Gas Grill Buyer’s Guide

Summer can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. A day water skiing at the lake. A trip to the beach. Cold drinks on a patio. One of the most common summer images many people look forward to throughout the rest of the year is firing up the grill on the patio to make your favorite meat and veggies with a cold beer in hand.

The most important part of making that vision happen is the grill you’re using. And, of course, one of the most popular options is a gas grill.  To help you determine whether this type of grill is the right option for your lifestyle, we’ve compiled the following buying guide to help you narrow down your options and, ultimately, make the most informed purchase possible.

The Benefits of a Gas Grill

While some people love the flavor of a charcoal grill in spite of the extra work involved, and others will always choose the convenience of an electric grill, most grill masters prefer to go with something that falls somewhere in the middle.

Here are a few benefits you can expect by opting for a gas or propane grill.

• Easier to Get Started - Gas grills don’t take as long as charcoal grills to get started and heat up, so you can get your food cooking quicker.
• Easier to Use & Clean -  Most homeowners will find this type of grill easier to use, as well as less of a hassle to clean and maintain.
• Easier to Use Year-Round - Further, if you like the idea of being able to grill food year round, then charcoal becomes a bit of an impractical option, whereas with a gas grill you can get the grill going no matter the weather outside (although it will need to be under a cover of some sort if it’s pouring out, naturally).
• Costs Less to Use Than Charcoal -  While you’ll pay more upfront for a gas grill, they also cost less to use, since gas is cheaper to buy than charcoal. And they still add some nice smoky flavor to the items you cook in them.
• Offers More Flavor than Electric Grills -  The convenience and safety of electric grills are about equal to gas, but they won’t impart nearly as much flavor. At the end of the day, most homeowners won’t find the results all that different from just cooking on their stove.

While some of these benefits may be arbitrary, it's safe to say that gas grills provide a happy medium of convenience and flavor, in comparison to other types of grills available.

Types of Gas Grills

When figuring out the best type of gas grill to go with, you have a few different categories to decide on. It starts with three main variables that you'll need to consider:

1. Style & Installation Requirements
2. The Type of Fuel Used
3. Internal Heating Options

Let's take a closer look at all three of these factors.

The Style of the Grill

First, you need to figure out whether you want a stand-alone gas grill or do you want to build one into an outdoor kitchen.

Stand-Alone / Freestanding Grill:

The vast majority of homeowners will want to go with a stand-alone or freestanding grill. They’re pretty easy to use – all you have to do is buy it, set it up, and turn it on. If you decide that you don't want to use a propane tank, then you may have to set yours up close to a natural gas line. Other than this one caveat, the freestanding option is going to be more affordable and convenient than built-in gas grills.

Built-in Gas Grills:

On the other hand, if you’re building an outdoor kitchen and want something that’s integrated into the space, a built-in gas grill is a fantastic choice that will do the trick. It will blend in better with the space and, arguably, look better than a stand-alone gas grill.

The Type of Fuel

When you choose to buy a gas grill, you’ve already narrowed down the fuel type, but you still have a choice to make - Do you want to grill with natural gas or propane?

Natural Gas:

A grill that uses natural gas will be a bit more complicated to hook up and you’ll be more limited in where you can install it. If you already have a natural gas hookup in your backyard or patio, then you’re all set. However, if you don't, then you’ll need to hire a certified contractor to set it up. Before you get a contractor out there to do the task, you'll want to make sure that you're happy with the spot it will be installed. It will be very difficult and costly to move the grill to a new location.

The primary benefit of using natural gas is that it’s incredibly convenient and much easier to use once your grill is set up. As long as you pay your gas bill, you’ll never run out and the grilling can commence. Depending on your location, it may even be cheaper than using propane.

Propane:

If you don’t want to deal with bringing out a contractor to run a gas line to your grill, then you can stick with cooking with propane. It's a popular option that is easy to setup. However, it's worth noting that you're exchanging an easy setup process for a bit more effort over time, as you'll have to sporadically replace the tank once it is empty.

If you grill a lot, then it may be wise to keep a backup tank on hand, or you run the risk of having to making a last-minute errand just to start cooking. Propane may also cost a bit more over the lifespan of using your gas grill. But, this comes with the benefit of being able to move the grill whenever or wherever you want.

The Type of Heat

Finally, you have two types of burners that each heat your food using a different type of technology.

Convection Cooking:

Most gas grills use conventional convection heating to cook your food. The heat from the flame and smoke rises up to the food, which heats up both the items on the grill and the air that surrounds it.

This works just fine for most people, but it may dry the food out and it take slightly longer to hit your desired temperature. Convection gas grills are usually affordable and perfectly practical options for most backyard grill masters, but for those wanting to invest in something a little more high-tech and effective, there’s another option.

Infrared Cooking:

Infrared gas grills use a technology that heats the food on the grill more directly. The grill itself heats up quicker, reaches higher temperatures, and offers a more uniform heating inside the grill than its convection counterpart. This cooking method locks in juices better, too. Allowing you to serve up tastier, juicier cuts of meat.

As a couple of added bonuses, infrared grills are also easier to clean and use less energy. Infrared gas grills will cost more upfront than convection ones, so they’re mostly a good choice for the true connoisseur that either grills regularly or is particular about their meats when they do. For those willing to spend the money, though, the results are often impressive.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Gas Grill

Before you choose a gas grill, it’s important to consider how you plan to use it to help you determine what your priorities are when deciding which one is best for you. To that end, here are a few of the main factors you should keep in mind during your search.

The Size

You have a couple of different questions to ask yourself when you’re determining what the best size grill is for you.

How Much Space Do You Have?

The first is: what do you have the space for? If you have a big, spacious yard, then you can probably go with whatever size you want. However, if you need to fit your grill on the small patio you have at an apartment building, then you’re a little more limited in your options. Make sure you’re aware of how much space you have available, so you can pick the best gas grill that will comfortably fit within it.

How Much Do You Plan On Grilling At Once?

The second question to ask yourself is how much you aim to grill at once. Will you mostly be cooking meat for yourself, or will you be grilling for lots of friends and family at one time?

A backyard BBQ with family and friends will always work better when you can actually make enough food for all of your guests within a relatively short period of time. If your grill is too small, you’ll have a hard time of that. Consider the amount of surface space available to cook on and the number of burners. If you’re grilling for 20, you don’t want to be stuck fitting only five burgers on the grill at a time.

The Cost

The price range for gas grills is pretty wide. You can find some smaller, simple models for around $100, with the other end of the spectrum climbing to well over $5,000 for grills that are large and offer all the bells and whistles. As you’d expect, the size of your grill is one of the biggest factors in cost – bigger grills will tend to cost more, while smaller portable models usually fall on the low end of the pricing spectrum.

Going with a grill that offers infrared heating or can be built into your dream outdoor kitchen will also bump up the purchase price, as will choosing one that offers extra side burners or a rotisserie for making perfect poultry. Additionally, brands with a greater reputation for offering even heating and long-lasting, quality construction will, understandably, charge more than those that use cheaper parts.

The upfront costs of the grill shouldn’t be your only consideration though. Think about how much the gas you’ll use will cost you over time. If you plan to use your grill frequently, then spending a little more upfront to set up a hookup for a natural gas grill will likely pay off in the long-term. Also, infrared heating is considered one of the most efficient methods of heating, so you can save on energy costs over time if you go with a gas grill that provides infrared technology.

And, of course, buying a more expensive grill often means you get one that will last longer. Is spending a few hundred more dollars today worth not having to worry about buying a new grill again in three or four years?

The Power

Gas grill vendors will typically include a measure of BTUs in their product descriptions. This gives you an idea of the power the grill will produce. Generally speaking, the higher the BTUs, the more powerful the grill will be.

Though, you should keep in mind, that larger grills with a bigger cooking surface will need more BTUs to properly heat the whole thing. So, in addition to considering the number of BTUs, also think about how that number relates to the size of the gas grill you’re looking at.

Heat Distribution

A grill that provides even heating will make cooking much easier. If your grill has hot spots, then some of your food will cook faster than the rest or individual pieces of meat could come out uneven. When the heating is well distributed throughout the grill, you won’t have to check on each item as often, as you can pretty well trust they’ll cook at the same rate.

Safety

Cooking in any form comes with certain risks – heat can be dangerous, and gas can cause both carbon monoxide poisoning and explosions if not used carefully. Lest that sound frightening, know that most people manage to use gas grills safely every day, you just have to make sure you know what you’re doing and buy a high-quality grill that makes safety a little easier.

First and foremost, look for a grill that’s sturdy. You don’t want one that seems like it could tip over or fall at any moment, you want one you can count on to hold its weight. Before you start to use a new grill, always take time to read over the manufacturer’s instructions, they’ll provide you most of the information you need to use the grill safely.

You also want to make sure you put your grill somewhere safe. In case of big flare ups, keep it a few feet away from the house and ideally on a surface that isn’t wood. It would be wise to keep a fire extinguisher near by, just in case it's needed. And make sure when you’re starting up your grill that you leave the hood open so the gas doesn’t build up.

Finally, be very careful that you properly turn off the gas after each use. And if you do smell gas, call 911 or your local gas company right away and make everyone (pets included) leave the area until someone can get there to check it out.

Durability & Warranty

Some higher-end gas grills come with a lifetime warranty. If you want to buy a gas grill today that you can count on for the rest of your life, then spending some serious money now can make that possible. Most low and mid-range grills though are more likely to last just a few years.

If durability is an important factor for you, then pay close attention to the warranties offered on the different grills you consider. Then check the reviews to see if customers mention how long they’ve been using their gas grills.

Extra Features & Accessories to Consider

Aside from the grill itself, there are a few accessories and features that you may also be interested in. If so, it would be wise to take these into consideration as you narrow down your options and decide on what grill is best for you.

• Rotisserie -- A gas grill that comes with a rotisserie will make it easy to make delicious, juicy poultry alongside your steaks and burgers.
• Cooking Grates -- The quality of the cooking grates your gas grill comes with will influence how long they last and how well your food cooks.
• Precision Thermometer -- A big part of cooking your meat just right is knowing the temperature. A thermometer that works and provides precision readings will make a big difference.
• Extra / Side Burners -- A gas grill that features a side burner can be useful for the grill-master that wants to cook a side dish alongside their meat. From beans to sauces, a side burner is versatile and gives you more cooking options.

Final Thoughts

While gas grills are just one subset of the larger backyard grill market, they are certainly popular with a pretty wide range of options available to consumers. Almost all of your gas grill options will be easy to use, easy to clean, and will provide you with delicious food that has that nice smoky flavor everyone loves for grilling. The right gas grill can provide you delicious meats on beautiful summer days (and throughout the rest of the year, if you so choose) for many years to come. The upfront costs can easily pay off in the grilling experiences you’ll get out of the purchase.