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Buying a gas grill can be a very difficult thing for those not in the know. Gas grills are also pretty expensive so you should do your own research before investing in one. It is not that difficult to understand what features to look at in a gas grill but there are a variety of things you certainly need to look at.
Size and Portability
There are a variety of sizes of gas grills in the market. Portable ones like the “Coleman Road Trip Grill” are good examples you should consider if portability is one of your main criteria for selecting a gas grill. If your aim is to look for a very portable gas grill, narrow your searches to those that are cheaper, lightweight and easy to move around.
If you want to purchase a gas grill for your next outdoor BBQ session with your family or a large group of friends then you would need a mid to large-sized gas grill. Many gas grills from brands such as Weber, Char Broil offer decent models for you to consider.
Gas Grill Features
Most gas grills come with basic features like
- cooking grates,
- heat burners,
- electronic ignition system,
- side working tables,
- temperature gauge and
- infinite control burner valves.
To break it down for you, the burners generate heat and some type of heat dispersal system is above the burners. On top of all this are the cooking grates where the food is placed. Most of these grates are high quality porcelain enameled iron grates that give you great quality grilling with great results. The equipment underneath the hood is what separates a typical gas grill from an excellent gas grill. This provides for even heat over the cooking surface thus producing better tasting food. Side working tables allow you to place BBQ tools or food while grilling.
Another feature to look into is stainless steel grades. There are lots of marketing gimmicks out there that you should spot to prevent yourself from falling into the “stainless steel trick”.
“Remember NOT ALL STAINLESS STEEL ARE MADE EQUAL. “
Here is an addendum to this article about stainless steel grades. BE SURE TO READ THAT AS WELL!
Understanding BTUs
If you’ve done your homework on gas grills, you will definitely come across BTUs as part of a characteristic of a gas grill. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit which is the amount of energy required to heat 1 pound of water from 39F to 40F. The higher the BTUs, the quicker the ability for gas grills to heat food. Some gas grills are very energy efficient and do not require high BTUs to achieve great grilling results compared to those that would require twice the amount of BTUs. Some gas grills have 2 or 3 gas burners which outputs more BTUs. A gas grill that has at least two or more individual burners allow for greater heat control.
Sometimes, less BTUs are better as it allows food to be cooked more efficiently. Larger gas grills have higher BTU as some of you might suspect since it has a larger cooking area.
Sturdy and Solid Construction
A gas grill set does not come ready made. You will need to set the whole thing up yourself. So you might find a good 1 hour trying to set it up. The issue is not with setting it up but the structure and stability of the gas grill itself after assembling it. Selecting a gas grill with a stable and solid construction is very important. A poorly built gas grill has the tendency to wiggle and may fall apart once set in place. Avoid buying a gas grill that is not displayed on the sales floor, make sure that there is a display available to be able to check out the stability of the gas grill before purchasing it so you can assess how steady the unit is.
Select a gas grill that is crafted of high-grade U.S. Steel and also go for a gas grill with a baked-on, porcelain enamel finish. Check that the grates are made from either cast iron, porcelain-coated cast iron or aluminum and stainless steel.
If you haven’t read our stainless steel guide, please go back a few paragraphs and click on the stainless steel link article.
Maintenance
This isn’t something that comes across your mind but maintenance of a gas grill can be pretty expensive. Therefore, it is important to take this into consideration before getting one to keep it running for years to come. Some brands may be unreliable when it comes to getting help for maintenance while others just don’t last that long. Some brands claim good 5 year warranties but results may vary when using. It also depends on frequency of usage and the quality of the individual components itself. There are a few things you can do to.
- Select a brand of gas grill that provides uncomplicated yet comprehensive product information and offers a toll-free customer service line.
- Check if the brand provide trouble-free access to parts and services along with a reliable dealer network.
For a more in-depth description on Gas Grill maintenance, check out the article below:
>>> How to Maintain Your Gas Grill
To Learn more about gas grill burners, starters and max temperature, check it out here:
>>> Gas Grill Burners, Starters, Temperature
