25 Top Gas Grills Compared
All too often consumers seeking a high end stainless steel gas
grill are won over by a manufacturer's reputation, the look of
the grill or other factors such as recommendations from friends
or family. Now, this is a fairly large investment, as appliances
go, and consulting an expert in the field could help in making
an informed decision. A reliable gas grill specialist can help
you evaluate the various features found in these high end grills
and quide you to the best choice for the features you prefer.
The simplest way to compare the manufacturers objectively, of
course, is with a chart! Our chart compares Fire Magic,
Alfresco, Kenmore Elite, Viking, DCS, Dacor, Lynx, Vintage,
Weber Summit Gold D, Wolf, Altima, Turbo, ProFire, Phoenix, Tec,
Solaire Infrared, Vieluxe, Lazy Man, Jenn Air, Holland,
FrontGate, Capitol, Crown Verity, Ducane and Dynasty.
Some of the features on the chart are:
*BTU Output: How many burners, and how many BTUs are standard?
You'll need to do some math to determine the actual heat your
food will receive. Ideally, you want to have over 95 BTU's per
square inch of cooking surface. How will you know? Take your
total BTU's and divide it by the primary cooking surface. So....
if your cooking surface is 660 square inches and the total BTU's
are 104,000 then 104,000 BTU's divided by 660 square inches =
157 BTU's per square inch. That would be a winner!!!
*Temperature Range: This is a very important characteristic if
you like to do a variety of cooking. You'll be able to do
everything from searing steaks to baking pizza with a large
temperature range.
*Burner material can consist of cast stainless steel, stainless
steel sheet metal, cast iron, infra-red and even cast brass,
which is used in commercial settings. Dual burners allow for
indirect cooking and better heat control. Cast brass or cast
stainless burners are your best bet. They will last longer and
are more durable. Grease tends to burn through sheet metal
easily.
*Infra-Red Burners are an option for those who demand a well
seared steak. Thinking of an infra-red cooking system?
Temperatures on an infra-red cooking system can reach up to 1600
degrees on some grills. Infra-red cooking allows for quick, high
temperatures, which cuts cooking time and helps seal in juices
-- perfect for searing a steak. If blackened food or steaks are
your taste preference - infra-red cooking is the way to go. If
you plan on conventional cooking -- go with a hybrid that offers
infra-red and standard burners. Tip - make sure you can convert
infra-red burners back to standard for large parties.
*Rotisserie backburners are a popular option. Used to cook large
pieces of meat evenly, rotisseries use a lot less heat than
normal grilling. BTU ranges generally range in the 13-15,000
category but the best grills offer 18-28,000 BTUs. Meats cooked
using a rotisserie are generally juicier, self-basted and slow
roasted. Tip - look for a model with a drip tray to make cleanup
easier. Be sure to compare available rotisserie space,
especially if you want to roast a turkey or two.
*A Triple Gourmet Grill allows you to use gas, infra-red AND
charcoal cooking! How versatile can you get!!
*An adjustable smoker box is perfect for those who enjoy the
added flavor of hickory, mesquite or other wood to your meats.
It makes smoking easy. Adjustable vents allow you to control the
amount of smoke flavor to provide just the right taste.
*Warranty is one of the most important features to consider.
Only the best grills offer a warranty against a condition called
burn through which affects the burners.
*Does the grill you are considering offer a countertop model?
These types of gas grills can be dropped into an outdoor kitchen
which can be customized with your choice of tile, stucco or
other solid surfaces, doors, drawers and other accessories like
refrigerators or sinks.
*Cooking Grids: Stainless steel cooking surfaces won't rust or
chip. Porcelain cooking surfaces tend to chip and could flake
off into food. No N.S.F. (National Sanitation Federation)
affiliates use porcelain cooking grids.
*Cooking Grid Size: How many people do you regularly feed? The
size of your crowd will determine how big your grill should be.
Tip - make sure you can convert infra-red burners back to
standard for large parties.
*Inner Liner: This accessory radiates heat more evenly to grill,
directs dripping to tray and separates the valve and manifold
from combustion chamber. This will prolong the life of your
burners and reduce the chances of a grease fire. The grill hood
covers the cooking surface and assists in trapping the heated
air inside. Look for a double insulated wall hood. If you're
buying a stainless steel model, with a double insulated wall
hood, it won't turn a brown or blue hue. It will keep it's shine.
*Stainless Steel Flavor Grids: This heat distribution system
should be stainless steel for long life and durability. Flavor
grids reflect all the heat up toward the grilling surface and
vaporizes drippings. You can add wood chips and other flavor
enhancers to your flavor grids to add some zest to your choice
of meat.
*Fuel Conversion: Will your grill easily convert from natural
gas to propane if you want to move it from the back yard to the
street for a block party?
*Side burners provide versatility giving you separate controls
for each burner. Side burners offer you additional cooking
options and come with single or double burners. You can fry up
some french fries or treat the team to sweet corn. The BTUs
range from 12-17,000, but be sure to look for cast brass or cast
stainless burners.
More Great Options:
*A power/wok burner will give you even more cooking diversity.
Saute onions or boil lobsters! Brown butter or deep fry a
turkey! Having a party? A power burner can accommodate a 26"
wok! With a range of 3,000 - 60,000 Btu's, the power burner is a
definite advantage for any cook!
*A full sear plate or briquette tray (which can also be filled
with lava rocks or wood chips) under the cooking surface
protects burners and allows for drippings to smolder which gives
foods more flavor. Look for a model that will quickly flash the
drippings eliminating flare-ups.
*Adding a warming rack will keep food warm and away from direct
heat and also give you extra cooking space.
*Add a griddle to your side burner and enjoy breakfast alfresco!
Armed with this information, you should be able to define your
needs and choose a grill that will give you many years of great
food and good times. Enjoy!