Grilling is a healthy and fun way to prepare some of your favorite foods. Whether its hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken kebabs, a pork tenderloin, sirloin steak, or seafood, a grill is especially handy for cooking up delicious warm-weather fare. If you haven’t purchased a grill yet, now’s the time — in fact, they may even be on sale this Memorial Day. But the question of whether to invest in a gas model or buy one that uses charcoal often perplexes homeowners. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but whichever you choose, you’ll love the variety of delicious grilled foods you can add to your cooking repertoire. Before you buy, check out the pros and cons listed below.

Charcoal Grill Pros

• Inexpensive
• Easy to move around
• Charcoal imparts a unique smoky flavor to food

Charcoal Grill Cons

• Difficult to light
• Hard to clean
• Doesn’t always heat the food evenly

Charcoal Grill Buying Tips: When buying a charcoal grill, make sure you choose one with a large surface area, a sturdy cover, and an adjustable vent. It’s also a good idea to buy a chimney along with it. A chimney is a cylindrical device used for lighting charcoal briquettes. It allows you to light your charcoal easily and evenly without the use of lighter fluid, which can give your food a chemical flavor.

Gas Grill Pros

• Easy to light
• Easy to clean
• Great temperature control

Gas Grill Cons

• Can be expensive
• Can be heavy and cumbersome
• Doesn’t impart the smoky flavor of charcoal, although you could use soaked wood chips

Gas Grill Buying Tips: When buying a gas grill, look for one that heats quickly and is sturdy enough to last. Choose one with a porcelain-coated grate that’s easy to clean, plus whatever extra features, like side burners, that appeal to you.

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