Enjoy a picnic in the park with one of our portable gas bbqs, such as the sleek Weber Traveler, and enjoy food on the go. Or, savour the lovely aromas of slow smoked ribs from an electric SmokeFire bbq, as you prepare a delicious evening meal for the family. Sun, rain, snow, hail, and wind are bound to take a toll on the outer surface of your grill, so it’s important to pick a material that’s very durable. While stainless steel can discolor from high heat, it won’t rust or corrode with rain and snow. Enameled or powder-coated steel is durable, but eventually, it can crack or chip, leading to rust underneath.
We noted that it takes a little trial and error to get the grill where you want it to be, and while it wasn’t a top performer, it still might be a worthwhile option if you’re looking for something small and inexpensive. If you can afford to spend a bit more, we recommend our Best Budget option, the Weber Spirit II E Burner Gas Grill. While its spec weber bbq sheet is nothing to scoff at, we were equally impressed with the performance of this grill. It started up easily thanks to its electronic ignition system, and the heat was easy to adjust using the four knobs on the front of the unit. During testing, we found that the flame was very responsive to the dials from high all the way down to low.
Instead of being made from porcelainized cast iron, the grill grates on the Genesis E-325s are made from thick stainless steel rods. The advantage of stainless steel is its resistance to rust and corrosion. weber bbq So it’s possible the E-325s might not deliver as dark a sear on foods as the Spirit II models. But for the average home griller, the difference in performance between the two would hardly be noticeable.
Weber is no longer producing our former upgrade pick, the Weber Genesis II E-310. But this model is still available for purchase at big-box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s. For one thing, this grill has an externally mounted propane tank, which is easier to install and replace than traditional, under-grill tanks (like on our current upgrade pick). And this type of tank also frees up the area under the grill for storage of tools and other items.
After about 10 minutes of cooking, we compared how well each grill had seared the burgers, and we looked for excessive charring or patties that were still unacceptably raw. However, our picks are also sold in natural-gas versions, which are gaining in popularity. But they require that you have a natural-gas hookup on your deck or patio. If you have natural gas in your home but don’t have an outdoor connection, you’ll need to hire a technician to install one, and this may involve cutting into walls. And if you want to easily move your natural-gas grill into and out of storage, you’ll also need to buy a quick-disconnect system, which can add another $150 or so.
The other grills also have easy-access grease traps—not much to ask for, really. But we found the Napoleon model’s wavy grates hard to clean because we couldn’t run the grill brush in long strokes. In our tests, the Spirit E-310’s firebox cleaned up fine, with some Simple Green and hot water, and because it’s aluminum, there’s no concern about rust. While the burgers cooked, we kept an eye out for flare-ups—which can char the meat and create acrid smoke—and looked at the evenness of cooking across the grates.
It also effectively prevented any flare-ups, making it a good choice for new grillers. However, the downside of the plates is any grease that drips onto them ends up smoking, which may affect the flavor of your food. Overall, we think this grill is a great value, especially for beginners or those who don’t necessarily need an extra-large cooking area. If you’re looking for a big grill without a big price tag, the Nexgrill 4-Burner Gas Grill is worth considering. It has a fairly basic, no-frills design, but it has a 417-square-inch main cooking grate with four burners, giving you plenty of space to grill for a crowd. It also features a handy side burner and an electronic ignition, and it weighs significantly less than other grills, making it easy to move around as needed.
If cooking for a crowd is the name of your grill game, then you need a supersized gas grill like the Genesis II S-435 model from Weber. Available in both propane and natural gas configurations, this has the ability to produce 48,000 BTUs on the main burner, 9,000 BTUs on the sear station burner, and 12,000 BTUs on the side burner. There’s 844 square inches of cooking area under the hood, so more than enough room on this 4-burner gas grill to feed a crowd. The primary cooking area measures 646 square inches, while the warming rack adds an additional 198 square inches and can be easily flipped down and out of your way. The Weber Genesis E-325S is a worthwhile investment for frequent grillers, as it’s simply a joy to use. It comes in both propane and natural gas models, and there are even three different finishes to choose from.
Salvaggio has found that cleaning hot grates more easily damages the porcelain coating on cast iron, allowing rust to form. And though stainless steel grates are more rust-resistant than cast-iron ones, it’s still a good idea to follow this cleaning advice to keep them in tip-top shape. In terms of size, performance, and value, it’s hard to beat the Monument Grills 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill. This attractive grill has a sleek stainless steel exterior, and it features four burners across its 513-square-inch main cooking area. It has porcelain-coated cast iron grates, and it even includes a 12,000-BTU side burner and a rotisserie kit. Despite all these features, it’s still extremely reasonably priced, costing hundreds less than many other models we tested.