Gas Grills - need help deciding!

[thefed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinanceDude If you used a propane tank it wouldn't matter how far you were from the gas line........

but it would matter when i'm half way through grilling and i run out of fuel.......


I should have also noted that we do not EVER use that side burner...seems like a waste to us....nor do we use 3 burners at once except to expedite warm-up times

[DeborahB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefed but it would matter when i'm half way through grilling and i run out of fuel....... I should have also noted that we do not EVER use that side burner...seems like a waste to us....nor do we use 3 burners at once except to expedite warm-up times

I have run out of propane more than once.... and thought of installing a gas line out to the patio. Good idea!

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinker25 I have run out of propane more than once.... and thought of installing a gas line out to the patio. Good idea!

We had a natural gas grill many years ago when we lived in Kansas - worked great. We're not in Kansas any more, so now we have propane.

Most propane grills can be converted to natural gas by changing out the orifice. Depending on how difficult it is to access the orifice in your particular grill, this can be very easy or a real PITA. (Natural gas is under much lower pressure so the orifice needs to be larger to have an adequate supply to the burners.)

[IndependentlyPoor]

Many years ago we bought a very expensive Dukane. It didn't work very well, but made up for it by rusting out its burners quickly. We replaced it with a plain old Weber, at less than half the price, and loved it.

[DeborahB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndependentlyPoor Many years ago we bought a very expensive Dukane. It didn't work very well, but made up for it by rusting out its burners quickly. We replaced it with a plain old Weber, at less than half the price, and loved it.

Could you please define "plain old Weber"? What model... Plus is the Spirit series not worth the money?

I'm seeing a consensus here that Weber is the best (with a few notable others). I also see a serious argument in my future if I want to buy a $700 grill.

[ziggy29]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefed but it would matter when i'm half way through grilling and i run out of fuel.......

I always keep a full spare tank in the garage for such emergencies. If I lived out in the boonies I'd probably get a large tank and have it periodically refilled.

[IndependentlyPoor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinker25 Could you please define "plain old Weber"? What model... Plus is the Spirit series not worth the money? I'm seeing a consensus here that Weber is the best (with a few notable others). I also see a serious argument in my future if I want to buy a $700 grill.

Sorry. Don't remember the model, and it went out with the downsizing. I'm sure the models have changed anyway.

It wasn't anywhere near $700!

[jdmorton]

Thinker25, I was in the market for a replacement gas grill earlier this year as well. Like you, I was having a hard time figuring out which grill to get and what features I thought were worthwhile. Right before I purchased mine – a Weber Q 320 – I found a BBQ forum appropriately titled www.bbqsource-forums.com. In the first General Discussion section, someone developed a ‘sticky’ post titled “Read This If Looking New Grill”. Here’s a link to that post http://www.bbqsource-forums.com/invboard/index.php?showtopic=6815.

In a nutshell, this guy makes the point that about 2 years ago, due to the high cost of quality metals (especially stainless steel), you can probably now distinguish the quality and longevity of most grills (not all, of course) by determining if they are manufactured prior to 2008 and those manufactured from 2008 on. He also makes some interesting comparisons of price points for grills – even paying the $700 you mention might not get you a grill that lasts as long as you think it might.

By the way, another part of the bbqsource-forums that was helpful to me are the two forums on grills made in the US and those made elsewhere in the world , both of these are right below the General Discussion forum. There are some interesting posts on a number of well-known grill manufacturers by people actually who own them.

[Westernskies]

Unless you are married to the idea of cooking with dead dinosaurs, I would highly recommend a Traeger Pellet Grill/Smoker.

[BigMoneyJim]

I bought my brother-in-law a grill as a bribe housewarming gift a month or two ago. From the online reviews it appears that everything except a Weber will rust away in a year or two.

The Home Depot gas Weber grills have a different set of grates than is available elsewhere. It's a very nice triangular coated iron grating, much better than the stamped coated steel on the Spirits elsewhere. I started staking out Home Depot's for a sale on the Spirit 210 (no side burner) and found one for well under $300, but I think it was a pricing mistake. It only has two burners, and there seems to be a big gap between them, but it seems to cook just fine, makes lovely grill marks, and the reviews report even temperature across the grilling area.

If I move into a house one of my first buys will be a Weber Spirit 210.

There are Spirits with three burners and Spirits with side burners, but I didn't consider them.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinker25 I have run out of propane more than once.... and thought of installing a gas line out to the patio. Good idea!

Yep, that's one of the things that we put in our courtyard for the new house. I'm tired of dealing with propane bottles. Plus it leaves the cabinets under the grill free for other stuff.

I think the 10 ft line that comes with the grill will be enough for me since the connection is right at the kitchen counter.

Audrey

[tryan]

I bought 2 identical grills (one for the house, one for the lake) ... then when one of them "died" (center tube rotted out) I stripped the good tubes and trays to use on the other grill.

Would have bought the same one again ... but it's been modified too much to make the parts swap.

Been my experience that knowing HOW to grill is more important than the grill itself.

[Bimmerbill]

I got a Q-200 and have been happy with it. The cast iron grate is HEAVY. I wanted something I could take inside so it would get ruined (I'm not good with grill covers). I can do that, but the grill is still pretty heavy.

The 200 was only a bit more than the 100, so I got it. The 100 is much smaller, so probably more portable.

I got the propane tank adaptor, so I can use my old grill propane tank. Local hardware store fills them up cheap. The 200 can also use those little cylinders of propane, 4 for $10. I may keep some on hand in case I take it on a trip or in case I run out of propane in the big tank.

[DeborahB]

I have been reading all this with great interest - thank you, any more info is very welcome. The bottom line is we spent a lot of money on good appliances, counters, etc. for the kitchen and don't want to add an expensive grill. (over $300). So... we are still looking and hoping we find something that cooks and doesn't disintegrate in a year.

I asked how much it would cost to fix the current one - needs new burners, new ceramic briquets, a new grate... guestimate is $80 and that just seems insane to spend on a 10 year old cheap (then) grill. Too bad we didn't replace earlier - apparently the price has gone up dramatically in the last 2 years.

Sears is having a sale. Lowes is having a sale (sort of). May just buy a basic cheapish one and see how long it lasts. Or - they are giving one away at the local grocery store so if my name gets picked this weekend - I get a free one! I can dream...

I do have a GREAT kitchen now

[jdmorton]

Thinker25, since you can't quite make up your mind what to get now, I would think that getting a 'cheap' grill for immediate use might make the most sense. You will then have more time to find what you want, as well as build up some money to get it (or get over how much you spent on the kitchen). If I didn't get my Weber Q320 over Memorial Day weekend, I was contemplating doing the same thing. My previous grill was a 'cheap' no-frills 2-burner Char-Broil gas grill that lasted us 15 years. The last 2 or 3 years it was out uncovered in some pretty nasy winter weather. Around here, I think Lowes is having a Father's Day sale on the 'cheapest' Char-Broil gas grill for less than $90.

As Tryan said, it isn't the grill equipment that counts, it's how you use it.

[VaCollector]

Well?....thinker25, what did you get?

After all of the ideas and comments I have fallen in love with the Weber Genesis S320 (stainless)....thanks to those who pointed in that direction!

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaCollector Well?....thinker25, what did you get? After all of the ideas and comments I have fallen in love with the Weber Genesis S320 (stainless)....thanks to those who pointed in that direction!

Glad to know I'm not the only one! Although I'm going with the enamel version with cast iron grates (E320).

Audrey

[mh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Glad to know I'm not the only one! Although I'm going with the enamel version with cast iron grates (E320). Audrey

+1 on the weber genesis. I'm pretty happy with mine.

[VaCollector]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Glad to know I'm not the only one! Although I'm going with the enamel version with cast iron grates (E320). Audrey

Ohhhh...stop it! Every time I think I have my mind made up.....

Ohkaaay.....I'll take a look at that too.....

Thanks!!

[DeborahB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaCollector Well?....thinker25, what did you get? After all of the ideas and comments I have fallen in love with the Weber Genesis S320 (stainless)....thanks to those who pointed in that direction!

We didn't want to spend the money for a Genesis (sigh) so we ended up with a Sears stainless steel grill with 4 burners (plus side burner) that was on sale for much less. We (he) just put it together so I haven't cooked on it yet. Crossing fingers that it holds up at least for a while!

Thanks for all the help - this was fascinating to read even if I didn't end up with the Genesis which was what I wanted from a cook's point of view. I think what we bought is a good compromise.

Hey, our last grill lasted 10 years so maybe this one will too. The burner warranty is 10 years on this one. We shall see...