While people have been cooking over charcoal for hundreds of years, the charcoal grill, as we now know it, is a relatively new invention credited to George Stephen, who created the Weber Kettle in the 1950s. And though many people still prefer charcoal grills for backyard cooking, others have availed themselves of new technological developments like pellet grills, leading some people to wonder which type of grill is right for them.
According to All Things Barbecue Staff Chef Tom Jackson, determining what you desire from your grilling experience is the first step toward figuring out what kind of grill might suit you best.
“It just comes down to preference,” Chef Tom says. “What do you want to do? How do you want to cook? What tastes better to you? The cooking experience on either type of grill differs, but you can get very similar results, especially if you’re using a quality pellet grill like those available from Yoder Smokers.”
To help you answer those questions, we’ll explore how the two types of grills are both similar and different, why some people are drawn to each style, and some standout grills in each category.
The Heat Source Hustle: Fueling Your Feast
Charcoal grills use either charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal. Charcoal briquettes are uniform in shape and made from processed and compressed wood, sawdust, or charcoal mixed with additives and binders.
In comparison, lump charcoal comes from wood that has been burned at high temperatures in a low-oxygen environment until it becomes carbon. Pieces of lump charcoal vary in size and shape, are lighter than charcoal briquettes, and burn hotter and longer than their processed counterparts.
Pellet grills, on the other hand, use pellets made from highly concentrated food-grade hardwood fiber or hardwood charcoal that’s free from additives and binders. These pellets are widely available in a variety of flavors and vary in quality from brand to brand. We always recommend BBQr's Delight Wood Pellets for their excellent makeup and performance. They consistently provide clean and hot burn, ensuring optimal grilling results every time.
Flavor Face-Off: Taste Profiles Unveiled
While both charcoal and pellets provide a deep and smoky flavor profile, pellets hold the edge when it comes to the variety of available flavors. For example, BBQr's Delight sells different pellets made from specific woods, including apple, cherry, hickory, mesquite, pecan, and oak, in addition to a special competition blend that is a 50/50 mix of cherry and pecan.
Pellet grills also provide more consistent smoke levels since the automatic temperature controls and auto-feed features allow you to easily maintain a consistent fire. Charcoal grills are going to be more prone to flare-ups, temperature fluctuations, and inconsistent smoke quality, which can all adversely affect flavor.
Charcoal Grill vs. Pellet Grill: Versatility
Both charcoal grills and pellet grills have the range to cook across a broad temperature spectrum. You can crank them up over direct flame to get a good sear on meats or dial them down for low and slow cooking. But smoking meat in the 200-300 degree range is much easier on a pellet grill.
“Smoking on a smaller charcoal grill is more difficult, but it's not impossible,” Chef Tom says. “There are tools and techniques, even for small Weber kettles, that can help you do that. But generally speaking, if I'm cooking over charcoal, I'm probably doing it because I want char flavor quickly on a smaller protein.”
Cooking ranges are more dynamic on higher-quality pellet grills like a Yoder Smokers pellet grill. With accurate controls, it’s easy to hold a precise temperature. When it’s time for over-the-flame cooking, you can simply remove either the entire diffuser or the direct access door on the diffuser to create a more concentrated grilling area over direct flame. And accessories like the Yoder Smokers Wood Fired Oven add next-level baking, sauteing, searing, and roasting capabilities to a pellet smoker.
A word to the wise: not all pellet smokers have the same high-heat capabilities that Yoder Smokers pellet grills exhibit. Its ability to reach high temperatures quickly and utilize the majority of its grate space for a more traditional grilling experience is unique among pellet smokers.
Temperature Tango: Control and Precision
For those on a budget, a no-frills charcoal grill is the most accessible point of entry to the grill game. Straightforward aluminum-body models like the PK Grills PKGO Portable Charcoal BBQ provide a classic grilling experience, and charcoal grills with at least an 18-inch grate have the added value of being big enough to experiment with smoking meat, though keeping temperatures consistent over a long period of time may require some effort.
However, the charcoal grill market continues to evolve, with new designs available at higher price points, sometimes even exceeding $2000. Ceramic charcoal grills like the Primo Round Ceramic BBQ Grill offer excellent temperature control, making smoking meat much easier than on an aluminum grill. Some other charcoal grills are starting to add technological components like electric ignitions, gravity-fed hoppers that continuously feed the fire for up to 8 hours, and digital control boards connected to fans that provide precise temperature control.
Pellet grills come standard with all of the technological components currently making their way to higher-end charcoal grills. Pellets are stored in a large hopper and then fed into a firebox by an auger system at a rate that allows the pellet grill to help maintain a consistent pre-set temperature. Electronic thermometers monitor the grill temperature, while fans assist in creating and managing proper combustion.
As a result, an inexpensive quality pellet grill simply doesn’t exist. While you might be tempted to try a lower-priced pellet grill from a big box store, know that the lower build quality will frustrate your cooking experience and cause the components to wear out quickly. But the investment in a quality pellet grill is typically worth it, especially when purchased from a company that stands behind its product with a robust warranty.
Charcoal Grill vs. Pellet Grill: Startup
Starting a pellet grill is a breeze. On a Yoder Smoker, for instance, it’s as easy as pressing the START button on the control panel to activate the auger feed system. This primes the burn grate with pellets for the fire. In 30 seconds, the igniter is powered on, and within 2 minutes, the heat from the igniter and the combustion air from the fans create a small smoldering fire.
Getting a fire started in a charcoal grill isn’t quite as effortless. As All Things BBQ Product Specialist Jerry Crespo recently demonstrated, you can get a nice fire started in about 15 minutes using a chimney starter. Instead of using lighter fluid or instant light charcoal—which contain chemicals that can alter the flavor of your food—simply invest in a good chimney starter to get cooking quickly.
Gas Grill vs. Pellet Grill: Maintenance and Ease of Use
Chef Tom points out that for some people, the decision as to which type of grill is right for them comes down to how they feel about starting and tending a fire. Depending on your perspective, buying a pellet grill either means you don’t have to be as involved or you don’t get to be as involved with the overall cooking process.
While he admits there are days he’d love to tinker with fire, the reality is that with family life and professional responsibilities, pellet grilling makes more sense for him. Dialing in a specific temperature on a Yoder pellet grill and knowing it’ll stay consistent throughout the cook works for him. But he understands why some people go the charcoal route.
“My buddy Eric Gephardt is the chef for Kamado Joe,” Chef Tom says. “He always preaches that there's something primal you connect with when you build a fire from scratch. When I have the time to do it, I love the experience. My son and I bonded while building a fire to cook over on my first camping trip a few weeks ago. But building fires just doesn’t fit into my everyday life.”
It should be noted that while cooking on a charcoal grill is more involved, it isn’t exactly complicated once you get the hang of things. It’s typically a matter of learning how to adjust vents so that your coal bed reaches a desired temperature and doing your best to mitigate flare-ups.
A Pellet Grill Might Be Right For You If…
Backyard cooks who desire maximum convenience and a grill that can cook a wide range of dishes outdoors will want to invest in a quality pellet smoker like the Yoder YS640s. They are great for busy people who want a consistent cooking experience without having to constantly monitor their grill.
Our Favorite Pellet Grills
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Yoder Smokers YS640s Pellet Grill - A Pellet Grill Worth The Investment
A Yoder Smokers Pellet Grill is likely the last grill you’ll ever buy. They come with a nearly unmatched comprehensive warranty: 10 years on the cooking chamber, three years on the ACS wireless and Bluetooth-enabled controller, and three years on the ceramic igniter.
Constructed from 10-gauge steel, the Yoder Smokers YS640s includes 1,070 square inches of cook space, combined with nearly 12 inches of headroom. It is uniquely versatile among pellet grills, easily handling low and slow cooking to over-the-flame grilling at up to 700°F and everything in between.
Yoder Smokers Pellet Grills come in a range of sizes to fit your preferences and needs. The slightly more compact Yoder Smokers YS480s Pellet BBQ Grill has 800 square inches of cooking space and is great for those who need a smaller footprint. And folks who are always cooking for a crowd will love the far larger Yoder Smokers YS1500s Pellet Grill BBQ.
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Weber Searwood 600 Pellet BBQ Grill - A Quality Pellet Grill for Under $1000
Weber has been tinkering with its pellet grill design for a few years now and has put its learned wisdom to good use in this most recent iteration. The Searwood 600 can reach precise temperatures between 180°F and 600°F in under 15 minutes and has the hopper capacity to handle longer smoking sessions.
Weber’s DirectFlame™ cooking allows for searing, crisping, and browning over a full grate sear zone. Cleanup is easier than with most pellet smokers thanks to a grease and ash management system at the front of the grill.
A Charcoal Grill Might Be Right For You If…
If you’ve never outgrown the desire to play with fire and enjoy maximum involvement in the cooking process, you’re a prime candidate for a charcoal grill. You’ll get to build a fire from scratch, manually manage airflow, determine an optimal grate height relative to your coal bed’s temperature, and navigate flare-ups on the fly.
Our Favorite Charcoal Grills
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PK Grills PKGO Portable Charcoal BBQ Grill with Flipkit - Designed for Versatility and Performance
While the PKGO is compact, it boasts unique dual-functionality, effectively serving as two grills in one. The lid can be detached and used as a separate grill, effectively doubling the cooking surface when placed on the FlipKit base and equipped with additional grates.
Rugged construction and innovative features like a rustproof cast aluminum top and bottom, as well as dual water-shedding radial exhaust vents, make this grill perfect for those who want the option of taking their grill camping, to tailgates, or on any adventure.
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Yoder Smokers Adjustable Charcoal Grill – The Epitome of Charcoal Grilling Excellence
Available in two large sizes, with cooking surfaces totaling 864 or 1,152 square inches, this grill can truly do it all. Thanks to a unique five-position adjustable charcoal tray, it achieves precise heat control and outperforms many other charcoal grills in its ability to cook over a direct fire or slow-cook meats with indirect heat.
Constructed with heavy-duty stainless steel hinges and featuring a convenient stainless steel front shelf, this grill blends durability with functionality. The large charcoal grate enables you to create a robust fire while still leaving ample space for indirect cooking, making it possible to cook an entire meal at once.
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Primo Oval X-Large 400 Kamado Charcoal BBQ Grill - Full-Featured Ceramic Charcoal Grilling
Kamado-style grills first appeared in Japan over 3,000 years ago. They’ve developed a passionate worldwide following, and the Primo Oval X-Large 400 Kamado Charcoal BBQ Grill adds innovative elements to a tried-and-true design, featuring 400 square inches of maximum cooking space on oval grates that allow for more versatility and increased efficiency compared to round grate designs.
In concert with a 5-position lower air control slider that makes it easy to adjust airflow into the charcoal bed, the control top cap vent allows for precise temperature control. An easy-lift hinge makes it simple to lift the grill dome when needed, and the multi-tiered cooking system allows for multi-zone cooking.
Regardless of which grill best fits your needs, we are always available to answer any questions and share the knowledge gained from grilling thousands of meals for our friends and families. Feel free to visit us in person or check out our extensive online library of recipes, cooking techniques, and tips. And be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram so that you’re always among the first to know when we release new content.
