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Buying Guide: Best Gas-Charcoal Grill Combo Reviews

So, you’re thinking about buying a grill? Great idea! Nothing beats the flavor of meat cooked over fire in the same way that humans have been doing for thousands of years. Keep on reading for more information on the 5 Best Gas-Charcoal Grill Combos…

And if we’ve been cooking this way for that long, it must be pretty simple, right? You might think that — until you peruse the selections at your local big-box store. With countless brands, accessories, styles, materials, and prices, it may be tempting to go back into the kitchen and turn on the broiler.

But wait, oh master of the flame. That seared T-bone steak, the smoky flavor you just can’t reproduce indoors, oh yeah, and don’t forget about those beautiful black grill marks. You and I know darn well that it’s worth it.

And we can help you make this decision.

One of the big debates when it comes to grilling is gas or charcoal. For the purists out there, nothing beats the flavor of cooking over charcoal. It is the charcoal smoke that gives the classic barbecue flavor.

But let’s face it, charcoal takes a long time. Using a chimney to start the coals (my favorite way to prepare the grill) takes at least a half-hour before the cooking even starts. A charcoal fire does make delicious food. But before I got a gas grill, I simply didn’t grill as often.

Which bring us to the benefits of gas. Gas is easy. Fast. Simple. We like that. And though it doesn’t quite bring out the same wood-smoke flavor of charcoal, it is pretty darn tasty. The fact that you can go from zero to sizzling in about five minutes often tips the choice in favor of gas.

Decisions, decisions.

What if you didn’t have to decide? What if you could have both? Like having your steak and eating it too… How about the gas/charcoal combo?

We’ve put together five reviews of popular dual gas charcoal grills to help you make your decision. We looked at

  • Price
  • Propane power
  • Cooking area
  • and Durability

Plus we talked about some nice extras (smokers, searing burners, and propane side-burners).

There are some great options out there, so come along, read, learn a bit — but don’t take too long. Those steaks and burgers aren’t going to cook themselves!


Click Here to Read Our
Buying Guide: Best Electric Smokers under $300


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Best Gas-Charcoal Grill Combo #1:
Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo Review

Oklahoma Joe’s has brought us a bare bones charcoal gas combination grill with side burner and smoker. Nothing pretty, but she’s got it where it counts. Tough built, large, and durable, with the proper care, this grill will have you cooking with the best of them — any outdoor style you want — for years and years to come.

This might not have the fancy castor wheels and the decorative front doors to hide your grill baskets and rib rack holders, but what it lacks in style it certainly has in quality. And based on some of the other grills that we’ve reviewed, I will take the quality.

Overall Rating

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Features of the Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo

  • Gas Charcoal combination grill
  • 36,000 BTUs on gas grill side
  • 12,000 BTU side burner (easily accommodates your chimney starter to start those coals)
  • 1,060 square inches (total) of cooking space
  • Offset smoker box
  • Porcelain-coated cast iron grill racks
  • Heavy-duty construction inside and out












What We Like

  • Gas and charcoal in one grill provides the space-saving advantage over having one of each type of grill.
  • This is a well-built, durable grill. As with any outdoor appliance, you will need to provide the proper preventative maintenance. This begins with a good grill cover. If this grill rusts, it’s probably your fault. Coat the metal surfaces with oil (simple Pam spray will work) from time to time, keep it clean, and this grill will give years you years of service.
  • Ignore it, let the ashes build up inside and the grease on the outside, and it simply won’t last. That’s the reality of an outdoor grill.
  • The 36,000 BTUs on the gas side absolutely rockets this grill up to temperature. You can go from a cold grill to smoking hot in just a minute or two.
  • Insert Pro here…
  • I love the side burner. Maybe it’s just my cooking style, but I don’t need an infrared searing burner. I’m much more likely to have a pan of beans or barbecue sauce, or maybe some fried onions and jalapenos going on a side burner. If I need to sear something, I can do just fine on the grill. It just takes a few minutes longer.
  • The large smoker box is actually plenty large for a good smoking session. It’s large enough to smoke a turkey, sausages, brisket, or whatever else you need.
  • There are multiple dampers throughout the smoking chamber and firebox to allow excellent heat and smoke control throughout the smoke.
  • The access door on the firebox allows you to add wood and/or charcoal during a long smoke without disturbing the meat.
  • Cool-touch handles allow you to open the doors anytime without burning yourself or fumbling with hot pads.
  • Though the storage shelves aren’t pretty, they can store the things you need to have on hand for your next barbecue
  • Assembly is simple and straightforward. Though, because of the size, it would be helpful to have two people.

What We Don’t Like

  • Side burner is rather flimsy.
  • This is a heavy grill (205 pounds). The solid metal wheels don’t work real well either. (And they are held on by a single pin). Moving this behemoth is going to be a challenge every time.
  • It is delivered in a 220 pound box. Make sure you give the delivery person a good tip to see if he or she can put it where you want to assemble it. Moving a box like this is probably more than even a two-person job.
  • Dial thermometers are not very accurate. This is less an issue with the grill itself as this style of thermometer. None of them are nearly as accurate as a good digital or infrared style. Pick up a nice one (they’re cheap) and use it for grilling, cooking, and all over the kitchen.
  • Heat deflectors above the gas burners are made of flimsy metal. Without constant care (which I am even guilty of skipping) these will need to be replaced.

Conclusion

So, do you feel like a good smoke? A charcoal fire? How about a quick reverse-sear on the 36,000 BTU gas grill? That choice is up to you. And whatever you decide, the Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal Gas Smoker combo is up for the challenge.

This is a well-built, durable grill that will last. And at under $500 dollars, this is an excellent deal. As with any grill, it will take some care and upkeep, but if you do, the payback will be years and years of grilling bliss.

You’ll definitely need to purchase an extra good-quality grill cover. But think of it as protecting your investment.

This isn’t the prettiest of the grills we reviewed, but honestly, it looks like a grill. The construction, size, and powerful burners more than make up for anything it lacks in looks. And once you taste your first steaks or burgers, or see that perfect smoke ring in your brisket, you’ll be so lost in meaty goodness that you’ll forgive whatever other failures she may have.


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Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn Combo Charcoal and Gas Smoker

Best Gas-Charcoal Grill Combo #2:
Char-Griller 5050 Duo Gas-and-Charcoal Grill Review

Char-Griller 5050 Duo Gas-and-Charcoal Grill 9

Check out this hefty duo gas and charcoal grill by Char-Griller! A 40,000 BTU gas grill with a side unit for charcoal, giving a combined space of 1260 square inches. That’s a lot of burgers. This is a relatively inexpensive grill, which, of course, may pique many people’s interest.

Unfortunately, in life we get what we pay for. And for many, this grill rusted and broke in too short a time.

Overall Rating

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Features of the Char-Griller 5050 Duo Gas-and-Charcoal Grill

  • Charcoal and gas grill combo.
  • Gas grill provides 40,800 BTUs, 438 square inches of cooking space, with three electric start gas burners
  • Fold-down 12,000 BTU side burner for extra cooking space
  • 1,260 square inch total cooking area (gas and charcoal grill space combined)
  • Porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates
  • Solid steel construction
  • Adjustable charcoal grate
  • Two built-in thermometers


















Pros

  • This is a solid, heavy, nice looking grill. I like the curved legs instead of the normal square steel that so many others use. This will fit well on any patio.
  • Dual charcoal gas cooking surfaces allow you to choose your grilling based on flavor and time, without having two grills taking up space on your porch.
  • 40,800 BTU triple burner has plenty of power to sear and cook your favorite foods perfectly.
  • This has a nice side burner that folds away when not in use. Not only can this be used to cook odorous items outside your kitchen, the burner can be used to start the coals in your charcoal chimney.
  • I like the adjustable levels for the charcoal bed. This allows for much greater control of the heat needed for various cooking styles. Plus, the adjustment is very simple — two handles and four different height settings makes changing it easy.
  • Relatively inexpensive compared with other models. If you are looking for a bargain grill with the option of charcoal and gas, this is a good choice.
  • Plenty of space between the gas heat or the charcoal bed to allow drippings to burn off without flaring up on your food.
  • Nicely placed, well camouflaged drawer for emptying ash. This makes cleanout a breeze!

Cons

  • The metal is thin and of low quality. Unless you plan on spending a lot of time caring for the grill, it will rust — even to failure. One simple way to improve the longevity of your grill is to purchase a good grill cover. Thin sheet metal left outside, exposed to the elements, will rust eventually. This is made of thin sheet metal. It should be covered.
  • Even if you spend the time caring for your grill, if it gets too hot (which is what I thought grills were supposed to do!) the metal may fail anyway. By the way, getting your grill too hot voids the warranty.
  • The gas line is cheaply made and actually failed catastrophically on some reviewer’s grills. According to the manufacturer, this also voided the warranty because the fine print says that you are supposed to do a leak test every time you grill. Hmm… I prep my steaks, preheat the grill, make my side dishes, and open my favorite beverage, but leak testing the gas line isn’t on my normal prep!
  • The built-in thermometer isn’t super accurate. I always recommend purchasing a separate digital thermometer or an infrared laser-type thermometer.
  • This grill is heavy — 144 pounds heavy. While the wheeled cart makes this a breeze to move around after assembly, you may want to have two people available when putting it together.
  • Speaking of assembly, for most reviewers, this was not a simple task that took in excess of four hours.

Conclusion

While this gas charcoal combo grill received a respectable 4.2 out of 5 stars, reviews for this grill ran from the good and the bad to the ugly.

Many people were happy with the value — they got a good grill for far less than the thousand-dollar-level. It has the options of the dual fuel, plenty of space for grilling, decent power on the gas side, and the side burner which makes this an excellent overall cooking platform for your patio.

But the low price-point hides some problems. The poor quality metal used on the sides and even the grates failed far too early. Rusting was a problem unless there was continuous preventative maintenance.

Finally, what concerned me most was the catastrophic failure of the gas line. Pressurized gas, fire, and close proximity to people make for a potentially dangerous situation. Do check the line from time to time to see if there are any problems forming.

If it fits your budget, and you have the time and inclination to keep up on the continuous maintenance needed, this is a good buy. But others may want to look for one with a little better materials.


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Char-Griller Duo™ 5050

Best Gas-Charcoal Grill Combo #3:
Smoke Hollow 4-in-1 Gas Charcoal Smoker Searing BBQ Grill Model PS9900 Review

Have too many toys on your patio? This beautiful beast can combine them all. With a four-in-one combo of a gas charcoal grill, smoker box, and infrared searing burner, this is the tool to be a true master of the backyard barbecue.

This grill gives you the choice of cooking over a charcoal fire or the convenience of propane. It has some good storage areas underneath and looks like some far more expensive models.

With the proper care and protection, this is a grill that can last for years. In fact, it could replace a kitchen!

Overall Rating

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Features of the Smoke Hollow 4-in-1 Gas Charcoal Smoker Searing BBQ Grill Model PS9900

  • Dual Charcoal and gas grill, smoker box, and infrared searing burner all in one
  • Gas grill has four 10,000 BTU burners with porcelain coated grill racks with warming tray
  • Charcoal grill has lever-operated adjustable-height charcoal tray
  • 12,000 BTU sear burner
  • Offset smoker box that can be used with flavored wood chips and charcoal for authentic smoked flavor
  • High-quality castors for easy movement












What We Like

  • This grill costs hundreds, but looks like one of the $1,000 + models. It has a good, heavy-duty construction, and with proper care, it will last for many years.
  • With four different cooking options – gas or charcoal grill, gas searing burner, and offset smoker box, this grill truly can cook in every outdoor style of grilling. Rather than cluttering up your patio with multiple grills and accessories, the Smoke Hollow Gas Charcoal combo can combine them all in one nice-looking setup.
  • The 40,000 BTUs available with the four gas burners has plenty of power to get your grill up to the heat you need. Everyone was able to get the grill above 500 degrees Fahrenheit after a very short period of pre-heating.
  • I really like the design of the charcoal side of the grill. It has a lever operated, adjustable-height charcoal tray which allows infinite adjustments to be made. Just crank it up a little higher in order to increase the heat, lower it a bit to decrease. All this can be done during the cooking process.
  • The grilling portion also has 22”x17” of porcelain-coated grill racks, giving plenty of room for all but the biggest grilling jobs. (And, if you really need the extra space, the gas grill side can be fired up at the same time.)
  • Though many users have found it helpful to include an aftermarket high temperature gasket seal around the charcoal grill and smoker box, the smoker box performs very well in many, many reviews.
  • There is a $65, high-quality grill cover that many reviewers recommend and have had great success with. As with any outdoor equipment, protection from the elements is not optional.
  • Assembly and instructions were easy to follow. It does take some time to put together, and it is (very) heavy. But, for once, the manufacturers took some time writing good instructions that were easy to follow.

What We Don’t Like

  • There were many reviewers that had rusting problems, especially on the charcoal and smoker side. This was tempered by the many other reviewers who, with proper protection for their grill, did not have much of this same trouble. This grill is constructed with 1/8“sheet metal – it is a little thicker even on the charcoal side (3/16”). It is not stainless steel, or the thickness of the several-thousand dollar grills on the market. You need to protect the metal with oil (Pam spray works great for this!)
    In addition, this will need to be covered (either by bringing into a garage or shed after every use, or by purchasing the aftermarket cover available.) Keeping the grill cleaned out also does wonders for its longevity.
  • The grill is not airtight, which means a lot of smoke escapes from around the lid. There are YouTube videos in which people have upgraded this grill with high-temperature sealing gaskets around the charcoal lid and the smoker box. After these fixes, they were very happy with the performance.
  • There is a wide variation in the price of this grill, and Amazon.com isn’t the cheapest option. Sam’s Club and, when on sale, other big-box stores often have this grill for considerably less. It might be a good idea to look for when it goes on sale.
  • As you might have guessed from the pictures, this grill is heavy. It ships at 240 pounds, and after assembly, weighs in at 218 pounds. The high-quality castors make moving it easy, but assembly and moving the box will take more than one person.

Conclusion

This is an excellent gas charcoal grill combo. It received a solid 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com. Combine that with the many YouTube videos of people singing this grill’s praise even after years of use, you can’t go wrong. It looks nice (more like a several thousand dollar model) and has excellent performance.

You will have to provide protection for it from the elements, however. At a minimum, a good grill cover and, for the best performance, regular cleaning, busting rust when it starts, and repainting from time-to-time with a good high-temperature oven spray paint. Heat, metal, and the elements are hard on a grill. If you are going to make an investment in something like this, it is worth some time in caring for it. It’ll give back far more than you put in.

This grill, with its four ways to cook — searing burner, charcoal, gas, and smoker — can replace so many other grills on your patio in one nice-looking package. It nicely combines convenience (gas grill and searing burner) with the unbeatable flavor of charcoal and the smoker box. This will, undoubtedly, have you outside cooking more and enjoying the benefits of your backyard.


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Best Gas-Charcoal Grill Combo #4:
Dyna-Glo DGB730SNB-D Dual Fuel Grill Review

The Dyna-Glo Dual Fuel Grill is a well-built, sharp-looking grill. With the option of charcoal grilling for excellent flavor and gas for convenience, this ensures many years of outdoor enjoyment for you and your friends and family.

In fact, many reviewers have had this grill for years without problems. It is a simple design — not too many “bells and whistles” — and great craftsmanship.

There are some nice touches as well. With nice sized, collapsible side tables, towel bars, hooks for utensils, and the enclosed under-grill storage, the Dyna-Glo provides a great work area so necessary for good culinary practices. In addition, there is plenty of space and power “under the hood”.

Overall Rating

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Features of the Dyna-Glo DGB730SNB-D Dual Fuel Grill

  • Dual charcoal-gas grill combo
  • Gas grill side has 24,000 BTUs total power from two 12,000 BTU stainless steel burners
  • Charcoal grill side has lever operated adjustable charcoal tray for excellent heat control
  • Removable ash pan for easy cleanout
  • 952 square inches of total cooking space available (including warming racks) – enough for 38 hamburgers at a time
  • Heavy duty porcelain enameled cast iron cook grates
  • Two collapsible side tables (25 pound max. weight), utensil-hanging hooks, and towel racks
















What We Like

  • Even though this costs less than $500, it looks like many much more expensive models. With the brushed-stainless steel top and closed-in storage areas, this grill looks nicer than many of the other charcoal-gas combo units available
  • High-quality metal throughout, and stainless steel on the cover provides years of use (with proper care). It just feels like a good quality unit.
  • Lots of cooking space — 19 ⅜” x 17 ½” of cooking space for each side (charcoal and gas). Plus there are warming racks for indirect cooking and keeping food warm.
  • Insert Pro here…
  • Charcoal side has a lever operated adjustable charcoal tray that will allow you to control the cooking temperature very easily. This can even be adjusted during the cooking process.
  • There is a lot of good storage/prep space on this grill. There are collapsible tables on both sides of the grills and plenty of included hooks and racks to hang various cooking utensils.
  • The ash tray is easily removable from the back to clean out ashes. Assembly is relatively straightforward with clear directions. (It will take 1-2 hours for assembly) This is a nice change as compared with some!

What We Don’t Like

  • Many reviewers had problems with their grill coming in dented or chipped. And Amazon, though willing to replace damaged items, insisted that the entire grill be returned. This would entail finding a shipping box large and strong enough to put in a 150 pound grill! Though it seems that they have fixed this situation in more recent reviews, many people suggest that you look at all parts BEFORE assembly to prevent problems later down the road.
    Remember — any dented or scratched parts will, more than likely, be sites where rust can form.
  • 24,000 BTUs is significantly less than other grills we reviewed. It certainly will get up to temperature, but slower than others. Don’t let this one be a make or break for your, though. With a five-minute preheat, this will get up to temperature with no problem.
  • The dial-style thermometers are not very accurate. This isn’t necessarily a disadvantage, because it is always better to have an aftermarket digital or infrared temperature gauge. This allows you much better control of the temperature (and safety) of your meat.
  • For many reviewers, the burner elements and the drip-trays rusted out and had to be replaced. These experience a lot of heat (obviously) and it isn’t rare to have to replace them. It seems that, on this grill, the outside is of much better quality and workmanship than the interior.

Conclusion

This gas charcoal combination grill received 3.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com. People were very happy with the good construction, nice looks, and heavy-duty components. They also liked the extra storage space and the clean look that it brought to their patio.

You can’t beat the dual fuel options for this grill. With either gas or charcoal you have the choice for the smoky barbecue flavor, or if you don’t have the time to prepare coals, the speed and convenience of gas. In addition, having them in one unit, it can reduce the number of appliances on your patio.

Those who had complaints about this grill — and there were many — were those whose grill came damaged in shipping, either with dents or with chipped paint. These problems could result in rust issues later on. So if you are looking at this one, please do a good inspection to ensure that the pieces aren’t damaged before you unpackage everything. Because returning this means shipping it back to Amazon — a difficult proposition after everything has been unboxed.

The Dyna-Glo Dual Fuel Grill is a good grill designed to last a long time. Coming in at less than $500, it is a good buy. Of course there are more expensive grills (many well over $1,000) with all sorts of extras, but this does the job just as well. Plus it looks like the more expensive models — we won’t tell anyone how much you really spent!


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Dyna-Glo DGB730SNB-D Dual Fuel Grill

Best Gas-Charcoal Grill Combo #5:
Dual Fuel Combination Charcoal/Gas Grill Review


This is an entry-level charcoal gas grill combination. Priced very affordably, it still has many of the same selling points as the more expensive models. And, let’s face it, fire (whether with propane gas or charcoal) with meat or vegetables is a recipe for delicious food. So it can’t be too hard to get right, can it?

Well, like most things in life, you get what you pay for. This particular grill struggles to hold up to the heat of the cooking as well as the elements that any outdoor appliance faces. And if it can’t handle the heat of its own fire, that takes it down a notch or two (or three or four) in our review.

Overall Rating

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Features of the Dual Fuel Combination Charcoal/Gas Grill

  • Gas and charcoal combination
  • Gas powered side burner
  • 24,000 BTUs from three stainless steel tube burners
  • Lever-operated height-adjustable charcoal tray
  • Porcelain-coated grill tops
  • 557 square inches total cooking space (262 square inches charcoal, 295 square inches gas)
  • Access door for adding charcoal
  • Removable ash tray for easy cleanup
  • Two side shelves with integrated tool holders — and even a bottle opener for your favorite beverage






What We Like

  • Combination of gas and charcoal gives you the flexibility to choose — do you want the added barbecue flavor of the charcoal? Or would you rather the speed and convenience of the gas? Either choice is fine and available in the same unit.
  • I really like the side burner. A lot of the other grills have the infrared searing burner. For me, a simple gas burner is far more useful for sauces, fried onions and jalapenos, or for cooking things that smell too strongly for your kitchen. This is certainly a matter of personal preference, but I don’t use a searing burner all that often.
  • 24,000 BTUs is a good middle-of-the road powered grill. With the proper preheat time, this should get plenty hot for any of your grilling needs.
  • The lever-operated charcoal tray gives the necessary fine-tuning to control the heat on the charcoal side.
  • I also like the opening access door to add charcoal. This is a must when doing long, indirect heat grilling. Many of the more expensive models did not have this option.
  • In addition this has the removable ash tray for easy cleanup. Just pull out the tray (after it has cooled), and dump into a lined trash can, or on your compost pile.

What We Don’t Like

  • This low-priced model had to make concessions in places, and one of the glaring ones is the quality of the metal. It is made of very thin sheet metal. Even for those who took the care to cover their grill (an absolute must), the heat of normal grilling degraded the metal and quickly rusted to failure. For some, even the grill racks themselves rusted and fell inside. This grill just didn’t last as long as many of the others we reviewed.
    It’s a great product, many reviewers agreed, but it may only last you a year.
  • As the grill ages and rusts, one of the first things to go was the charcoal grate adjusting lever. It tends to rust into place and becomes inoperable.
  • Assembly was a long and difficult process. There were lots of small pieces, and the instructions were not well-written. Some reviewers described assembly as an exercise in patience!
  • To add insult to injury, after the tedious assembly, the lids and other items did not line up. By this time, the temptation is to simply use the grill rather than have to disassemble everything and return it.
  • It comes with two dial-type thermometers, but these are notoriously inaccurate. I always advise serious grillers to purchase a digital or an infrared thermometer. They’re inexpensive and far more accurate. You’ll thank me.
  • If the temperature inside the grill gets too hot, for some reviewers, the plastic knobs on front melted off. Perhaps plastic wasn’t the best choice that close to actual fire.

Conclusion

This is an inexpensive option for those who want to have the options of gas and charcoal for grilling. It has some great accessories, like the side gas-burner and shelves for prep work. There is decent power available on the gas-grill side and a nice adjustable charcoal bed necessary for great cooking. But this just doesn’t have the longevity of some of the others we reviewed.

Heat, rain, and even sun quickly degrades the metal into an unusable hunk of metal. My brother-in-law always says, I’m not rich enough to buy cheap stuff. Even if you are on a limited budget, it might be wise to skip this one and save up for another model.


Buy from Amazon

Final Thoughts about the
5 Best Gas-Charcoal Grill Combos

Whether you want to cook a few burgers and hot-dogs for your family, or if you’re inviting the whole team over for a barbecue, we wanted to give you a few things to look for before you make this important purchase.

We really liked the idea of the gas charcoal combination grill. For those who appreciate both styles of cooking, combining them into one grill is a great space saver. This makes your patio a more inviting, less crowded place, and who doesn’t need a little less clutter in their life?

All of the combo grills we looked at were reasonably priced, and among our selections, there was a strong correlation of price and quality. Spend a little more, and get a better grill. The Smoke Hollow 4-in-1 LP Gas Charcoal Grill, the Dyna-Glo Dual Fuel Grill, and the Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo really seemed to shine among the choices.

What you need to decide before you buy is what you will use this for. I really like the options out there for a side smoker box and the propane burner or searing grill. If these are important to you, there are great grills with them included.

In addition, know how much space you will need — though they were similar size in grilling area, some had a bit more than others. But don’t forget, if you have a large party, there is always the option of firing up both sides simultaneously.

Finally, whatever you choose, be sure and perform the recommended maintenance. Pre-season the metal with oil (Pam spray will do just fine) and give it regular cleanings. (The wood ash from the charcoal will absorb water, combine that moisture with the alkalinity of the ashes, and that’s a recipe for metal-eating failure.) If you spend these extra few minutes to protect your purchase, your grill will last for years to come.

Just think of all the meat, veggies, fish, and more that you’ll be bringing in — those beautiful grill marks, that smoky goodness — all right, I’m getting hungry! Time to get stop thinking and get grilling!