Choose the rig for your backyard
Equipment
Pellet grills, smokers, griddles, gas and charcoal — plus the pellets, thermometers, and rubs that earn their place.
- 01Equipment5 min read · Published 2026-07-02
How to Choose a Pellet Grill: Size, Features, and What to Skip
How to choose a pellet grill: how they work, how big yours should be, which features earn their place, and which extras you can safely skip.
- 02Equipment5 min read · Published 2026-07-04
Pellet Grills 101: How They Work and Who They Actually Suit
Pellet grills 101: how the hopper, auger, and controller turn hardwood pellets into set-and-forget smoke, and which cooks benefit from that setup.
- 03Equipment5 min read · Published 2026-07-06
How to Choose Your First Smoker: Pellet, Charcoal, Electric, or Kamado
How to choose your first smoker: pellet, charcoal, electric, and kamado compared on fuel, control, and attention, matched to how you really cook.
- 04Equipment5 min read · Published 2026-07-08
How to Choose a Gas Grill: Burners, BTUs, and Materials
How to choose a gas grill: burner zones, what BTU ratings really mean, materials and build quality, and propane versus natural gas, explained.
- 05Equipment4 min read · Published 2026-07-10
How to Choose a Charcoal Grill: Kettle, Kamado, or Barrel
How to choose a charcoal grill: kettle, kamado, and barrel styles compared on capacity, heat control, and upkeep, matched to how you cook.
- 06Equipment6 min read · Published 2026-07-12
Pellet grill maintenance: auger, ash, and off-season care
How to keep a pellet grill running clean: ash vacuuming, hopper and auger care, grease cleanup, and off-season storage on a schedule you can actually keep.
- 07Equipment6 min read · Published 2026-07-14
How to deep-clean a grill before the season
A pre-season deep clean removes grease, ash, and pests from gas, charcoal, and pellet grills: what to clean, the fuel-specific checks, and the tools to use.
- 08Equipment6 min read · Published 2026-07-16
How to choose a flat-top griddle: size, burners, and build
Match a flat-top griddle to your cooking surface needs, burner layout, and build quality, and know how grease and fuel choices shape the daily use.
- 09Equipment6 min read · Published 2026-07-18
Pellet grill shortlist worksheet: compare before you buy
A worksheet for eliminating pellet grills by cook size, grate dimensions, controller behavior, cleanup access, and support.
- 10Consumables6 min read · Published 2026-07-20
Wood pellets for smoking: species, blends, and storage
Choose wood pellets by species and blends, judge quality from the bag, and store pellets so they burn clean; smoke adds flavor, never safety.
- 11Consumables6 min read · Published 2026-07-22
Meat thermometers: probe types, placement, and target temps
Pick the right probe style, insert it correctly, and cook to the USDA minimum internal temperatures for every cut off your grill or smoker.
- 12Consumables5 min read · Published 2026-07-24
Dry rubs: ratios, when to apply, and what actually sticks
Build a dry rub from salt, sugar, and spice ratios, time the application to the cook, and keep the USDA food-safety lines regardless of the blend.