Choosing a Grill

Lesson

Before you start shopping, decide on your budget, the size grill you need, and the features you want. This lesson offers guidelines and explanations to help you figure all this out. Once you’ve got an idea of what you want, check out grill reviews online, and ask sales people in stores for their opinions.

Price

Grill prices range from $25 for a simple hibachi charcoal grill or $29 for a larger kettle grill, to several thousand dollars. We found one gadget-adorned model for over $20,000. Deciding on a price range will help narrow your options.

Size

If you usually barbecue for 2 or 3 people, or have limited space to use the grill, opt for a smaller one. If you regularly cook for lots of people, consider a larger one, like a 42 inch grill.

Gas or Charcoal or Electric

All three types do a great job of grillin’, but each has different benefits:

• Gas grills are usually more expensive, but they heat up and turn off instantly. Propane tanks are forbidden in some large cities, so check your local laws.
• Charcoal grills take about 30 to 40 minutes to heat up and require you to have a place to dispose of the charcoal ash.
• Electric grills are perfect for apartment dwellers that have little space and open flame restrictions. However, electric grills don’t typically generate very high heat, so searing a steak may be difficult if not impossible. But if you generally cook hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken breasts – no problem.

Construction

The old adage “You get what you pay for,” holds true for selecting a grill. Cheap models made from flimsy material may be fine for one summer, but they will fall apart eventually. We recommend spending a bit more up front if you can, knowing the grill will last longer.

Look for galvanized steel or cast aluminum, cast iron, stainless steel, or ceramic coated grills, with rust-proof hardware. Cast aluminum outlasts stainless steel by quite a bit. And watch out for stainless steel mounted on steel frames—the frames will rust more quickly than stainless steel and your grill won’t last as long.

Test each grill by closing the lid. If it feels solid, you’ve got a pretty good barbecue. But remember to keep in mind what it’s made of.

BTUs

Large BTUs (British Thermal Units) might seem impressive, but shouldn’t be a deciding factor. Cooking efficiency should be the key factor. We suggest 100 BTUs for every square inch of grill surface. The higher the BTUs, the faster the barbecue burns up propane fuel. Small grills with lower BTUs can often produce higher cooking temperatures than large grills with high BTUs.

Features

Gas grills offer the most optional features, including rotisseries, side burners, work lights, smoke drawers or boxes, side tables, and built-in thermometers. If gadgets are your thing, a gas grill may be best. Charcoal grills are much simpler, often including only a temperature gauge and the option of adding a rotisserie.