Advice buying a gas grill

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K

Kremlar

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
1,426
3
81
Looking to buy a new gas grill. My existing grill is a Home Depot special that's a few years old. Don't even remember the name - I think it ran me $140 or so.

My cousin is looking for a grill on the cheap, I'm looking for something a bit better, and there seem to be some great deals out there - so it's a good time for me to get one.

My only problems with this cheapie grill I have now are that I'd like more grilling space, and it does cook pretty unevenly.

I don't want to spend more than $250 or so, but it seems like you can get something that LOOKS real nice for that price. Target has a grill that seems well built, mostly stainless, that runs for about $260.

My question is - what should I look for, especially when looking at a no-name grill. Does a good name grill really command the high price? If a grill seems well-built, but a no-name brand, what are the possible problems? Uneven cooking mostly?

I know this is pretty vague, but just looking for some basic advice before I go shopping.

Thanks in advance!
 
Ryan

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Originally posted by: Ryan
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
I have a stainless Thermos from Target....love it.
Click to expand...

Whoa - me too - works great! :)
Click to expand...


bet I got a better deal than you ;)
Click to expand...

Bet you didn't - mine was free (parents gave it to me when they moved :p )
 
Ryan

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Originally posted by: Ryan
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Originally posted by: Ryan
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
I have a stainless Thermos from Target....love it.
Click to expand...

Whoa - me too - works great! :)
Click to expand...


bet I got a better deal than you ;)
Click to expand...

Bet you didn't - mine was free (parents gave it to me when they moved :p )
Click to expand...


bet I got a better deal than them


:(
Click to expand...

Haha - probably did :p
 
I

imported_Dimicron

Senior member
Jan 24, 2005
327
0
0
Don't laugh, but I bought a gas grill at one of the Fry's Electronics in Phoenix (The one with the Aztec looking decor). Had to sell it to my parents once I moved to VA. It was good and cheap.
 
MikeyIs4Dcats

MikeyIs4Dcats

Lifer
Nov 5, 2001
18,366
3
0
Originally posted by: Ryan
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Originally posted by: Ryan
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Originally posted by: Ryan
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
I have a stainless Thermos from Target....love it.
Click to expand...

Whoa - me too - works great! :)
Click to expand...


bet I got a better deal than you ;)
Click to expand...

Bet you didn't - mine was free (parents gave it to me when they moved :p )
Click to expand...


bet I got a better deal than them


:(
Click to expand...

Haha - probably did :p
Click to expand...


:thumbsup: Thanks for humoring me.


Anyhw OP, it went on clearance last year and I picked mine up for $160. (And I used gift cards from Dealpass :D )
 
T

Tommunist

Golden Member
Dec 1, 2004
1,544
0
0
porceline covered (or cast iron) grates are definitely something i would look for. if a grill has this it is more or less gauranteed a certain amount of quality since this sort of thing tends to go on the nicer ones. also the wider the grates the better. i have a kenmore that i like very much.
 
M

MrBond

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2000
9,911
0
76
Take a small magnet with you if you're buying a stainless steel grill. The magnet will stick to the cheaper grade of stainless (what most grills use), but won't stick to higher grades of stainless. We bought my parents a $400 Char-Broil from Lowes for their anniversary this year and it uses the cheaper grade of stainless. Even the next higher up model used it (and it was $500).

Invest in a grill cover with grills that use that sort of stainless steel. They're only ~$15 and they'll protect the grill from corrosion (magnetic stainless will corrode)
 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
I'd highly recommend you save your money and get a nicer grill (weber at the low end, dukane at the higher)

What you can expect from a cheap grill - flare ups/burning, uneven heating, poor grates, rust, difficult to maintain, will just fall apart after use.
 
K

Kremlar

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
1,426
3
81
I'd highly recommend you save your money and get a nicer grill (weber at the low end, dukane at the higher)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip, but I just can't justify the higher cost. The amount that I use the grill now, and the fact that I'm pretty happy with my existing grill, makes it unlikely for me to want to drop $500+ on a higher-end grill.

I'd rather put the money towards my new shed and deck addition/hot tub repair right now. :)

 
vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,344
126
The Charbroil Performance was pretty nice when I was looking earlier this year. You can find it at Home Depot for around $220 or so.

Great grilling surface area and it was the only one that included a griddle to put over the side burner. I'd use a griddle a lot more often than the side burner. You can do bacon, garlic bread, veggies, burgers, ect on it. Much more functional than a side burner to me.

I wanted a stainless steel one with a rotisserie so I went a little higher end.
 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: Kremlar
I'd highly recommend you save your money and get a nicer grill (weber at the low end, dukane at the higher)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip, but I just can't justify the higher cost. The amount that I use the grill now, and the fact that I'm pretty happy with my existing grill, makes it unlikely for me to want to drop $500+ on a higher-end grill.

I'd rather put the money towards my new shed and deck addition/hot tub repair right now. :)
Click to expand...

That's cool. I look at it as an appliance that should last for 10+ years, hence the recommendation on spending a little more.

Then again I grill 4-5 days a week, every week.

It's just amazing the difference between a cheap grill and a nice one. You truly get "appliance like" performance/longevity.
 
A

AndrewR

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,157
0
0
I'd recommend a Vermont Castings, but it's higher than your price range. I splurged on the grill so I could keep it a few years longer than the previous one. Since I move frequently, I figured a good one would be able to withstand a move a bit better as well (and if it breaks during a move, the gov't will replace it!).
 
mindmaniac

mindmaniac

Senior member
Dec 30, 2003
915
1
81
Originally posted by: Tommunist
porceline covered (or cast iron) grates are definitely something i would look for. if a grill has this it is more or less gauranteed a certain amount of quality since this sort of thing tends to go on the nicer ones. also the wider the grates the better. i have a kenmore that i like very much.
Click to expand...

I would agree, brands such as Ducane are known to last forever. My grandpa has a Ducane from the 80s that looks brand new and gets used about three to four times a week in the summer. But they take obsessive care of everything so that could be part of the reason.
 
L

LS20

Banned
Jan 22, 2002
5,858
0
0
my family has run through a few of them, and we currently are on the best that we've had--an entry model Char-Broil...
 
S

Sluggo

Lifer
Jun 12, 2000
15,488
5
81
Originally posted by: AndrewR
I'd recommend a Vermont Castings, but it's higher than your price range. I splurged on the grill so I could keep it a few years longer than the previous one. Since I move frequently, I figured a good one would be able to withstand a move a bit better as well (and if it breaks during a move, the gov't will replace it!).
Click to expand...


Thats what I bought for my Dad on Fathers Day. The lid weighs a ton, the whole grill feels really solid.

I got it at Home Depot, at a bargain price, it was mis-marked as a clearance item. Same grill all the other Home Depots are selling for $599, I picked up for $389.
 
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