Michael Probert

The best charcoal chimney starters for 2026 — 10 research-led picks across compact, standard and jumbo capacities, how a chimney actually works, and the fire-safety basics that matter with any tool built to hold burning coals.

Short answer: a flat-top grill’s steel plate is seasoned the same basic way as a Blackstone griddle — wash the factory coating off once, then build up several thin coats of a high-smoke-point oil, heating each one until it stops smoking — but the details differ by brand and by how the plate is made. […]

Short answer: season a new Blackstone-style flat-top griddle by washing it once with soap and water (the only time soap ever touches it), heating it on high until the surface starts to discolor, then applying 3–5 thin coats of a high-smoke-point oil — letting each coat smoke off completely (roughly 15 minutes) before the next. […]

Short answer: at a steady 225–250°F smoker temperature, plan on roughly 30–40 minutes per pound — about 5–8 hours for a 10–12 lb bird up through 9–13 hours for an 18–20+ lb bird. But unlike ribs, brisket or pork butt, turkey doesn’t have a separate “cook it further for tenderness” number. The USDA’s poultry safety […]

Our research-led pick of the best charcoal grills under $200 in 2026 — 8 genuinely current, currently-sold charcoal grills spanning portables, kettles, a kamado and cart-style barrels, every one spec-checked and CPSC-screened, ranked with honest trade-offs and price bands.

A research-led guide to propane and charcoal grill safety — the soapy-water leak-check test, safe clearance distances, why carbon monoxide makes every grill an outdoors-only tool, safe tank storage and transport, and what to do if you smell gas.

Our research-led pick of the best full-size gas grills for the money for 2026 — 8 value-focused cart grills from Weber, Napoleon, Nexgrill, Monument, Cuisinart and Broil King, ranked by honest value angle with price bands and the specs that actually matter.

Short answer: at a steady 225–250°F, plan on roughly 3 to 5 hours for baby back ribs, 4.5 to 6 hours for St. Louis-style, and 5 to 7 hours for spare ribs — spares are the biggest, meatiest cut of the three, so they take the longest. But ribs don’t have one clean “done” temperature […]

Our research-led pick of the best charcoal grills for beginners in 2026 — 8 genuinely forgiving charcoal grills for first-time owners, ranked on vent simplicity, ash-catcher design and price forgiveness, with honest trade-offs and price bands.

A pillar guide to choosing a grill for small spaces — the honest fuel trade-offs between charcoal, gas and pellet, what fire codes and HOAs actually restrict on balconies, and which of our fuel-specific guides to read next.