Need A New Gas Grill

[danski]

My old one finally died.

Thinking of a three-burner model.

Any thoughts on which is economically priced (what is economical can be debated) and also good to very good?

Thanks ahead of time for any suggestions.

 

[BarbC]

I go cheap but the features I like are the cast iron grill plates (get them porcelain-coated so they don't rust - ours aren't and I wouldn't get them again without the coating) and the grill controls that run front to back so that you can make one side hotter than the other.

Our old dopey $99 Festiva lasted 7 years. Now we've got a slightly less dopey $149 Charbroil which is 3 years old. The grill I really wanted is a Vermont Castings but I just couldn't spend that much money.

 

[DGNY]

Gas Grill

Weber - and enjoy! After a few years I did have to replace the grates, which were enameled steel, with cast stainless steel. Reason, steaming clams left residue of salt that ate the steel grates.

Regards,

Dyson

 

[whip2]

You can spend your hard cash on a Weber or get the equally good, but much more afforbable Char-broil. Look at the ones with the infared cooking system.

 

[bigcatonhd]

Char-Griller...made in Sea Island, GA. Built like a tank and VERY attractive pricing. In my area (SC) they're sold at Lowe's and Academy Sports.

 

[Snowbandit]

Not sure what's good out there but stay far away from Brinkman, sold at Home Depot. Ours lasted less than a year before turning itself into a rusted hulk. Can't even light it as the burners are completely rusted through and the outside looks like it's been sitting in salt water. Nothing but Chinese junk and it wasn't cheap to buy either.

 

[wheelieguy]

Weber + Home Depot + $500.00 = a happy July 4th

 

[mkk41]

Weber 310. Spend yer money once. Webers are top quality and cook great. Parts , if ever needed , are available everywhere and most likely will be for our lifetime. Tried cheaper grills , only to find when part wore out , no new parts were available or would fit. I made a stainless tray and use my old (now gutted) Charm Glow with charcoal now.

Remember , universal fit grill parts fit no grill in this universe.

 

[Farmer17]

I've had the cheap ones and the faily nice, big stainless steel ones and they all get pretty nasty after a few years. I used my pressure washer and wire brush to try and clean my $300 stainless grill that's just a few years old, and it made a huge mess and still didn't look much better after all the scrubbing and cleaning. As a side note, I recently bought a little bitty portable camping grill from Walmart for about 26 bucks and it has worked wonderfully for burgers, chicken, steaks, etc. and I can get about 4-5 meals out of one $2.37 propane bottle. It's real handy to take camping, picknicking, or tailgateing and when it gets nasty it's so cheap I'll just throw it away and get another one.

 

[chief38]

My Weber Silver - C is the best grill I have had to date. Its 8 years old and lights first time/every time. The only thing I have had to do is replace the bun warmer rack. I would not buy another brand after owning this one!

 

[cp1969]

Remember , universal fit grill parts fit no grill in this universe.

That one cracked me up. Thanks for the laugh.

 

[Onomea]

I recommend vinyl grill covers to keep 'em looking nice. I have a 12 year old Weber Genesis that is on its second grill cover. I replaced the handle -- just sawed and sanded a piece off a 2 x 4 -- 'cause the wood rotted through where the grill cover mesh lets water through, but the grill itself looks darn close to new, and operates as it did new. You do need to clean it occasionally, keep the burner pipe holes open, etc., but that is simple to do.

Replaced the gas regulator once, too.

I just lugged a Weber One-touch, kettle-style, charcoal grill back to Tokyo from San Francisco. (We had a thread on these a while back, and I got inspired.) I am debating whether to install a thermometer in the lid. Bought a grill cover for it, of course!

Re economical acquisition: I have heard people have good luck with Craigslist.

 

[smitholdtimer]

Grill Recommendation

Just a suggestion from an old retired gas man. I found a company called "Flat Rock Gas Grills" who make a line of stainless propane & natural gas grills called the "Shoreline" 3000 series. These are made of heavy 16 stainless with the wheels being the only material that is not made of stainless. Yes Sir, the round burners are made of the same heavy 16 gauge stainless of their own design. These grills function as an oven instead of direct heat and require a little getting used to but stand up well to being outside. The company says that you need not cover it but I have chosen to cover mine just to prevent the accumulation of dust etc. from accumulating. Take a look for them on the internet as "Flat Rock Gas Grills". Expensive, yes. Worth it, mine is. I am not nor have I ever been employed by this manufacturer and do not receive any gratuity for recommending them.

 

[haggis]

You can spend your hard cash on a Weber or get the equally good, but much more affordable Char-broil. Look at the ones with the infrared cooking system.

+1 on the infrared indirect heating system. Sears better, and retains more moisture. I got the smaller Char-Broil - cuts fuel consumption in half and still has a large enough grill surface for a dozen New York Strips or 20 hamburgers. Costs about $250.

Buck

 

[tomf52]

I have been buying the $99 clearance grills at the big box stores for years. Usually get 3 to 5 years out of them and then just toss them and get another. Forget that parts chasing and fixing them! Watch the end of season clearance cales at H-D. My neighbor snagged a $369 grille for $99 when it got down to the end of the inventory.