Charcoal vs. Gas Grill: Which Is Right for You?

Choosing between charcoal and gas usually comes down to what you value more on a Tuesday night: flavor and control, or speed and convenience. Neither is objectively "better" — they're built for different cooking styles.

Charcoal: more control, more flavor, more patience

A charcoal grill like our Ember 45 Charcoal Kettle gives you direct control over heat zones by how you arrange your coals, and the smoke itself becomes part of the flavor. The tradeoff is setup and cleanup time — lighting charcoal and waiting for it to ash over takes 15-20 minutes before you're cooking.

Gas: fast, consistent, low-maintenance

A gas grill like the Summit 3-Burner lights in seconds and holds a steady temperature with a turn of a dial. You lose some of the smoky depth charcoal provides, but you gain the ability to cook a weeknight dinner without a 30-minute commitment.

Our take

If you grill several times a week and want convenience, go gas. If grilling is a weekend event and flavor is the priority, charcoal is worth the extra time. Plenty of serious cooks end up owning one of each.