Charcoal or gas-While the debate will rage on endlessly over the benefits of charcoal versus gas the final decision should be made on how you really like to cook. While charcoal enthusiasts say that nothing gives the flavor of charcoal the ease of gas grilling is hard to beat. Charcoal requires some planning and time to get the grill up and going while gas grills use an immediate starter and you are ready to cook. Most experts recommend going with your preference based on how you cook but for that die-hard grilling enthusiasts why not consider having one of each?

 Size and power-The size and power of your grill go hand in hand. It is fairly obvious that the larger the grill the more power (or charcoal) that you will need to operate it. In addition it is important to consider how often do you use your grill? How many people do you typically cook for? While you want to be the guy who can grill for the entire neighborhood how often do you really need that much grill? It is important to choose a grill that will safely cook the amount of food you need most often with some limited ability to expand your cooking area for those few times that you may need to.

 Accessories-Grills today come with a host of accessories to really expand the grilling experience. Grills can be equipped with one or two burners on the sides for heating that sauce or side dish that will accompany your grilled entrees. There is a multitude of hooks, drawers and shelves for storing grilling tools, spices and grill cleaning tools. Make sure that these add-ons are convenient for you and will not have you performing contortions to reach them. Stand in front of the grill and have a "pretend grill session" before you bring your shiny new grill home in order to test out whether you will feel comfortable using it. Inside your grill you can find accessories like bread baskets for that yummy grilled bread, rotisseries in a range of sizes for grilling chickens or even that Thanksgiving turkey and even special grilling plates for holding fish and seafood. Grill experts recommend only getting accessories that you feel you will really use and keep in mind that every added accessory will be reflected in the overall price of the grill.

 Location-When purchasing your grill you need to be aware of the location you will be putting it in. It is a good idea to put the grill in a spot where the smoke will not be blowing in the faces of your guests and you also want to place it in a way the smoke will not be trapped beneath the protective roof or "hood." In addition measure your space before purchasing your grill so you will have not brought home a grill that is to small or even worse to large for the intended space. It is also extremely important that you keep your grill convenient for your use. Design experts say that one of the most common mistakes that many people make when placing their grill is that it is not in a convenient spot. If the grill is hard to get to or to far away from your house (and most importantly your kitchen) you are far less likely to use it and enjoy it.