pizza Ovens

Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens

14 wood-fired, gas, multi-fuel and budget ovens, ranked.

Pellet Grills

Best Pellet Grill & Smoker Combos

15 picks ranked by use case — pros, cons, price bands.

Smokers

Best Smokers for Beginners

13 beginner-friendly smokers — electric, pellet, charcoal & propane.

Deals

Best Black Friday Grill & Smoker Deals

How to spot a genuine deal — price-banded, research-led.

Accessories

Best BBQ Rubs & Seasonings

13 rubs for beef, pork, poultry & all-purpose.

Read how we choose to see our full research methodology.

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