Tips for Purchasing Your Next Gas Grill

Gas grills are a popular choice for today’s homeowners, as they offer versatile and easy outdoor grilling. Easy start-up, easy clean-up, and loads of features and accessories make them the perfect addition to your outdoor space.

Shopping for a gas grill, however, can prove quite confusing, as there are seemingly endless choices in every price range. For purposes of this article, we’ll split gas grills into three categories – basic, mid-priced and professional-quality – and explore features and amenities of each category.

Basic Gas Grills

Basic grills are typically priced from $100 to $300. Some of their features include a painted cart, a cast aluminum firebox and hood, and thin porcelain steel grates. They may have features such as electronic igniters, side burners and stainless steel trim.

Most basic models have a small cooking surface, which can be inconvenient if you’re cooking for a large crowd. They are ideal for cooking basic burgers and steaks.

Mid-Priced Grills

Mid-priced grills often range in price from $300 to $600. They offer larger cooking surfaces, electronic igniters, recessed side burners, grease trays, and burners with nice warranties.

Features found on mid-priced grills often include rotisserie burners, smoker trays, double doors on the cart, premium grates and more stainless steel components.

Professional-Quality Grills

Professional-quality grills are typically priced from $600 to well over $1,000 and are high-end cooking devices for serious grillers.

Professional-quality grills are loaded with features, including stainless steel or porcelain-coated grates, heavy, cast iron construction, lifetime burner warranties and a large grilling surface. They may feature a stainless steel construction, as well as extra storage and a fully rolling cart. More burners on professional-quality grills mean more, even heat.

What to Look for When Purchasing a Grill

• BTU Output – Find out how many burners the grill has, and how many BTUs are standard. Look for grills which have over 95 BTUs per square inch of cooking surface.
• Large Temperature Range – A larger temperature range means more versatile cooking.
• Burner Construction – Burners can be constructed of cast stainless steel, stainless steel sheet metal, cast iron, infrared and cast brass (mainly seen on commercial grills). If it’s within your budget, choose a grill with either cast brass or cast stainless steel burners.
• Burner Specifics – Look for dual burners, if possible, as they allow for indirect burning and better heat control.
• Warranty – Look for a comprehensive warranty which covers the burners. Many burners constructed of sheet metal quickly corrode and have no warranty. Only the best grills offer warranty on the burners.
• Cooking Area – Examine the size of the cooking area. Clearly the size of your cooking area will depend on the size of your family and whether or not you plan on entertaining with it.
• Flavor Grids – Choose stainless steel flavor grids, which better reflect the heat up to the grilling surface.
• Fuel Conversion – If you plan on purchasing a gas grill with a natural gas connection, make sure that it is able to convert to propane if you need to move it.
• Accessories – Depending on your wants and needs, gas grills can come equipped with many accessories, such as warming racks, power/wok burners, side burners, and griddle accessories for side burners.

Whether you opt for the entry level or professional grade gas grill, you can still create delicious food that will delight your family and friends.  If you simply want an ability to grill your hot dogs, hamburgers, and steaks – without all of the other fancy details – the entry level can suit you fine.  However, for more complex meals with loads of delicious “fixings,” opting for a higher level gas grill may prove more convenient in the long run.