In the world of grilling, the choices sometimes seem daunting. Gas? Charcoal? Wood? Which one to choose? We’ve assembled everything you need to know about these various methods to help you decide what kind of grill is best for you.

Electric grill
If what you’re looking for is a quick and easy method and you don’t want to impart a particular flavor to your food, an electric grill is the safest and most conlvenient. With no open flame, electric grills are often the choice of apartment dwellers. Though we may be most familiar with electric grills in our kitchen, outdoor versions are also available. Possible grill accessories include extra burners, rotisserie attachments and racks.

Gas grill
A gas grill works off a propane tank or natural gas tank. Some can be configured to work off the gas line in your home. The gas grill heats and cooks quickly and delivers some smoky flavor to the food. They are easy to light, as well — a flip of the switch and you’re ready to go. There are many accessories available for gas grills, such as ceramic briquettes to catch drippings, extra burners and racks.

Charcoal grill
The charcoal grill’s history is long and its followers are fanatical. The charcoal grill is, in certain sizes, portable and for the patient griller, can impart wonderful flavor to the food. These grills take a bit more time and attention in the lighting and tending process, but repay their users with rich flavor and transportable simplicity. Accessories for the charcoal grill include chimney starters to get the briquettes hot and hinged racks for coal-tending.

Smokers
Smokers can be found in electric, gas, charcoal and wood varieties and are generally not very portable. Smoking combines the “low and slow” methods of cooking food and is the preferred one for real barbecue flavor. Minimal heat allows the meat to soak in all the flavor of the wood without getting overdone. If you have a few hours for your food to cook to perfection, it is hard to beat the flavor of the smoker.

Ceramic cookers
The Big Green Egg is one of the most familiar of the ceramic cookers. Based on kamado-style barbecues from southern Japan and a similar tradition in India, ceramic cookers can reach extremely high temperatures and are generally fueled by charcoal.

Because of their shape, these cookers can be used as both smokers and grills. With available attachments, a ceramic grill can be used as an oven as well. Usually ceramic cookers are quite heavy, with a higher base price than most other grills. But there are some smaller models available and their fans tout the long-lasting quality and flexibility as worthy trade-offs.

A word of warning
Before you buy a grill for your porch or patio, check in with your property management staff. Some apartment communities have strict regulations about cooking on the patio or what you can keep on your porch. Also, some cities and counties outlaw grilling on apartment balconies. Talking to your property management team first will ensure that whatever grill you choose lets you grill within the rules.

If you want to enjoy outdoor cooking, there are many methods to choose from. Decide if speed, simplicity, portability or flavor is most important to you and start shopping from there. Now, all you need to do is throw a cookout.