Rule # 2 Whats The Ideal Size For The Grill Cooking Area
The main factor in determining grill size is the cooking area.
The cooking area is calculated in terms of square inches or square cm. The minimal cooking area you need for a family is 400 square inches and three burner gas grill should features 400-500 square inches of cooking area. People who use their five or six burners grills should have 500-6oo square inches of cooking area.
Best Midrange Model: Char
Char-Broil’s three-burner stainless steel model comes in at less than half the price of the Weber model above. At $450, you’ll get a liquid propane and natural gas grill that can handle most cooking challenges with ease.
Char-Broil uses what it calls Tru-Infrared, a set of perforated emitter plates that separate food from flame to evenly distribute heat and reduce flare-ups. There were definitely fewer flare-ups compared with other models in our testing, but you won’t be able to see the flame when you’re lighting the grill or adjusting the temperature, so keep that in mind.
You’ll get less power than the Weber at 25,500 BTUs over 420 square inches of primary cooking area space, and there aren’t any smart grilling features for remote monitoring. This Char-Broil model does have a side burner as well as tank storage behind two cabinet doors. Like the Weber, it comes with a 10-year warranty.
Food cooked on our Char-Broil test unit was good, though slightly less crispy and seared than the Weber. If you’re looking to stay under $500, this outdoor grill with stainless steel burner offers the best balance of features and performance among the models we’ve tested.
Best Gas Grills Under $500
Weber Spirit II E-310 LP Gas Grill
This Weber model is from the Spirit II Series and it is one of the cheap Weber gas grills. The main type of fuel used for this product to work is the liquid propane. The grill comes with 424 square inches of the main surface as well as the 105 square inches that are taken up by the warming rack which can be tucked in. That means that the overall space capacity of this grill is 529 square inches. This is not among best affordable gas grills because it has a rather high price, but when you conisder its features and size, you will see that the price is low.
The affordable gas grill model features 30,000 BTUs of heat produced by the burners. There are three burners that come with this grill. The grill comes with the following dimensions once the lid is completely closed down- 57 H x 52 W x 26 D inches. The grates on this Weber propane grill are porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates and can serve 5 to 7 people.
Liquid propane is the main work fuel and it comes in 20 lb tanks. For an extra space, you can use the side tables which you can fold back down to the grill does not take up that much space when you are not using it. This gas grill has wheels and caster for stability as well as mobility. You will also get six tool hooks where you can hang your cooking accessories. The sleek open-cart design provides additional room and accessibility of your grilling tools.
Characteristics:
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Kalamazoo Gourmet K500 Hybrid Fire
- Grates are thick steel with narrow slots cut into them, so food doesn’t fall through
- Objectively a wildly expensive product
Cooking Space: 506 square inchesGas Type: Propane or Natural Gas Max Temperature: 1,000° F
Kalamazoos grills are made to order in Kalamazoo, Michigan under the watchful eye of its Chief Designer, Head of Product and total gear nerd Russ Faulk. The price tag its grills demand means youre not buying a summer cookout machine youre buying another kitchen. Thankfully, its functionality backs that up.
A fact: there is no grill like the Hybrid Fire grill. It can cook with gas, yes, but it can also cook with wood, charcoal and even pellets. The build quality is such that it feels like it was made out of aircraft parts. The gas burners are cut from cast bronze for goodness sake. If youre in a place to comfortably spend nearly twenty grand on a gas grill, you buy this and you dont look back.
Can You Connect Your Gas Bbq To Natural Gas As Well
That answer is simple: you could, but if you don’t understand it, don’t do it. An ‘ordinary’ gas barbecue has a coupling piece that creates the right ratio between butane or propane gas and air, so you can barbecue. For natural gas, you need a different ratio, so these connectors don’t work. You’ll have to mess with coupling pieces, connectors, and natural gas hoses and valves. Gas barbecues for natural gas do exist they’re often build-in barbecues.
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Natural Gas Vs Propane Grills
From the cuts of meat and secret sauces you grill with to temperature settings and cook times, BBQing is often a matter of personal preference.
The age-old debate between natural gas and propane is no different.
Both of these clean fuel sources are easy to use and quickly provide high heat, which is why gas grills are the most popular choice among home cooks today. Neither is truly better than the other, but each has certain qualities and limitations that make it the more practical choice in specific situations.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that you cant use a natural gas grill with a propane grill, and vice versa, because gas orifices are sized differently to accommodate the different pressures of each gas. Though some grill brands sell conversion kits that allow you to change the orifices, its a good idea to familiarize yourself with what separates natural gas from propane.
How Much Gas Do I Need For My Bbq
It can be difficult to know how much gas you need for your BBQ. You certainly dont want to be running out half way through cooking for friends and family
How much gas you will need depends on how many burners your BBQ has. If you have an average sized BBQ with between one to three burners, then a 5kg patio gas bottle will be fine.
If, however, youve got a larger BBQ with four or more burners, its recommended that you should buy at least a 13kg bottle. Larger gas BBQs can be quite hungry, especially if youre using them regularly, so it can make sense to have at least one bottle in reserve as well as the one connected to the BBQ.
Read Also: What Temperature To Cook Pork Chops On Grill
Advantages Of Natural Gas
If theres one thing you must know about natural gas, its that this fuel is run through the home like any other utility.
Because of this setup, those who already have a natural gas supply piped in will probably find it to be the best fuel source for their grill. Most natural gas models come with a kit that makes hooking up the grill to the gas line quick and easy, not to mention that natural gas is generally cheaper than propane and will never run out in the middle of a BBQ.
Getting a new natural gas line installed, however, is often expensive and can result in your backyard being uprooted by professionals laying down the lines. Its a considerable cost up front especially if you live far from the main distribution line but using natural gas rather than propane will still save you more money over time if you grill frequently.
Natural gas is also one of the eco-friendliest fuel sources on the market, and itll safely float out of your outdoor kitchen in the event of a leak because its lighter than air. To top it all off, natural gas appliances can operate even when you lose electricity.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Propane Gas For Bbqs
Propane gas also has a number of distinct benefits when using it with your BBQ. These benefits include:
- All year round operation perhaps the biggest benefit of using propane gas is that it will work all-year-round with no problems. Thats because of its boiling temperature of -42ºc. This means that if youre a regular BBQer even in the depths of winter, propane can keep you cooking on!
- Instant and efficient burn as with butane, propane gas gets to work quickly. Propane lights instantly and reaches its maximum heat output soon after. So, if you want a quick, convenient and easy way of cooking on your gas BBQ, propane is an excellent choice.
- Ease of use again, like butane, propane gas is an easy to use fuel source. Simply connect the gas bottle to your BBQ, allow the gas to reach the appliance, hit the ignition switch and youre cooking on gas!
- Taste this is a slightly odder benefit, but there are some people who argue that food cooked on butane fuelled BBQs doesnt taste as nice as food cooked on propane fueled BBQs. Well let you use your own judgement on this, as everyones taste buds are different
Read Also: Grilling Pork Chops Time And Temp
Holland Liberty Gas Grill
Considering other Holland gas grill prices, this grill is the cheapest. It has bigger dimensions in comparison to the previous model, but its more lightweight. This grill weighs 84 pounds only. Its 49 wide, 48 high and 24 deep. The product is delivered in three boxes and you need to assemble it with help from instructions that you can find in the user manual.
Propane cylinder is beneath the cooking surface, but its not hidden with the front panel like the previous model which can be less attractive. For approximately 21 hours of grilling, youll need about 20lb tank. You have to buy it separately from the propane gas grill. Another great user-friendly feature is the wheels at the base of the grill. They allow you to push the grill anywhere you want and move it from one place to another. Like the previous model, the whole construction is made from non-rust aluminum.
Burners are made from cast-iron which makes them resistant to the heat and long-lasting. Each burner has a rotary spark ignition system that lights them fast. Both burners together are delivering 20,000 BTU to grilling surface. Above the cooking surface is the stainless steel cooking grid thats easy to clean. The patented innovative technology excludes all flare-ups on food.
Characteristics:
Holland Independence Gas Grill
This model is 48 wide, 49 high and 26 deep. It weighs 210 pounds, so its not so lightweight in comparison to another model. The unique feature of this small gas grill is its high warranty for rust-caused damages that is 15 years which guarantees the material rust-resistance and durability. The burner and grid are also covered with a lifetime warranty, while other parts have a 1-year limited warranty.
Like the previous models, this grill has two burners made from cast-iron thats heat resistant and the stainless steel made grid which is easy to clean and it doesnt stick to food. Besides that, it has two movable smoking tray that adds the smokey flavor to food. Food wont have flare-ups after the cooking and there is less grease to clean after the grilling because the drippings from food are vaporizing fast on the steel grid. The burners are powered with the deluxe control knob and rotary spark igniter.
This portable gas grill has the simplest one-temperature setting. The lid is made from aluminum and its a great addition for better temperature control while cooking. The handlebar for lifting the lid is made from stainless steel so it wont get hot while cooking. The lid has the built-in thermometer so you can know the temperature of the meals or cooking surface. The liquid propane tank is beneath the cooking surface and its covered with the front metal panel so people dont see it.
Characteristics:
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Ducane Grills Offer Great Performance And Quality
When it comes to grilling out, nobody does it better than Ducane! Superb design, and superior construction. You can explore your options with the Ducane Gas Barbecue Grills, and make your next barbecue party the hottest thing in town!
Located in Union City, New Jersey, Ducane Products Co. began as Ducane Brothers Metal Fabricating in 1946.
The company moved to Little Ferry, New Jersey, in 1949 to begin production of oil-fired, warm air furnaces.
In 1968 the newly named Ducane Company moved its home base to South Carolina where, in 1975, it introduced the first line of Ducane gas grills. In March 200, Ducane Products Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Weber-Stephen Products.
Ducane Gas Barbecue Grills are built of the finest grade weather-resistant materials available, stainless steel, die-cast aluminum and baked enamel paint, giving you years of reliable service.
Every premium Ducane Gas Barbecue is built to stand up to the elements, although to protect your new investment even further, there are heavy duty premium Ducane barbecue gas grill covers available.
During the last 30 years, Ducane has grown to be one of the most recognized gas grill brands in North America. The Ducane manufacturing facility in Barnwell, South Carolina, is state of the art.
Rule #9 The Grills Grates
Cast Iron grates are recommended for maximizing heat transfer .
Stainless steel grates have a nice advantage that they can be cleaned very easily. There are also massive stainless steel grates, which provide both cleanness and good heat absorption!
Enamel coated grates are less recommended. Their only role is the as plane for laying the meat on.
Our tip: The more massive the grate, the better.
Recommended Reading: How To Grill Frozen Salmon
Blaze’s Commitment To Purpose Strength And Elegance Extends To Our Network Of Trusted Retailers
Only authorized dealers of Blaze are allowed to sell Blaze products. Blaze products come standard with a manufacturers warranty, which will only be honored if the products are purchased through an authorized Blaze dealer/distributor, or through Blaze directly.
If you obtain Blaze products through an unauthorized dealer your warranty will not be honored and we can not offer you assurances of quality and satisfaction afforded by purchases made through authorized dealers. If you are unsure about purchasing from a specific dealer, please contact Blaze customer service department at or 1-866-976-9510.
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The Best Propane And Natural Gas Grills
Browsing for grills can be overwhelming, but there are a few serious contenders online for both natural gas and propane grills.
If you ask us, the highly rated Weber Genesis II Gas Grill is worth the investment. The model comes with three stainless-steel high-performance burners, a side burner and a sear station burner. The open cart design includes shelving for easy access and storage, and its iGrill3 compatiblewhich means you can use a wireless meat probe that can be monitored from your smartphone.
As far as propane grills go, the Master Cook Classic Liquid Propane Gas Grill is a top choice. The grill is equipped with 473 square inches of cooking space over porcelain-coated grates, and three stainless steel-inline burners for top cooking performance. The Piezo ignition system provides fast burner start-ups with just a simple button push. The grills foldable shelves are a nice touch, too.
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Best Gas Grills Under $300
Dyna-Glo Smart Space Living 2-Burner LP Gas Grill
The Dyna-Glo gas grill is another affordable small propane grill found on the market, but this one is sturdier. It includes two stainless steel burners in P-shape and produce 15,000 BTUs each per one hour. That means that altogether there is 30,000 BTUs of heat power.
That is why this gas grill by Dyna-Glo is quite powerful for its size. The space capacity is 547 square inches in total which is a decent size cooking surface. The heavy-duty enameled cast iron cooking grates have the ability to heat up fast and can reach the highest of the temperatures in a matter of minutes. This model has a 1-year warranty provided by the Dyna-Gloand that is why it is one of the best gas grills under $300.
The highest temperature that can be reached with this grill is 600 degrees which are more than enough for a variety of meals. Another benefit is that the temperature can be easily regulated, which means you will not have to worry about burning your food. It also comes with a cupboard like storage which can fit the gas tanks as well as some other tools. Sometimes you will also need space to prep the food, and thats why there are additional side tables on each side. The lid is stainless steel lid with two lid walls and a handle on top which does not get hot, so you can touch it without the safety gloves.
Characteristics:
Royal Gourmet Gt1001 Stainless Steel Portable Grill
For outdoor grilling, Royal Gourmet has been a top brand for decades. Our durable stainless steel tubular burner generates 10,000 BTU which achieves fast and even heat distribution for perfect grilling or remarkable searing. High output is sufficient for daily use in the cookout.
Folding support legs and latching hood with compact handle makes it easy to carry or store to the decks, patios, camping, tailgating, and more. Easy assembly with only a few steps. Total of 280 square inches of ample cooking area, including 206 sq. in. stainless steel cooking grates and 75 sq. in chrome-coated warming rack.
The lid-mounted temperature gauge helps monitor the fluctuation in real-time for slow-grilling or searing marks. The large size of the stainless steel grease tray facilitates easy cleanup after grilling. It can be removable for dumping the residues all the time during the grilling.
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