Gas Barbecues

What to look for when buying a Gas Barbecue Grill?

You can buy cheap gas barbecue grills form $100 and go right up to $10,000 for the gourmet or entertainer who wants all the full spec. To be honest anything under $1500 is not worth it. The safety and overall build quality at this price is often not up to the mark. A good price point to aim for is $500-$800 at this priceyou will get a very nice model with lots of premium features. The most popular models are under $300, but grills in the $400-$600 range are gaining in popularity, according to the HPBA.

Minimum features your gas grill should have:

Again, sturdy steel construction with a baked-on porcelain-enamel finish.

Heavy-gauge nickel or chrome-plated aluminum cooking grate.

2 separate burners, with 2 separate control knobs for greater heat control.

BTUs: 20,000 for small, portable units, 30,000-40,000 for a medium-sized model, and 50,000-60,000 BTUs for very large appliances. But note, these are relative figures. A well-engineered grill uses fewer BTUs but is more efficient, for instance. In general, the larger the cooking surface the higher the BTUs. But don’t get sucked into paying for 100,000 BTUs if you don’t need them. More is rarely better, just a waste of gas.

Flare-up control system to quickly burn or divert drippings. This increases the life of the cooking elements.

Upgrade Features:

Step-ups include shelves and warming racks, flip-up workspace, enclosed storage space, large cooking areas with up to 6 burners, improved cooking grates (as above), side burners for cooking sauces, rotisseries and infrared cooking abilities, smoker boxes or drawers, and stainless steel construction. You have custom design and built-in options that include the use of natural gas, if you have it, for convenient, no-refill barbecuing.