The Best Gas Grills to Keep Your BBQs Effortless: A Buyers Guide

Considerations When Buying A Gas Grill

Buying a gas grill is not easy. You need to consider a lot of things because you don’t want to end up with expensive equipment that botches your food. Worse, the grill that you might have bought could blow up your yard.

One of the most important things to consider when buying a gas grill is to determine the grill size you’ll need. Generally, you’ll need a larger cooking surface to do large batches of food more easily. However, there might be some limitations that hinder you to get a large grill.

To determine the right grill size, here are some factors to consider:

Cooking Surface Area

The best way to decide is to think about the number of people you normally cook for and consider the cooking area that best suits your needs. The cooking area is often expressed in square inches.

For the average household, a 3-burner gas grill that offers 450-500 square inches of the cooking area is adequate. If you want to cook for many guests and family members, the ideal cooking space would be at least 600 square inches. Many experts recommend allotting 100 square inches for every person.

The Footprint of the Grill

Aside from the cooking area, you may also want to consider the physical space of the grill whether it fits the space where you want the grill to be placed. Manufacturers require your grill to be placed at least 2-3 feet away from your house and other flammable materials. Most gas grills have side shelves that can be folded down so make sure that you measure the wingspan of the grill with the shelves opened prior to buying.

Today, a wide range of accessories are available to improve the grill’s cooking space without increasing its footprint. For instance, a warming rack can be placed on top of the grill to toast buns at lower temperatures.

If you have no space limitation, go big. The bigger your grill, the more versatile it is. You also get more temperature zone cooking options when your grills are wider. For example, you can sear the meat over high heat on one side and cook some side dishes on a lower heat on the opposite side.

Cooking Grid Build Material

While it’s important to decide on the heat source and aesthetics of the cooking grid, it’s important to select a cooking grid that cooks the food the way you like it. The ideal cooking grid should be strong, durable, and non-stick. The cooking grid is where you cook the food so it’s important that you consider the best material and form to suit your needs.

Here are the common materials used in cooking grids:

Stainless Steel

Most of the high-end gas grills are made of heavy-duty stainless steel cooking grids because they last long. Although they don’t retain heat as well as cast iron, they distribute heat evenly and are easy to clean. For better heat transfer, look for hexagonal and diamond-shaped stainless steel cooking grids.

Cast Iron

Most cast iron cooking grids are coated with protective porcelain enamel for less maintenance. Compared to stainless steel, cast iron is more cost-effective and holds a lot of heat. Opt for cast iron cooking grids without the porcelain coating if you want to offer an extra flavor to your food with your constant seasonings. Choose this material if you want a nice searing to your steaks.

Porcelain

Porcelain grids are an affordable alternative to solid cast iron grill grids. They have a non-stick coating to make the cleanup easy after each use. However, these coatings chip away over time and you can’t season the grids to impart an extra flavoring to your food.

Besides the type of material used, the thickness of the cooking grids is equally important. The thicker the cooking grids, the more durable they are. Thicker grids also offer to provide excellent heat retention and can give you those bold grill marks that you’ve always wanted.

Burners

The burner’s measure of heat output is important to the performance of a gas grill. For fast cooking, you’ll want the burner with at least 12,000 BTU. The higher the BTU, the faster it cooks.

The number of burners can tell how much control you’ll have on the grill. More burners mean more cooking zones to work with. For gas grills, you want two burners at least.

The design and material of the burner are also important to the total quality of a gas grill. You’ll want the burners to be made of high-quality materials to avoid frequent replacements.

Cast Stainless Burners

Cast stainless steel has a superior quality to other materials. This material is the best in resisting rust and corrosion. This type of burner is formed from one solid piece of metal instead of welding different pieces together to create a tube. They’re thicker than conventional stainless burners, making them more efficient in absorbing and distributing heat evenly.

The major downside to casting stainless steel burners is that stainless steel has poor heat retention. The temperature quickly drops when you open the lid of your grill. Like all other metals, stainless steel can still corrode but it will take much longer than cast iron.

How long the corrosion takes place depends on the type of stainless steel utilized in the burner. The best grade of stainless steel is the 304, which contains the highest amount of chromium- the alloy that provides corrosion resistance to the stainless steel material.

Ceramic Burners

Since the old days, gas burners have been constructed from molded ceramic blocks where burning gas is aimed at the ceramic surface reaching a temperature of about 1100-1650 F. The ceramic block lights an orange-red color because it releases a wide spectrum of radiation.

Ceramic burners are a more effective heat source than stainless steel because they hold and radiate heat very well at 25,000 BTUs. They heat up and cool down within a couple of minutes and produce a highly controllable kind of heat. They also don’t rust or corrode even after contact with acidic foods, like barbecue sauce, but they’re more fragile than their stainless steel counterparts.

These burners are also easy to clean because their smooth surface and simple design allow no juices and sauces to stick to the ceramic surface. If any type of liquid spills on them, they can be easily wiped with a damp cloth.

Tube Burners

Tube burners are located just below the Flavorized bars or heat deflectors of the gas grill. They have portholes where they distribute the flame to offer even heat distribution across the entire cooking surface for perfect grilling. If you find that the flame pattern is irregular or weak, check the burner tubes to identify their condition.

To maintain the optimum performance of the tube burners, remove any debris that might block the portholes using a clean cast iron brush. Brush across the ports, not lengthwise. Do this at least once a year.

Tube burners are easy to install. Multiple mount holes let you mount these burners for many models, like Broil King Regal S590 Pro. Since most of the tube burners are built just below the flavored bars, they bring an extra barbecue flavor to the food.

Cast Iron Burners

Cast iron is a common material used by gas grills because it’s heavy-duty and it has excellent heat retention. It holds more heat if the casting of the burner is thicker. In terms of cost-effectiveness, cast iron holds the upper hand compared to other materials.

However, this type of burner could easily rust if you don’t maintain it very well. The rust and corrosion may narrow or even close the gas ports resulting in smaller flame. To protect this material from rust and corrosion, some manufacturers coat this with porcelain.

If you’re considering using a cast-iron burner, choose a thicker material. The thicker the casting, the more durable and resistant it is from rusting.

Infrared Burners

Infrared burners are the newest kinds of burners in the market today. Instead of having a direct flame like a traditional burner, infrared burners have a ceramic grid with tiny holes covering the actual burner. The heat then moves up to cook your food.

This type of burner burns extremely hot making them ideal for searing or caramelizing your food. This is great if you want to make the perfectly cooked steaks that you see on steakhouses. Preheat and cooking times are faster within 3-5 minutes and the cooked meat tends to be juicier.

The first models of infrared burners had “high” as the only heat setting. Now, newer models have a wider temperature control range to cook a variety of foods. For more cooking flexibility, pair this burner with standard burners.

Stamped Stainless Burners

Stainless steel stamping offers a high level of corrosion resistance, durability, and a dazzling finish. These burners are usually made of low-grade stainless steel and they’re made by stamping the top and bottom. Just like stainless steel, stamped stainless burners are easy to maintain, are resistant to corrosion, and have a shiny aesthetic.

Austenitic stainless steel (300 series) is utilized for most stamped stainless steel burners. The 300 series stainless steels have high ductility and great tensile strength in comparison to carbon grade steels. The most popular austenitic steel is Type 304 and 316.

Portability

If you plan to use a gas grill in your outdoor adventures, then you need to consider the portability of the unit. Think about the weight you’re willing to carry before making a decision.

Portable grills come in two types- tabletop grills and cart-style grills. Tabletop models can be lightweight or hefty while the cart-style models usually weigh around 40-60 lbs.

Where you plan to bring your grill also matters in your consideration for its portability. For camping, tailgating, and picnic, a small and lightweight model would be ideal. Most of these models can be folded easily and they come with a handle for easy transport.

If you want a portable grill for your home, a cart-style model is perfect. These grills have built-in wheels to make them easy to move around. They often have foldable side shelves so they fit into your limited space area when stored. For great stability, you should set this grill on a flat and stable surface.

Fuel Type

Gas grills use either propane gas or natural gas as fuel. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Liquid propane has been the most popular fuel type for many years but recently, many customers have been installing natural gas lines in their homes. The constant gas supply is the main benefit of using natural gas. Unlike liquid propane tanks, you don’t need to exchange the tank periodically when it runs out.

Although liquid propane tanks need regular maintenance, they still offer benefits to using them. You can easily relocate the propane grill and it is more affordable than installing a gas line. Since liquid propane tanks have been standardized, they fit most gas grills.

Storage

You’ll need space for food preparation, condiments, and other cooking essentials. The shelves on the side will provide all that needed space for a convenient grilling experience. Look for fold-down side shelves if you have limited space, or opt for enclosed cabinet storage if you want to hide the cooking essentials from view.

The best grills have special hooks to hang your cooking utensils, like tongs. These hooks are often designed on the side shelf. The best grill models even offer pull-out-drawers and a special tray for condiments.

Warranty

A good warranty gives you peace of mind that the grill won’t break easily. Most grills offer a 1-year warranty but the top quality models offer a 10-years warranty for the burners alone. Some brands even give lifetime warranties to the burners, like Chef’s Choice and Blaze grills.

Features to Think About Before Buying

Check out these features that the best gas grills are offering.

Rotisserie

If you want to make a whole roast chicken or tender ribs, a rotisserie feature might be a great addition to your gas grill. Also known as spit-roasting, rotisserie is a roasting style where meat is pierced on a spit, gently rotated, and cooked above the cooking grate. Top-quality gas grills are designed with a rear infrared burner to provide even heat distribution when cooking rotisserie meat.

Searing Zone

A searing zone is a new feature that will help you sear your steaks like a pro. A good searing makes the crust delightful and blackened offering a unique contrast to the juicy interior of your meat. A searing zone is usually composed of three burners placed near each other to get hotter more quickly than other cooking areas.

Smoker Box

This small piece of metal container may be built into the unit or can be purchased as an additional feature. The smoker box is useful in infusing a smoky flavor into your food. It uses burning chips to generate smoke and cover the food while it’s grilling.

Side Burner

A side burner gives you more cooking versatility as it allows you to cook other dishes while you’re grilling the meat in the primary cooking space. Like the burners that you see in kitchen stoves, a side burner is a gas-powered cooking area affixed to the grill’s side. It’s usually smaller than the primary cooking grate of the grill.

Electronic Ignition

An electronic ignition brings more safety to the grill because you don’t need to use a match to light the grill. It’s also very convenient because it usually ignites the burner on the first try. There are two basic types of electronic ignition- piezo starter and spark generator. A piezo starter or a piezo ignition uses no external source power to work while a spark generator requires a battery to produce a spark.

Gas Grill Maintenance Tips

Preheat your grill each time you turn it on to clean and sterilize your gas grill.

After every use, brush the cooking grate to clean the cooking surface. Turn the heat on the highest level after removing the last food to dissipate all of the drippings and fats in your grill. Once it has cooled down, cover your grill.

Clean the grill every 10 cookouts. Take out the cooking grates and clean them with a grill brush. Also, clean off those barriers below the grates and above the burners then brush out any residue into the drip pan below. Empty or replace the grease drip pan. Put all components back and heat up the grip for around 10 minutes or until no smoke comes out of the grill.

Periodically or twice a year, do a thorough cleanup. Remove the cooking grates and the barriers, then submerge them in hot, soapy water. Brush the grill’s interior while leaving the greasy buildup to serve as a protective layer on the metal.

Now, heat up your grill and watch the flame coming from the burner. If the flame is lazy, remove the affected burner and push the holes along the side with a small wire then give it a gentle tap to remove any debris trapped inside the burner. Once done, put the burners back into the grill and fire them up again. If the flame is still uneven, repeat this step.

If the flame is already even, continue cleaning the grease drip pan or replace it. Wash the exterior while closing the grill. Remember your soaked grates and barrier? Wash them off and put them back on the grill, then fire up to dry all the internal parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions customers like to know about the best gas grills.

What accessories will improve my grilling experience?

A grill cover is one of the most important accessories that you should have because it protects the grill from outside elements that might cause the wear and tear of your burners.

To remove any food residue that might get stuck in your cooking grates, invest in a good brush, like the Weber Grill Brush.

A digital meat probe comes in handy if you want to know whether the meat is done cooking.

How many years does a gas grill last?

Some gas grills models, like Weber, require new flavorizer bars and grates in around five years or three years if you don’t maintain it very well. The burners normally last around 5-10 years.

Should you turn off the propane tank after grilling?

Regardless of what fuel source you used, you should turn off the gas supply when it’s not in use for safety reasons. For propane grills, it’s imperative that you don’t leave the tank valve on because it could go into bypass and reduce the gas flow.

Does propane go bad in a tank?

Unlike kerosene, gasoline, or diesel, propane fuel doesn’t have an expiration date nor does it lose its potency while being stored. What you only need to worry about is how to maintain the condition and integrity of the propane storage tank.

Are grill flare-ups dangerous?

A flare-up can be very awful, especially if it comes on quickly and poses a direct threat. These shots of strong flames occur when the oil or fat drippings from food hit the coals.

Conclusion

All the gas grills that we reviewed above are good on their own but if we have to recommend just one gas grill, we choose the Blackstone 1554 Station. The 1554 wins in terms of cooking versatility and convenience. It’s one of the few large gas grill models that’s easy to assemble and it’s portable with its four sturdy caster wheels.

For its price, you’ll get four independently controlled burners to cook several foods at different temperature settings from low to high. The burners are made of stainless steel, making them resistant to rust and corrosion. They can cook from breakfast foods to all kinds of meat while retaining all their flavor and juices.