Why Are Pellet Grills/smokers So Expensive
As you will have guessed by the fact my website is called PelHeat I bat for the pellet team when it comes to BBQ grills and smokers. Then again, if you have ever read some of my other posts you will know that doesnt mean Ill avoid talking about the potential downsides of pellet grills/smokers. Just check out my pellet vs kamado grill or pellet vs gas grills posts as examples. On the topic of the downsides of pellet grills, Ive previously been asked why are pellet grills so expensive? Well, expensive is obviously subjective, and depends on how much you have to spend on a grill/smoker. But as Ive stated in the past I accept that on average you have to spend more on a pellet grill than your typical charcoal/gas grill, but why is that? Well, lets discuss that, along with their benefits.
I believe most people would regard something like a Traeger Timberline as an expensive pellet grill starting at $1,799. But why do pellet grills cost more on average?: Image Traegergrills.com
Disclaimer: Hey! By the way any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon or other sites are affiliate links and I earn a commission if you make a purchase.
S Are Easily Available
Weber has also focused on the easy availability of parts of the grills. Therefore, you will easily find parts for your Weber grill. If you dont want to move your grill then you can also order parts to your home and repair them yourself.
There are several service centers too available to repair your Weber grill parts. What a few people do is get an older model Weber grill at a garage sale then rehab it with new parts. Overall, the easy availability of parts of all Weber grills makes you love your grill.
Are Ceramic Grills Worth It
There are many advantages of ceramic grills vs. traditional grills. Cooking on ceramic is a totally different cooking experience. The special dome shape and ceramic materials used in the construction of ceramic grills, allows for more efficient use of charcoal, and retains heat much better than traditional grills.
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Evo Flat Top Grill Summary
The Evo Flat Top Grill is made to last and built in the US. It gives you even heat and you can cook pretty much anything. You can take them with you or drop-in.
You can gather friends around and cook together, Evo flat top grills are a great size and everyone has plenty of space to cook their own food.
You can fry your food straight on the grill or use pots and pans. Youll have no more hot spots, these grills have even temperature control all around, from edge to edge.
The one issue, really, is the price. And its limited warranty. If top quality is what youre looking for, these could well be the stuff of your dreams. If youre looking for a good flat top at a great price, look at the other options below.
For me, personally, that price is hard to justify. Unless I was Sam the Cooking Guy and this thing was going to make me money.
Which, I suppose, it kinda does if you all buy a grill through my links. I get a small commission on each grill sold. Except, at the percentage I get, it would take approximately 2,321 years to earn the price of one.
Do you think it would last that long?
Whats The Difference Between A $100 Grill And A $1000 Grill
Like the old adage says, you get what you pay for. While you can certainly cook a steak on a grill you purchased on the cheap, you may want to consider shelling out the cash for something better. Why? What exactly does your extra money get you? Glad you asked. Heres the difference between a $100 gas grill and a $1,000 gas grill.
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What Should I Look Out For When Buying A Built
Be sure to measure the size of your kitchen and determine where you want to install your built-in grill we recommend that you consider installing it in an area next to an electric socket . If youre planning on fitting it into a recess then ensure that there is 4cm all around between the wall and the edge of your built-in grill this will allow room for ventilation. You may also need to consider removing any existing units or appliances from their current position before deciding upon your new place of installation if they are close by.
Check how much heat output you require do you want a grill that cooks quickly or will it be used infrequently? For example, many restaurants have commercial grills which are designed to cook lots of food very quickly.
The next consideration is your budget, below weve provided a list of the best built-in grills in different price ranges. You can read up on them for more information about each one then click through to sites like ebay or amazon for prices/customer reviews etc.
Why are built-in grills so expensive? Once youre happy with your price range, look at our table here and select the right size & type for you/your familys requirements.
The last thing to check on a built-in grill is whether it will fit your existing worktops. If not, can you adapt/modify these in some way so they will fit either by cutting them down or adding an extra panel for example?!
Best Gas Grill Prices
Grills come in a wide range of price points, depending on size, features and quality.
Inexpensive: Grills under $200 should have 3 or 4 burners, 400 to 600 square inches of cooking surface, a built-in thermometer, individual burner ignitors and controls, 30,000 to 50,000 BTUs, and porcelain-enameled grates.
Mid-range: In addition to the features listed for the inexpensive range, mid-range grills should have 700 to 800 square inches of cooking space, up to 78,000 BTUs, one or more side burners, lights, and a rotisserie burner or smoker burner. You may have to choose from among some of the features, but many of them will be included.
Expensive: Grills costing $1,200 and up should have literally all of the features above. Better design and engineering, larger grills, heavier-gauge steel and higher-quality materials overall are the hallmarks of top-end grills. Showroom models top out at around $2,700. Anything more than that would be for a custom-built grill.
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Why Should We Choose Natural Gas Grills
If youre looking for a new grill, you may be wondering if a natural gas grill is a right choice for you. Here are a few reasons why natural gas grills are a great option:
If youre considering a natural gas grill, these are just a few of the reasons why it may be the right choice for you. Be sure to do your research and find the perfect natural gas grill for your needs.
How We Tested Gas Grills
Over the course of four days in Spring 2017, we put our gas grills through a battery of tests designed to demonstrate their qualities and highlight their differences. We cooked burgers on high heat to see how well the grills seared meat and how intense and even was the heat they could generate across the whole grate surface. We slow-grilled cut-up chickens to see if the grills could hold a low temperature evenly across the whole grate. And we roasted whole chickens indirectly on both low and high heat to see if the grills could create browned skin and perfectly cook meat without charring. Sam Sifton, editor of the Cooking section of The New York Times joined us for these tests. In 2018 we repeated these tests, pitting the new Weber Spirit II E-310 against our upgrade pick, the Weber Genesis II E-310.
For the high-heat, whole-grate burger testan indicator of the grills ability to pump out uniform, high heat without creating an infernowe heated the grills on high with their lids down for 15 minutes . We then oiled the grates and distributed 12 to 15 6-ounce patties across the whole cooking surface. While the burgers cooked we kept an eye out for flare-upstheyre not desirable, as they char the meat and create rancid smokeand looked at the evenness of cooking on the different areas of the grates. After about 10 minutes of cooking , we compared how well each grill had seared the burgers, looked for any patties that were charred or still unacceptably raw, and took a taste.
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Can You Hook Up A Natural Gas Grill To Propane
Natural gas orifices are larger on a BBQ than the propane counterparts. If propane is supplied through an orifice manufactured for natural gas, too much propane will be released and a large flame will result. Converting a natural gas BBQ to use propane can be done at home however, caution should be taken.
Can My Weber Use Natural Gas
This mainly depends on the model but most of the Weber grills can be easily converted to natural gas. Weber, however, does not permit gas conversions anymore.
So make sure to contact customer service to know whether your specific model can be converted or not.
Some of the models are not allowed conversion even though they can be done. You might lose your warranty by changing its fuel type. So make sure to know all the details.
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What You Need To Know About Natural Gas Grills
A natural gas bbq uses natural gas from your homes gas supply for its fuel. Because of this, its necessary that you know precisely where you will want it placed as it wont be able to move from that spot. It will also need to be a space where there is a provision for connection or a certified contractor will need to come and make a provision that will add to your expense.
Most natural gas grills are going to provide even heating for the food that you cook where propane is not quite so consistent. With heating that is uneven, some portions of your food will not be cooked thoroughly basically because it has been placed on the wrong part of the gas grill.
Why Is Propane Stored In Household Tanks But Natural Gas Is Not
Propane molecules are made up of three carbon atoms bonded in a chain with eight hydrogen atoms bonded to these carbon atoms. Household propane is not usually kept in a liquid state by a low temperature. Natural gas is not stored in household tanks because the symmetry of its molecule makes it hard to liquify.
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Flaws But Not Dealbreakers
We wish Weber would take a cue from some competitors and make the bars of its warming racks run front to back, parallel to the main grates. That way, you could easily slide a spatula under stuff thats warming. As it is, the warming-rack bars run edge to edge, and you have to awkwardly jimmy a spatula in there sideways.
The Spirit II E-310 should come with a grill cover. It doesnt, nor did any grill in our test group. Youll need to buy one separately Webers dedicated Spirit II cover costs about $55, and a well-regarded generic cover costs about $20.
Can Your Grill Be Converted To Run On Natural Gas
Yes, most propane grills can be converted to run on natural gas with the addition of a natural gas conversion kit. The kit normally contains new gas jets, a longer flexible gas hose, the brass quick-disconnect gas fittings we mentioned earlier, and gas valve limiter stops.
However, there are other considerations to take into account if you are thinking about converting your propane grill.
- It is essential to check with your local plumbing inspector to make sure that youre allowed to connect your grill to your household supply with a flexible hose. Some state regulations require a more permanent fixture.
- If youre installing a new gas line specifically for your grill, you may require a permit from your local planning authority. Failing to get the right licenses might result in some fairly hefty fines.
- Youll want to make sure that using a conversion kit doesnt void your warranty. Weber , for instance, refuses to sell conversion kits for their grills and using one completely voids their warranty.
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Are Pellet Grills Worth The Money
Pellet grills are worth the money for anyone with a busy life that loves tender, slow-cooked meat with a juicy and smokey flavor.
They are also worth it for cooks who love consistent quality meat, rather than rare today, well done tomorrow.
Thus, the questions to ask yourself when considering a pellet grill are:
- How much is your time worth?
- Do you enjoy consistently succulent smoked meat and vegetables?
What Type Of Material Should Be Used For The Grill
The debate of what type of material should be used for the grill has been going on for years. Many people believe that stainless steel is too expensive, and that a cheaper alternative would be just as good. However, that isnt the case. There are many reasons why a stainless steel grill is not only better, but safer as well. Here are some examples:
Stainless steel grills do not rust. When you cook over an open flame with a rusted surface, it contaminates the food from the flames chemicals which can cause serious illnesses such as cancer or liver failure because of toxins in meat products. In addition to this, it may also leach iron into your food which can potentially create digestive problems and dizziness.
Because stainless steel grills do not rust, they pose less of a fire hazard. When your grill is rusted over, especially with grease or oil the more likely it is to catch on fire this can get very dangerous especially when you are unable to put out the flames due to the chemicals in the flame. A stainless steel grill will allow for easier cleanup and prevent future fires which could be absolutely devastating if not prevented.
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Made With Only Premium Materials
Theres no shortage of cheap grills in the market, but what sets them apart from Weber grills is the quality of materials used in their construction.
Weber grills are either made from cast iron porcelain-coated steel stainless steeltwo materials that are designed to help you control the temperature and prevent flare-ups.
Best Weber Budget Grills
Weber Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill Spirit Series
As I mentioned before Weber grills are pricey, but the company does offer budget-friendly models that dont scrimp on key features such as porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates.
The Weber Spirit II costs roughly $400 and comes with a rich set of features that includes a built-in thermometer, fuel gauge, and a stainless-steel deflector.
This two-burner gas grill is designed to fit into tight spaces and is powered by the GS4 grilling system.
Weber Q 1400 Electric Grill Electric Apartment Size Portable Grill
The Weber Q 1400 is a sleek and compact electric portable grill that is fitted with a powerful 1560-watt heating element. It offers a moderately-sized 189-square inch cooking area, and best of all arrives fully assembled right out of the box.
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Faqs About Weber Grills And Smokers
Weber grills are generally made of high-quality materials and are worth the money. However, it is important to do your research to make sure you are getting the best value for your money.
While Weber grills are high quality, other brands offer similar products at a lower price point. Ultimately, the best grill for you depends on your budget and your grilling needs.
The value of a used Weber grill depends on the condition of the grill and the model. Generally speaking, higher-end models will be worth more than lower-end models. A used Weber grill is typically worth between $100 and $200.
Grates Made Of Porcelain
Cooking grates play a significant role in determining the quality and performance of any grill that we purchase. Because we know that drop-in grills are already very expensive, coating the grates with porcelain enamels prevents them from rusting out quickly and protects them from wear and tear because of the high heat and power exposure the BTU receives. The quality of the material used allows the heat from the grill to be spread evenly across the surface to cook food more efficiently. The use of the griller prevents food from flaring, which may otherwise be very harmful to the person cooking.
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