About the Wizard
G'day. I'm the Grill Wizard.
I'm a 38-year-old Aussie who swapped a Sydney barbie for a snow-covered Minnesota deck. I review every grill on this site myself — bought with my own money, tested through every season, and judged with the kind of brutal honesty Australians are famous for.
Why Trust This Site
Independent. Self-funded. Tested in the cold.
200+ Cooks Logged
Every cook tracked with temps, times, and tasting notes.
Tested Year-Round
Reviews include summer heat, autumn rain, and -10°F Minnesota winters.
Self-Funded Reviews
Every grill on this site is bought, borrowed, or returned. No sponsored placements.
Affiliate-Honest
If a product earns a commission, we say so. Affiliate links never influence rankings.
How I Test
The review methodology
Every grill review on GrillWizardOz follows the same five-cook protocol — no shortcuts, no spec-sheet copying, no "based on customer reviews" cop-outs. I cook on the grill. Then I cook on it again. And again.
The five-cook test
- 1.Direct sear test — A 1.5-inch ribeye to gauge max temperature, even heat distribution, and grate marks.
- 2.Long indirect cook — A 6-pound pork shoulder to test temperature stability over 8+ hours.
- 3.Volume cook — Burgers and brats for 8 people to test capacity, recovery time, and hot-spot management.
- 4.Cold-weather cook — A winter test (often below freezing) to expose insulation, igniter, and fuel issues.
- 5.Cleanup & teardown — Real-world maintenance: how easy is it to clean grates, drip trays, and burners after a month of use?
I rate each grill on build quality, heat performance, ease of use, value, and long-term reliability. If a grill fails any one of those badly, it doesn't get a recommendation — no matter how many affiliate dollars are on the table.
The Lineup
The grills on my deck
These are the rigs I cook on weekly — the baseline I compare every new grill against.
Workhorse smoker
Weber Smokey Mountain 18"
The bullet that started it all. Used for every brisket, pork shoulder, and rack of ribs reviewed on the site. Modified with a Fireboard Spark for overnight cooks.
Daily driver
Weber Performer Deluxe Kettle
Where most weeknight steaks, burgers, and reverse-seared cooks happen. Snake method for low-and-slow, two-zone for everything else.
Smash burger HQ
Blackstone 28" Griddle
The flat-top that proved griddles aren't just a fad. Tested every smash burger, fajita, hibachi-style cook, and Saturday breakfast on this rig.
The Story
From Sydney barbies to Minnesota smoke
Sydney
Grew up on the barbie
Family Sundays meant prawns, snags, and lamb chops over a battered four-burner Weber Q in the suburbs of Sydney.
Move
Relocated to Minnesota
A career move dropped me into a state where 'grilling season' is a year-round religion. I had a lot to learn about American BBQ.
Obsession
The pellet smoker rabbit hole
One Traeger purchase led to a Weber Smokey Mountain, then a Blackstone, then a kamado. The deck got crowded.
Site
Started GrillWizardOz
After buying (and returning) my fifth grill in two years, I built this site so other people don't waste the same money I did.
Editorial Standards
The fine print, in plain English
Affiliate disclosure: GrillWizardOz is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. When you buy through links on this site, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This funds the next round of grills we review.
No pay-to-play: Brands cannot pay for a recommendation, a review, or a higher ranking. If a brand sends a free product (rare), it's disclosed at the top of the review.
Corrections: If you spot something wrong — a spec, a price, a technique — email us and we'll fix it. The site is updated continuously.
Ownership: GrillWizardOz is owned and operated by SleepCoast LLC.