What kind of Gas BBQ grill should I get?!
Answers: I am looking for a new gas grill. I almost bought a Charmglow last night, but something told me not to. I read review on it, and I was greatfult that I had not. I know Weber is probably the best grill out there, but you really pat for the name. I was looking to spend $500.00 or less. I love to grill, and cook, and I appreciate finely made things. Anyone have any suggestions?
$500... you can still buy a weber and know that you're getting a good product.
I personally prefer charcoal, but for a gas grill I would look for
Total BTU's
Number of burners
Burners that can be controlled by zones (for example front and back burners on different knowbs or side by side burners on a different knob)
Heavy duty construction.
Grill size
Double layers - a grill for cooking and a higher grill/rack for holding and warming foods
Some type of grating or cover between the burner and the grill - you don't want grease dripping directly down and flaming up.
However, if you still want to save money. Look at a weber and look for another product with similar features or features important to you.
Check out this website for their recommendation for gas grills under $500...
http://bbq.about.com/od/gasgrills/tp/aat...
A. The best grill for you is the one that fits your needs, your lifestyle and your budget. When deciding the kind of grill you want to get you first need to honestly answer what you want to get out of a grill. Do you want to be able to put together a grilled meal quickly, with very little time? Does flavor matter most? What kind of space do you have? Are there any local ordinances that might limit what you can get?
A gas grill is the most common kind of grill sold these days. It offers good flavor, versatility and convenience. Most gas grills require a fairly good amount of space and can not be used too close to any structure. If you don’t have a large area then you probably can’t se a gas grill. Gas grills can have side burners, rotisserie kits, multiple burners and a whole bunch of features. Gas grills require fuel either from a natural gas line or from a propane tank. The grill must be equipped for the specific fuel. The great thing about a gas grill is that you can heat it up and be cooking in as little as ten minutes.
Charcoal grills offer better flavor than gas grills and also require a good amount of space to avoid unwanted fires. Charcoal grills require that you buy charcoal and that you have plenty of time to get the fire going. Generally you should plan on 20 to 30 minutes from the time you light the charcoal until you are ready to grill. Also, unlike a gas grill, charcoal can’t be simply turned off. You can, or course dowse coals in water but this can be damaging to a charcoal grill. If you grill frequently you will end up spending a lot more in fuel with a charcoal grill than you would with a gas grill. While most charcoal grills cost less than gas grills the fuel cost will more than make up for the difference.
Electric grills offer the least authentic grill flavor but can generally be used almost anywhere. Electric grills can heat up quickly and don’t require any fuel other than an electrical outlet nearby. However you really do lose a lot in the way of flavor. Also, many electric grills do not generate a very high heat that is required for searing foods on a grill. If you are restricted by local laws or limited to a small balcony then you might only have an electric grill option. Otherwise, I really recommend against them.
There are other grills out there like pellet grills. A pellet grill burns hardwood pellets that are made from wood scraps. They offer a true hardwood flavor that is superior to charcoal grills. However pellets can be hard to locate in some areas and they can be expensive. Pellet grills are also not cheap, costing about as much as a good quality gas grill. Pellet grills are also good smokers so you do get that additional versatility.
I bought a Weber Q 220 last year and LOVE it! Seems small at first (I was used to a huge grill), but will hold a lot of food. On the other hand, it will cook one steak perfectly and I don't feel wierd firing it up for one person like I used to do with the bigger grill.
what I look for is , what does the grill have that I use more( upper deck, flat grill, ) so the name doesnt mean as much as the usefulness.
IF YOU JUST WANT CONVENIENCE GO WITH GAS.
FOR VERSATILITY GO CHARCOAL.
FOR A COMBINATION OF EASE AND REAL GRILL TASTE LOOK UP TRAEGER PELLET COOKERS. THEY ARE $800 UP BUT ALOT BETTER THAN A GAS GRILL. YOU CAN SLOW SMOKE FOR HOURS WITH ONE FILL OF PELLETS. THE PELLETS LOOK LIKE RABBIT FOOD AND COME IN LOTS OF FLAVORS. THE PELLETS ARE NOT HARD TO FIND ANYMORE.
I PREFER CHARCOAL, BUT TO EACH HIS OWN.
DON'T MAKE A HASTY CHOICE.
I have a chargiller and I love it. I have the model with the smoker attachment that I haven't used yet but look forward to this summer. I am thinking smoked brisket.
http://www.chargriller.com/
I would opt for charcoal any day over gas. Much more flavor. My mother in law bought my husband one for his birthday about 7 years ago, it came from Sears and was a good brand name. I put the thing together myself I was so excited to have a nice expensive grill just like my brother in laws. After using it a couple of seasons and after replacing the briquet's and elements twice I was really glad when the sparker thing wouldn't work and we freecycled it.
I finally got my charcoal grill back and I have been a happy gal ever since. Yes, I do ALL of the cooking including the BBQ. My husband is a very good "flipper" but it ends there. I'm sure he would be fine on his own - but he has me and I am a grilling fiend!
BTW - my BIL's BB Q's were always crap as I finally realized - he has never known what he is doing. Everything was burned within an inch of it's life because he thought the flames directly searing every inch of meat the whole time was part of the cooking process. What you got burned on the outside-raw on the inside - yuck.