4 of the best grills you can buy this season

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With spring in full swing and Memorial Day just a few weekends away, now is a good time to start planning for one of America’s time-honored traditions: the barbecue. Burgers, hot dogs, steaks, chicken, fish, and even vegetables can be made all the more delicious with a simple marinade and some time over a 400-degree flame.

Personally, there is no type of cooking I find more fulfilling than grilling. There’s an inherently casual nature to the act, which when paired with a bottle of beer in your hand, allows you to feel quite confident in your cooking abilities no matter how qualified you are to be operating the flames.

While some may think that a lack of space or lack of funds keeps them from participating in this patriotic form of cooking, there’s a grill for everyone, if you know where to look. Below, through both personal experience and a scouring of the web for the most consistently well-reviewed and recommended grills on the market, I’ve put together a list of the best grills you can find of every type for every situation.

If you don’t yet have a grill or are due for an upgrade, now is a good time to invest in one — you can use Memorial Day weekend as a trial run for the Fourth of July.

The original charcoal grill

While the debate is still fierce in certain circles, many traditionalists will always opt for charcoal grilling over gas, if given the option. There are those who swear by the smoky taste charcoal can provide, but I believe a lot of the love stems from the ritual of lighting and setting the charcoal.

If you’re ready to commit to the craft of charcoal grilling, the Weber Kettle is the most trusted name in the industry. This version is an updated take on Weber’s decades old design, and is as durable and trustworthy as ever. If you choose to go the charcoal route, be sure to grab a chimney starter to go with your purchase, to add a bit of ease to the process of starting it up.

Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22-Inch Charcoal Grill, $99, available at Amazon.

The best gas grill on the market

Gas grills are now the most common you’ll find in the market, and with good reason. They are supremely convenient when compared to their charcoal counterparts; you can light them with the twist of a knob and push of a button, and can easily adjust the temperature to fit your needs. There are some premium options out there that can cost upward of $1,000 or even $15,000, but the Weber Spirit E310 is reliable, highly rated, and available for a fraction of that price.

Weber Spirit E310 Liquid Propane Gas Grill, $499, available at Amazon.

The best budget gas grill

If you are new to grilling and want something simple at an accessible price point, the Char-Broil Classic 4-Burner Gas Grill is a great value. It will provide the ease of gas grilling for just $200 and give you a feel for the art. With 480 square inches of grilling surface and adjustable temperatures from four burners, it has plenty of space to cook for a whole party's worth of people.

Char-Broil Classic 4-Burner Gas Grill, $199, available at Amazon.