Best gas grill for the money?

[Shooter]

Well, this all has me thinking I need to replace my grill. I got rid of it, because it was too big for my tiny patio unit, attracted mice and rats, and got in the way when I was brewing. Plus, I now have a back up propane tank for my burner. I need to look into a small gas or maybe charcoal unit soon.

 

[podz]

Gas cooks...no arguing about that, but absolutely no flavor imparted from it.

Sure there is taste imparted if you use lava and don't clean your grill. Most gas grills these days aren't built to accomodate lava, so I modify them myself when I first put them together that they will accomodate lava. They have also started making them with crazy cooking surfaces like enamel and cast-iron. I don't buy those - must be stainless-steel.

My lava rocks are full of all sorts of marinades, olive oil, spices, fat drippings, bread crumbs, onions, etc. The cooking surface, I rarely clean with a brush or burning. I grill every single day from May til October, rain or shine. I might hit the grates with a brush once every two weeks or so. I don't even wash my tongs, just toss them back inside the grill after cooking and close the lid.

I've been grilling for 30 years now, had several charcoal grills before but I vastly prefer gas. I can come home from the store, flip the lid open and start the gas before even carrying the food into the kitchen. I can be serving dinner in 20 minutes if I want.

Stuff like ribs and chicken flame up a lot. I keep a full water bottle with a squirt top handy to shoot out the flareups - sometimes once or twice per minute. Try that with a charcoal grill and the coals will die before you're finished cooking.

All that said, the only way to get a Weber gas grill that meets my requirements is to spend at least a grand. No way. I buy grills that cost a tenth of that, three burner, use them for 3 years and then get rid of them and get a new one.

 

[gwapogorilla]

Sure there is taste imparted if you use lava and don't clean your grill.

Yeah, I've been there. But, I for one keep a pretty clean grill. I can't stand it when you open the grill lid...and the grates have hair growing on them. YUCK!!!

 

[whoaru99]

Gas cooks...no arguing about that, but absolutely no flavor imparted from it.

If I want smoked food I'll use my WSM.

Once the charcoal is burned down to white ash, where it should be for cooking, it's not giving off any flavor of its own. The "Flavorizer" bars in the Webers to a bang-up job of vaporizing those drippings like what happens when the drippings fall on charcoal.

 

[PintoBean]

I have had an E-310 for the last 6 years and it still ignites at first push of the original igniter. Thing is built like a tank...It's moved cross country twice with me.

 

[tarawa]

Yes - Weber E320! Will last you forever. I love mine...

I agree. I never had to deal with Weber, but hear that their customer service is second to none.

 

[tarawa]

I have been using my Big Easy lately for a lot of things.

 

[ineedit]

Like most people I've had a number of gas grills over the years. We had planned a big cookout for my sons 1st birthday. Since the old charboil had seen better days I broke down and spent twice the money for a new weber.

I used that grill for the next twelve years. I only decided to replace it because of a deal I ran across for a larger weber.

BTW I ordered new buners of the 12 year old grill and now my brother in law has it. That was 3 years ago.

 

[GoldDiggingBrewer]

Yes, I have some thoughts....gas sucks! Sorry so blunt, but I must be honest. I have had probably no less than 25 grills over the years....and gas had the worst flavor of them all. So, I suggest going 1 of two ways....

Spot on. I agree. I am a big BBQ guy. In fact, I BBQ about 4-5x every week. That's right! 70% of my meals are cooked on the grill or BBQ using charcoal/wood.

I used to love gas in apt living, but once I went old school, I never went back to gas. Gas is only good for grilling burgers and steaks. I can get that same flavor on my stovetop. With charcoal/wood, you can BBQ low and slow. With gas, you really can't cook low and slow because the gas grills suck up more moisture and the food usually comes out dryer.

Charcoal grills are usually eyesores, so if you're a image freak, stainless is your best bet. But to me, it would be just furniture. If you're not into the veneer, then I suggest the Char-Griller 5050. That's right, Char-Griller. I personally use the Char-griller for all my exterior cooking. They make fantastic grills, aimed at the home-BBQer.

They started out with the basic cylinder model, with a modular fire box attachment. They have a new product, and it's currently being sold at Lowes. The 5050! This one has the gas and the BBQ. So you have everything you need to really experiment with low and slow or have a quick grill on gas. As a home brewer, you might find BBQ'ing as fun as brewing, and just as time-consuming. Mild warning with C-Grillers: they are screwed together pretty simply, so they may appear not as sturdy if not properly tightened up, making it feel wobbly. Don't be fooled. A good ratchet will tighten it up. They make great products for entry/intermediate level, and they sell mods/parts for all their grills.

I am on my second Char-griller spanning 10 years, and I still have the same firebox from day 1.

 

[broadbill]

Yes, I have some thoughts....gas sucks! Sorry so blunt, but I must be honest. I have had probably no less than 25 grills over the years....and gas had the worst flavor of them all. So, I suggest going 1 of two ways....

1)Charcoal...Weber Smokey mountain, hands down! You can grill and/or smoke on it. And everyone I had talked too that has one, simply will not part with them. They last forever too.

2)pellet grill...Traeger Junior, best entry level pellet grill. I have a huge Yoder YS640 pellet grill(and love it!), but I bought the Traeger Junior for my dad for his birthday, alone with an Ortech digital control. I got both off of Ebay for $400 combined, INCLUDING SHIPPING!
That little Traeger puts out the same exact flavors my big Yoder does...it is very impressive!

Spot on. I agree. I am a big BBQ guy. In fact, I BBQ about 4-5x every week. That's right! 70% of my meals are cooked on the grill or BBQ using charcoal/wood.

I used to love gas in apt living, but once I went old school, I never went back to gas. Gas is only good for grilling burgers and steaks. I can get that same flavor on my stovetop. With charcoal/wood, you can BBQ low and slow. With gas, you really can't cook low and slow because the gas grills suck up more moisture and the food usually comes out dryer.

Charcoal grills are usually eyesores, so if you're a image freak, stainless is your best bet. But to me, it would be just furniture. If you're not into the veneer, then I suggest the Char-Griller 5050. That's right, Char-Griller. I personally use the Char-griller for all my exterior cooking. They make fantastic grills, aimed at the home-BBQer.

They started out with the basic cylinder model, with a modular fire box attachment. They have a new product, and it's currently being sold at Lowes. The 5050! This one has the gas and the BBQ. So you have everything you need to really experiment with low and slow or have a quick grill on gas. As a home brewer, you might find BBQ'ing as fun as brewing, and just as time-consuming. Mild warning with C-Grillers: they are screwed together pretty simply, so they may appear not as sturdy if not properly tightened up, making it feel wobbly. Don't be fooled. A good ratchet will tighten it up. They make great products for entry/intermediate level, and they sell mods/parts for all their grills.

I am on my second Char-griller spanning 10 years, and I still have the same firebox from day 1.

This is all well and good if you have the time, but between work and getting dinner on the table for the family, I ain't got no time for this. Gas grill heats up in 5 minutes, food is cooked in 15. Can't beat that.

Plus, the whole point of the thread was what was the best GAS grill....

 

[Darwin18]

I thought I would chime in on this. We purchased a Char-Broil propane grill when we got our first apartment. It only lasted a few years before many of the components failed and it rusted out. After doing a lot of research this past spring, I bought a Weber Spirit (3 burner). This grill is absolutely amazing. It's small but high quality. All the food we've put on it has turned out amazing. I would highly recommend this grill to anyone.

 

[broadbill]

I thought I would chime in on this. We purchased a Char-Broil propane grill when we got our first apartment. It only lasted a few years before many of the components failed and it rusted out. After doing a lot of research this past spring, I bought a Weber Spirit (3 burner). This grill is absolutely amazing. It's small but high quality. All the food we've put on it has turned out amazing. I would highly recommend this grill to anyone.

This is almost identical to what we did...bought the POS Char-broil a few years ago, rusted out and then died in a wind storm. Bought a Weber Spirit this year, could not be happier.

Spirits are supposedly built in China with the rest of the Weber line being US-made. Regardless, I can't see any difference in craftsmanship. Planning to take care of this one (have a cover, will clean out every year).

 

[mikescooling]

I can come home for quick lunch on the gas grill and be back on the road in 30min. I have two charcoal/wood grill's I break out for party's, they rock too, but they take longer, cost more to fuel.

 

[Jeepinctbrewer]

The weber spirit 3 burner for the win!! With the rotisserie

 

[two_hearted]

I've had the same Weber Genesis B (3 burner w/ SS hood) for more than 10 years. I've moved with it 3 times and it still fires up on the first click. Never had an issue or replaced a single part. I used to work at a hardware store in college and I sold/assembled/delivered thousands of webers. I will never, ever, buy a different brand.

I've got a 22 1/2 charcoal kettle and a Smokey Mountain too. Love 'em.

I once sold the Ranch Kettle to some guy. I was so jealous. Those things are massive!

 

[mikescooling]

yea but their like a thousand bucks.

 

[Pouliki]

I read whole thread.I know it is old but.Old advices is still gold sometimes

If people are interested in i recommend small electric grill for easy use its weber Q1400 - really really good electric grill here goes review for you weber q1400 review

 

[ctufano]

Just bought a Weber S-330 LP grill in stainless. I get to pick it up today. I'll never buy a grill thats not a weber, not for my primary at least.

I'm replacing my old redtop thats almost as old as I am (27 years or so). My father and I have rebuilt the red top several times over the years with new elements, flavor bars, ignition, etc. Finally its just rotted out.

Paid $1,005 for my new weber.. hopefully craftsmanship is close to before.

Next grill will be a ceramic egg... Dunno if it will be a Big Green Egg or not

 

[b-boy]

I had my first Weber for 15+ years. I never changed a part. I left it outside with a Weber cover on it. I used it all the time, even in January. The only thing wrong with it was the igniter. When I finally replaced it, I put it by the curb. Someone else picked it up. I helped him load it into his truck. He's probably still using it.

I bought another Weber about 3 years ago, and it's going strong. Last year it got hit by a 60+ MPH gust of wind that blew it across my patio. It literally did a cartwheel. It has a small dent in the door, but after replacing a few smashed parts (the knobs and the igniter) it runs like a champ.

I will only buy Weber.

 

[schematix]

First, my apologies for going along with the crowd resurrecting an ancient thread.

Weber makes the best gas grill on the market. They are quite expensive ($800-$100 for a modest genesis model, several thousand (!!) for high end summit model).

I have had a genesis E330 for about 4 years and it is great. Only complaint is that the cast iron grates rust out very quickly even when following the seasoning instructions religiously. They aren't really expensive but it pisses me off they disintegrate within 200 uses. Might fork out the cash for stainless ones next time.

Build quality was extremely impressive. In an age of cheap made Chinese crap this is a quality American made unit. All of the parts were heavy and durable. The powder coat is extremely tough. I did have an issue with one of the side trays that didn't fit but their phone was great and the guy on the other end even took apart a unit they had to take measurements to confirm what part had the bad dimension. I ended up muscling it into place but they still shipped me a replacement part quickly.

Char-Broils gas grills suck. In the end you'll pay more for the number of times you have to replace it and they don't cook as good as the Genesis. This is one thing it's worth spending more for.

 

[tmendick]

I've seen nothing but good things about Napoleon's as well

 

[chisena]

Weber Genesis E-330. Second Weber. I actually now have the S-330 which I love but I wouldn't say the stainless model is necessary. My previous Genesis lasted nearly 17 years. It was still running just fine but the inside lid was finally starting to flake metal. I have watched my friends buy and trash more CharBroil and Brinkmann grills then I can count. I'd never buy anything but Weber. Make the investment. It's completely worth it.

PS. It hit 700F the first time I fired up all four burners.

 

[JohnSand]

I've had my Genesis about 5 years. It's been outside the whole time, covered. My only complaint is that I wish it burned hotter. As for durability, I tried to move it indoors before Sandy. But the wheels were sunk in, it wouldn't budge. I figured that if I couldn't move it, the wind wouldn't. I didn't count on my neighbor's steel shed flying over the fence. That knocked the grill over, denting the doors. The next day I pushed the ruined shed down the hill, stood my grill back up, and lit it. I needed in the week without power.

 

[ctufano]

I work for Shipt part time shopping/delivering groceries, so I took a picture since with my shirt on it for the employee page (I've saved up all my $ to date for the grill).

Got it home last night... wouldnt light! The guys that built it put ignitor battery in backwards... Anyway, lit it and let it get super hot for a while. Then shut off to make some hop shots with wife, fired back up and cooked some thick strips.

Home grilled steaks... green beans with homemade bacon... homebrewed zombie dust clone... Fantastic dinner.

 

[imp81318]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I didn't want to start a new one on the same topic since this one is active. I am also looking to buy a new gas grill as my old one is... well, old. I know that by far the popular recommendation has been the Weber Genesis line of grills, but I really don't have the $700+/- to shell out on a grill right now. How is the quality of the Spirit line of grills? I know they don't come with the stainless cooking grates, but I have never had and don't really feel a need to have the fancy bells and whistles on the higher-end Weber grills (side burner, rotisserie, etc). I am looking for a basic gas grill that has a bit more room than my current one (400 sq. ft.).

I was leaning toward trying to go with another more 'economy' grill, but as I've thought about it a bit more, I am thinking that it might make more sense to shell out the extra $$$ to get a Weber, as long as the Spirit line will have the longevity of the higher-end Genesis line that seems to be what the reputation is built around. Thoughts?

(For what it's worth, when I have the time I MUCH prefer to use my Weber kettle grill, but for a quick dinner in the evening after work it is tough to beat the quickness and convenience of turning on a burner...)

 

[schematix]

The Spirit is basically a smaller version of the Genesis. Unless you regularly cook a large quantity at the same time you'd be better served by a Spirit then a cheapo grill.

 

[chisena]

I 2nd that! Spirits are great and blow away economy grills.

 

[imp81318]

The Spirit is basically a smaller version of the Genesis. Unless you regularly cook a large quantity at the same time you'd be better served by a Spirit then a cheapo grill.

Thanks for the feedback. When I do cook for a lot of people I prefer to use the charcoal anyway. My current grill is just a tad smaller than the spirit, and basically the only time I wish for more room is when I'm cooking chicken wings. Other than that, the space is fine when cooking for my wife, our 2 kids, and myself.

 

[Homercidal]

I've had a Char-broil for I don't know how many years. Decent cheap grill. I've replaced the burner a couple of times and the burner shield a few more times. Nothing too major went wrong with it.

That said, I'd love to be able to upgrade to something nice. Good to hear people are recommending the Spirit line of Weber grills. I can't spend the big bucks to go with the higher priced models, and I'm not sure I can swing the Spirit, but it will be on my radar in case we decide to finally dump the Char-broil. The shield is rotting away again, and the burner is getting uneven again. If parts are still available, I might be able to fix it again for $50.

 

[TorMag]

As a kid, I learned to grill using charcoal. After I got married, I switched to gas, and went almost 30 years using gas. Highly convenient. Got a BGE for my 51st birthday and will never go back to gas. I forgot how much charcoal adds to the flavor profile of whatever you are grilling. I'm not saying to get a BGE, just go lump charcoal.