Key Points on Comparing Smokers and Grills
- Grills use high heat for quick cooking; smokers use low heat and more time for deeper flavor.
- Grilling lets beginner cooks start with simple meals; smokers let an experienced cook try more complex outdoor cooking.
- Grills are great for cooking a variety of foods; smokers excel at turning large cuts of meat into tender main courses.
- Grills work well for impromptu meals; smokers are best when you have time to plan a special occasion.
Smoker and Grill Benefits and Considerations
Before you decide between a grill and a smoker, you need to understand the basics of each and see how they differ. Our grill and smoker product guide gives you details, but here are the key points.
Most Grills Use High, Direct Heat
- Grills are available in gas, charcoal, wood pellet, flat-top and electric models.
- Grills cook with high temperatures, from about 300 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grills typically cook with direct heat, so the flames can sear and caramelize the outside of the food.
- Wood pellet grills use indirect heat and can function as smokers, but some offer direct-heat options.
Grill Pros:
- High grilling temperatures mean faster cook times, usually measured in minutes.
- Basic grilling is relatively easy to learn.
- Grilling can be efficient for small families.
- Grilling is usually more convenient and requires less planning than smoking.
- Grills tend to be more versatile than smokers, allowing you to cook a wider variety of food.
- You can use many types of grills for indirect cooking, and you can do some smoking with some grill models.
Grill Considerations:
- Close monitoring of the food is often necessary.
- Many grills aren’t suited for cooking and tenderizing large cuts of meat.
- It’s difficult to get deep, smoky flavor, particularly with gas and electric grills.
Smokers Use Low, Indirect Heat
- You can find charcoal, gas, electric and pellet smokers.
- Smokers cook with temperatures in the range of 225 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Indirect heat means the flames don’t touch the food so there’s minimal risk of scorching.
- Low temperatures and long cook times create very tender meats.
- Wood smoke adds rich flavor to the food.
- Smokers are great for cooking large cuts of meat.
- While a smoker shouldn’t be left unattended, the food requires less monitoring.
- Some smokers have searing functions to cook foods like burgers and hot dogs.
- Smoking takes significantly longer than most types of grilling, from several hours to most of the day.
- Neighbors might consider the smoke a nuisance.
- Smoking often requires more planning and prep work than grilling.
Learn more about your smoker options by taking a look at our guides comparing wood pellet smokers to charcoal smokers and pellet smokers to electric smokers.
Should I Get a Grill or a Smoker?
The smoker versus grill decision comes down to personal preferences for the type of food you want to cook and the amount of time you want to spend cooking it. Use these quick tips to help you choose between a grill and a smoker. You might even find you want both.
Reasons to Get a Grill
Consider a grill if:
- You’re new to outdoor cooking.
- You want to focus on cooking burgers, hot dogs, vegetables and steaks.
- You want to experiment with a wide variety of foods and cooking methods.
- You prefer the natural flavors of the food you cook.
- You’ve got limited time for prep and cooking.
- You want to cook a few times throughout the week without much planning.
- You can keep an eye on the food while it cooks.
Reasons to Get a Smoker
Consider a smoker if:
- You’ve honed your grilling skills and are ready for a new challenge.
- You enjoy foods with deep, smoky flavor.
- You want to focus on foods like pulled-pork barbecue, beef briskets and ribs.
- You want to experiment with the flavors different types of wood create.
- You’ve got the time and patience necessary to prep and cook.
- You want to plan special meals for weekends or holidays.
- You’re comfortable letting the smoker cook for several hours.
Keep in mind, these tips are just to start your planning. Grills and smokers excel at different things, but you can cook ribs on some grills and burgers in some smokers. Large grills let you cook 30 burgers or more and small smokers can be efficient for just a couple of people. Check the features and capabilities of any outdoor cooker before you but to make sure it’s right for you.
Reasons You Might Need Both a Grill and a Smoker
If “all of the above” sounds like you, you can’t go wrong with both a grill and a smoker:
- Newcomers: Start small with equipment and cuisine. Once you learn the basics, you can expand your menus and upgrade your cookers.
- Experienced Outdoor Chefs: You’ll likely appreciate the flexibility a full-feature grill and top-of-the-line smoker can add to your menus. And you might enjoy the challenge of learning new techniques.
You can also consider a smoker/grill combo to enjoy both styles of cooking in one device. Combo grills include options that combine smoking and grilling as well as models that offer other options, like a wood pellet grill and a gas griddle.
Get Ready to Start Cooking
Whether you prefer an all-day barbecue for tender foods and deep flavor, or you want the spontaneity of cooking burgers for a last-minute meal, there’s an outdoor cooker for you. Shop Lowes.com by cooker type, brand, size, price range and more or visit your Local Lowe’s. Talk to one of our Red Vest associates to learn about the features and benefits of different models. They’ll help you choose a grill or smoker that’s perfect for your lifestyle and make sure you leave with the right cooker and all the accessories you need to serve great outdoor cuisine.
Grill vs. Smoker FAQ
Use the answers to these questions to help you compare grills and smokers to find the right cooker for you.
Is a Smoker Better Than a Grill?
A smoker is often better for cooking large cuts of meat and infusing food with a deep, smoky flavor. But if fast meals with char-grilled burgers, vegetables and steaks are your preference, a grill is typically a better choice.
Can Smokers Grill Burgers?
Many smoker models can cook burgers, but they might lack the caramelized char marks you get from the direct flame of a grill. If char-grilled burgers are your outdoor food of choice, you’ll likely want at least a small grill.
Which Is Better for Beginners, a Smoker or a Grill?
While every chef is different, a grill is typically best for a beginner outdoor cook. Grilling the basics, like burgers, steaks and chicken, is relatively simple as long as you keep an eye on the food. Plus, there’s less prep and cook time required with a grill, so your cuisine is ready to taste in less time.
Is Grilling Faster Than Smoking?
Yes, the direct heat and high temperatures of grilling cook faster than smoking. And grilling requires less prep time and planning. However, it requires more attention to make sure the food doesn’t scorch. Smokers are designed to cook longer at lower temperatures, a method that creates tender meats and deep flavor.
Is a Smoker Worth It?
A smoker can be worth the investment if you want to try cooking foods like pulled pork, pork shoulders, beef brisket and racks of ribs. And while a smoker might not replace a grill, it can be worth it to upgrade to a smoker if you want to be able to choose between quick grilled meals and the more relaxed cooking that a smoker allows.