Below I have listed several popular or noteworthy grills alphabetically. Click the red links for current pricing and more info.
Alfresco Grills
Mostly built-in units.
Artisan Outdoor Grills
Blue Ember is leading the digital revolution for grills with the features on their top end units, especially the iQue. All their grills have stainless steel burners, a smoke box, a rear access grease pan, and most important, a bottle opener. A word of caution: In 2009 the manufacturer issued a voluntary safety notice. Apparently the hose of the gas tank can get too close to the firebox and be exposed to heat when the propane cylinder or grease tray is not installed properly, posing a fire hazard.
The Outdoor Chef has three burners producing 45,000 BTU under a 500 square inch porcelain coated cast iron grate. Mostly porcelain coated steel with cast aluminum on the sides of the hood. An internal halogen light and a built in electrical outlet are optional.
The Party Starter adds a 12,000 BTU cast brass side burner on the right wing. The left wind has a recessed bowl for ice, condiments, or even trash. The light and outlet are also optional.
The Performer adds a sonar propane monitor that pings the tank to gauge the contents and a 12,000 BTU rotisserie burner on the rear wall.
The iQue (shown above) has four burners for 56,000 BTU under porcelain coated cast iron grates, adds a meat probe connected to a touch screen controller with pre-programmed meat settings, two drawers in the cart, and a pull-out tank caddy. Click here for more info and pricing: Blue Ember Grills
. - Meathead
Brinkmann makes low end grills from lightweight, inexpensive materials. They will not last as long as a Weber. On the other hand, they pack a lot of features and bells and whistles into them, and they are very capable for the price. One of the problems in shopping for Brinkmanns is that they have so many different models, and not all of them are on their website. Sometimes I think they have some of the models on the website at high prices because they are similar to models sold in the big box stores at much lower prices so people researching grills will think they are getting a real bargain in the hardware stores.
Brinkmann Pro Series 4 Burner Gas Grill. There are four burners so it is easy to turn off one side and leave the other on for indirect grilling. There is a side burner and a rotisserie burner, all with electronic ignition. The rotisserie motor, spit, and brackets are not included and they cost more than $100. The grates are thin wire coated with enamel. The grease tray pulls out the back as with most Brinkmanns. The cart is preassembled and folded so putting this one together is fairly easy. It is cheaply built but it is cheaply priced.
Brinkmann 5-Burner Smoke 'N Grill Professional Smoker. This highly innovative design is really two discrete cookers in one. There is a 5 burner 50,000 BTU grill with 554 square inches of primary cooking space as well as a 12,000 BTU sideburner, and in the cabinet below is a complete enclosed small cabinet gas smoker. As with most Brinkmanns, the grease tray is removed from the back side.
The smoker has a small burner that may not be enough for smoking in the snow, the water pan is very shallow and will need frequent refilling, the bowl for wood chips is also small, there are two adjustable shelves, and a nice door gasket.
The grill's grates are narrow porcelain coated, the hood has an inner liner, and there is a rotisserie burner on the back wall. Click here for more info and pricing: Brinkmann. - Meathead
This company makes many different models, from small portables to large units with two hoods.
Specializes in cast aluminum grills with stainless steel grates and ceramic "briquets".
Highly regarded well made expensive gas grills under the Bull brand label, both cart mounted, and built-ins.
Capital makes two lines of high-end stainless grills on carts and built-ins.
Char-Broil is an innovator with clever designs and mid-range prices, currently emphasizing radiant "infrared" heat. They have excellent customer service.
Char-Broil Quantum Grills. I have a Char-Broil Quantum Commercial 4-Burner. This line of stainless steel grills has several clever core features and two glaring flaws. The burners line up from side to side, the best alignment for indirect cooking, and they are very close to the grates for high heat. They have enameled heat deflectors
The stainless steel grates have a plate of stainless steel below them so they get very hot and radiate the heat very evenly across the surface. The plates have small holes below them allowing combustion gases up and some drippings down, both good for flavor. Most drippings, hit the plates and incinerate, adding more flavor to the meat. Flaw #1: The metal grates are not the highest grade stainless so they rust and corrode easily, and the holes are too small so they need frequent cleaning or they clog. Char-Broil recently has announced some techniques for cleaning them that may work but they came too late for me. After one year, rather than fuss with them, I replaced the factory grates with another company's product, GrillGrates, which operate on the same principle, only better. With the GrillGrates, I consider this a superior grill capable of high enough heat for crisping steaks. Mine easily goes over 600°F on the grate surface.
The lid has an inner double layer to help keep in heat. It is capable of high enough heats for searing steaks, and can smoke meats easily by tossing food grade wood chips, sawdust, or pellets between the grates, right below the food or off to the side. The stainless on the hood is lightweight and is hard to clean. Much of the rest is painted silver. It can easily be adapted from propane to natural gas with a kit sold separately. Some premium models come with halogen lights inside the hood and a digital propane tank gauge. Some models feature a bi-metallic temperature gauge located above each control knob purportedly measuring the temp above each burner. Alas, I don't have much faith in the accuracy of these gauges. Still, even if they are off, they should give you guidance relative to each other.
The side burner on mine came with a cast aluminum griddle that fits on the side burner. The side burner has a dome lid so you can cover the griddle or saucepan if you wish. Alas the hinges on the dome are pretty flimsy. Flaw #2: Rotisserie cooking seems to be an afterthought on this unit. When I bought the rotisserie unit (it is not included in the 580), the left bracket scraped against the lid of the side burner so I had to mount it to the inside of the cooking chamber. That was easy because the mounting holes go through. You have to be certain to mount the motor upside down or when the lid goes down it won't close. The rod comes in two parts and must be screwed together. I had to have my local auto body shop weld the two parts together to keep them from coming loose.
Char-Broil RED Grills. This line of grills is entirely innovative and it is sold mostly through Home Depot. Below the porcelain coated cast iron grates, there is a dark parabolic non-stick bowl. Lift it out and there is another stainless steel parabolic bowl for it to sit above with the burner in the center. So you get this reflective bowl heating another bowl that radiates heat to the grates nice and even. You can throw wood chips in the inner bowl and they smolder nicely. It also catches drips and is easy to clean. Reds have a double layer on the hood, providing more insulation and heat retention. Cleanup is easy. The only problem is that it is not easy to set up for 2-zone cooking, but the entire grill is really indirect cooking, so you can cook low and slow, and then crank the heat at the end for crisping.
The Two-Burner Model has two burners and 300 square inches of cooking surface, 21,300 BTU primary burners, lightweight porcelain coated cast iron grates, and lightweight fold up shelves on the side. There is no natural gas conversion kit available.
The Stainless Model and Enamel Model have three burners, 550 square inches of porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates with 34,500 BTU burners, and a 13,000 BTU sideburner that lies flush with the shelf. The lid on the enamel is heavy, and this is good. It has a nifty rack in the door for sauce and spices, and a towel rack. The inner bowl is highly polished chrome for more heat.
The Four Burner Model has four burners, an auto cleaning feature that allows you to leave it on when you are done cooking to burn off juices and residue, and it shuts itself off. It has 31,000 BTU stainless steel burners, 580 square inches of enamel coated cast iron grates, built-in grill lights, a lot of stainless from the hood to the shelves and some other parts, two storage drawers, and a 13,000 BTU sideburner with a hood. A natural gas converter is available.
The Four Burner Stanless Model is another four burner that is mostly stainless and comes with everything that the other has but is amped up with with 42,000 BTU, 620 square inches of porcelain coated cast iron grates, rotisserie is included, so is a cast aluminum griddle for the sideburner, and there is a digital display for the tank gauge, timer, and meat temperature probe.
Char-Broil Quickset Grills. These are low end inexpensive two burner convection units.
Click here for more info and pricing: Char-Broil. - Meathead
Char-Griller 5050 Duo Gas-and-Charcoal Grill
This is a great concept, a capacious gas grill and a charcoal grill side by side, all in one unit, and you can add an optional offset firebox to make it a smoker, too. Click here to see our review on the Charcoal Grill Review page.
Heavy duty no frills, frumpy, but serious looking stainless steel grills aimed at commercial users.
The Ducane Brothers Metal Fabricating Company started in 1946, specializing in manufacture of oil-fired furnaces. They began making gas grills around 1975 with the slogan, "Buy your last grill first" and developed a respectable following. Indeed many Ducane owners seem hooked.
When the company went up for sale around 2004, Weber-Stephens swooped in and grabbed it. I asked the folks at Weber what the acquisition brought to their business. Were they concerned that Ducane simply cannibalizes Weber sales? "Ducane has Weber DNA," they replied, "It's a great brand that offers value to people who aren't in the price range of the Genesis line".
Manufacturing was immediately shifted from North Carolina to China, where Weber makes their entry level Spirit Series. Current Ducane product line consists of three LP Gas models: The Affinity 3100, 4100 and 4200. All three are virtually identical in construction and appearance: Black porcelain-enameled steel body with cast aluminum sides and stainless steel control panel and side tables. As one opens and closes and fiddles with knobs, it's easy to believe the Ducane reputation for basic, functional and durable grills remains intact. "Serviceable" is a word that comes to mind.
All Affinity models have stainless steel burners that line up left to right the way we like them, battery powered electric ignition, grease catch pan, two locking casters and two swivel casters. And of course the obligatory cheap built-in lid thermometers which you will want to ignore and use a more accurate digital thermometer.
Instead of a small grate, The removable warming rack is different than most, which are standard wire racks. On the Ducanes they are porcelain-enamel coated steel trays with slits cut through them. The heat distribution plates are very large, covering most of the area beneath the cooking grates and it’s easy to see why Weber chose not to refer to them as "flavorizer bars" as they do on the Weber line. One user griped online claiming the heat distribution plates are too close to the cooking grate and so large they catch all the drippings thus exacerbating flare-ups. That might be a problem, but in general, the closer to the cooking surface, the hotter the surface and the better searing.
The assembly manuals are of the IKEA variety: All illustrations, almost no words.
Ducane Affinity 3100 features three burners generating 36,000 BTUs and a grilling area of 407 square inch, slightly less than the 418 square inches claimed in Ducane's brochure. This small discrepancy is due to Affinity’s frame design which blocks small portions of the stainless steel rod cooking grates.
Ducane Affinity 4100 (shown above) has four burners for 48,000 BTUs and 508 square inches of actual grilling surface, less than the 526 square inches of stainless steel rod cooking grate. Stainless steel rod cooking grates.
Ducane Affinity 4200 is exclusive to Lowe's. It is the same as the 4100 but it has porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates and a flush mounted side burner.
Bottom line. These are basic, no-frills, value grills backed by Weber's good name and their stellar customer support. - Max Good
Dyna Glo
Dyna-Glo Dual Fuel LP Gas and Charcoal Grill
. Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout. You've got gas burners on one side and charcoal on the other. This has a hand cranked, adjustable tray that moves the coal up and down for good heat control and a 12,000 BTU stainless steel charcoal ignition burner to get the party started. Two stainless steel burners on the gas side, enameled cast iron grates all around with 700 square inches cooking area. Made of bare and black coated stainless steel with one 12,000 BTU side burner, one side table and a built in bottle opener. - Max Good
Fire Magic
Fire Magic grills have been made for more than 60 years by the RH Petersen Company in California. These luxury grills exude elegance and quality. Excellent in design and construction, beautiful to behold and priced accordingly. These are among the finest grills made.
RH Petersen began making artificial logs and gas fireplaces in the 1940s and quickly added BBQ grills to complement their outdoor lifestyle line. They produce not only free standing gas, coal and electric grills on carts and pedestals, but drop in grills and components for outdoor kitchens, including an array of add-ons like side burners, doors, drawers, sinks, refrigerators, kegerators, timers, lights and more. All premium quality and made in America.
Fire Magic builds two gas grill lines, their premier Echelon Diamond Series and their second tier Aurora Series. Some older gas models are still available in their Legacy Collection but seem to be in the process of being phased out. All are made with high quality 304 stainless steel burners, cooking grates and housings that carry a lifetime warranty. Warranty for various components then drops to 15 years for brass valves and backburner and manifold assemblies all the way down to 1 year for electric systems. Lifetime ownership is a Fire Magic mantra. All grills are shipped with conversion kits that facilitate propane or natural gas should your preference change. Echelons also include your own personalized nameplate.
Access to burners is easy for cleaning, smoking, or setting up a rotisserie. The stainless steel cooking grates are thick and heavy. 16 guage stainless steel flavor grid blanket the burners for even heat distribution and the cast stainless steel E-burners, actually shaped more like an H, are super heavy duty and designed to spread flame throughout the firebox. One owner likened the intensity to "a sea of fire". All models have electric ignition, built-in digital thermometers and meat probes, 12" deep firebox (mighty nice for rotisserie) and double wall spring assisted hoods. Removable warming racks can be stored on brackets behind the hood. These brackets also hold the rotisserie spit. Backburners include a stainless steel cover for protection when not in use. Heavy is a word that came to mind throughout my inspection. Everything looks and feels solid.
My local Fire Magic dealer clearly took pride in demonstrating his wares, stating the burners have a range of 200°F for slow roasting and smoking all the way up to 1600°F to sear steaks in minutes, just like steakhouses. All monitored by the onboard digital thermometers. He warns new owners to reduce cooking times, "It's like getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari when you're used to driving a Taurus". Echelon and Aurora both have drip collection systems that consist of a tapered firebox bottom draining into a small drawer accessed from the front control panel and equipped with a disposable aluminum tray. "But you don't get a lot of grease because most burns up on the flavor grids", he said, "especially if you do a burn off after each use".
Fire Magic designs are elegant and engineered for customization. The grills or "heads" can be purchased for drop in installations or mounted on carts and pedestals. The model numbers tell a lot about the model. For example, E1060i indicates: E=Echelon, 1060=actual or approximate primary cooking surface (in this case 1056 square inches), i=island or drop-in head for install. A660s: A=Aurora, 660=660 square inch primary cooking surface, s=stand-alone or mounted on a cart. For outdoor kitchen installations, anything in the vast Fire Magic catalog may be incorporated. Options for stand-alone models are more limited but you may, for instance, replace an E-Burner with an IR Sear Zone.
Bottom line. If you're in the market for the best, you should consider Fire Magic. If you're building an outdoor kitchen or souped-up patio you should consider Fire Magic. Outdoor kitchens are significant home improvement projects. Undoubtedly you want yours to last. One Fire Magic dealer recounted a call to fix an installed drop-in grill. When asked about its age the homeowner replied, "I bought this place 30 years ago and it was already here". To the astonishment of both men, parts were still available and the unit was put back in service. I believe this company will stand behind, in front of and on top of their products. Indeed, when speaking with Fire Magic employees their genuine enthusiasm is palpable. Of course you're not just buying reliability and great customer service; you're buying the shining centerpiece of your outdoor realm and a lifetime of enjoyment the versatility and superior performance these elite cooking machines deliver. What can I say? I wish I had one of these fabulous grills. If wishes were Fire Magic, we all would drive.
These are the basic configurations:
A660i: 75,000 BTUs Primary, 19,000 Backburner
A540i: 60,000 BTUs Primary, 19,000 Backburner
A530i: 60,000 BTUs Primary, 16,000 Backburner
A430i: 50,000 BTUs Primary, 16,000 Backburner
Electric ignition and digital thermometer are battery operated. Small battery boxes easily pop out from the sides of the control panel. All models are available with or without the rotisserie and the backburner raised above the cooking grate for rotisserie cooking.
For the s or stand-alone models add one 15,000 BTU side burner and one fold-out side table. All carts are made of 304 stainless steel. They include a retractable tool and paper towel holder, dual storage doors with six inch handles and heavy-duty swivel wheels. The smallest model, A430s, can be mounted on a post or pedestal instead of a cart.
A830i is a combo gas and charcoal side by side grill only offered as a drop-in. It consists of an A430i on one side and a matching charcoal grill on the other. The charcoal grill features a hand cranked adjustable height charcoal pan for easy heat control, easy access front door to add charcoal or wood and a 26,000 BTU charcoal igniter. Rotisserie and 16,000 BTU backburner are optional. The A830i has dial lid thermometers instead of digital (sigh).
These are the basic configurations:
E1060i: 115,000 BTUs Primary, 2 - 11,000 BTU Backburners
E790i: 99,000 BTUs Primary, 13,000 Backburner
E660i: 78,000 BTUs Primary, 11,000 Backburner
All Echelon models are decked out with blue LED backlit control knobs. A flame icon on the knob changes from blue to red when turned on. The flame's intensity grows brighter on high and dimmer on low. Bright, angled halogen hood lights provide ample illumination after dark. No batteries here, Echelon needs to be hooked up to 110V power. Heat zone separators slide in and out between each E-burner to isolate cooking zones. A long, stainless steel wood chip drawer is incorporated in the control panel with its own dedicated 3,000 BTU burner. Craftsmanship is even more stunning than the Aurora series. I was floored by seamless welds and attention to detail from top to bottom.
Some options are: "Magic View Window" to check food without lifting the hood; motorized hood; solar panels; remote receiver to check temperature readings up to 50 feet away from the grill.
Stand-alone models are available with double or single side burners and there are many to choose from. All 304 stainless steel cart construction with insulated doors and drawers. Retractable tool and paper towel holders. Fold down side shelf with polished edges and handles. Heavy-duty locking swivel casters. Two 110V electrical outlets with heavy-duty extension cord. - Max Good
GoGalley
GoGalley is unlike any other grill in the world. It is a four burner gas grill with a serious side burner, and a built-in cabinet-style smoker/oven. Smoke your ribs, grill burgers, bake cookies, and fry a turkey, all in one portable unit. The whole shootin' match folds up, attaches to a trailer hitch, and has a built-in hoist that lifts it up so you can haul it anywhere.
Solidly built, it is a fine backyard setup, and it is the best rig I've ever seen for tailgating or camping. I have tested it and I review it in detail on the page devoted to portable grills. - Meathead
Holland's difference is that they design their grills to cook by convection. Their cart mounted grills have cast iron burners above which is a deflection plate that spreads the flame and the heat to the edges of the grill. Then there is a large drip pan that sits under the food and radiates heat to the stainless steel cooking surface. Their hoods all have chimneys to draw air up through the oven area enhancing circulation. Fill the drip pan with water and it becomes a steamer or a water smoker. There is no warming rack.
Heritage Plus. Pedestal mounted, with polypropylene side tables, cast aluminum hood, a grease bucket right out in the open for the dog to enjoy, and "one temperature setting eliminates guesswork." Yikes.
Epic. Cart mounted, looks business-like (that's it at right), there is a wood tray for smoke.
Apex. Cart mounted or built-in models. Stainless steel hood. 13,000 BTU, estimated cooking surface 384 square inches.
Click here for more info and pricing: Holland Grills. . - Meathead
Jenn-Air
In June 2010 the Jenn-Air 720-0709, with five burners, got the top ranking from Consumer Reports for large grills. I have never seen this model so I cannot comment on it. They reviewed only 13 models in the large grill category, but in their rankings it bested KitchenAid, Char-Broil Commercial, and Weber Summit among others. Their website does not display their grills and they are not available in Amazon.
In August 2010 a reader wrote to say "I purchased the largest model offered, after a few months of use the grill started rusting around the doors and lid. When I called to inquire about the problem, I was instructed to call NexGrill [because] they manufactured the product for Jenn-Air (didn't mention that in the warranty)... I phoned customer service (NexGrill) explained my issues, I was asked to take pictures... and email the photos to them. Within four days I was the owner of a BRAND NEW grill plus the latest model available with a letter stating concern over the problem. WOW!!! This is my second go around with Jenn-Air. The stove in my home had problems after six months of use, the same bull [bleep] and tap dance as the grill... How would I have known what a great company NexGrill is. Moral of the story... buy from the company that manufactures the product not the no service, price jacking middle man, Jenn-Air!" . - Meathead
These are the grills dreams are made of. Kalamazoo has taken the concept of the outdoor kitchen to the next level. They make high performance gas grills and hybrid grills that can also burn charcoal or wood. Ever watch Chef Rick Bayless on PBS? When the Top Chef Professional winner and multiple James Beard Award winner cooks outdoors as he often does, it's on a Kalamazoo. Lookit those super wide grates and that huge, roomy hood. They make outdoor refrigerators, freezers, wine chillers, keg tappers, ice makers, weather-tight cabinets, wok-ready cooktops, a lobster boil pit, warming drawers, and an awesome pizza oven. They claim that the seamless rain gutter surrounding their doors and drawers makes them a "weather-tight vault, the only cabinets that will keep your tools, linens, serving pieces and spices clean and dry no matter what mother nature throws at them."
There are too many models to describe here, so let's just drool over the top of the line, the 900GS. Practically everything is made from heavy 304 stainless. It has 100,000 BTU for the 864 square inch custom cut stainless steel grates, plus a 22,000 BTU rotisserie burner, a 22,000 searing burner, and a 32,000 wok-ready side burner. Kalamazoo claims the bow-ties shaped stainless burners are capable of 800°F guaranteed for life. There are two smoke trays, and you can order a pretty nifty looking cabinet style offset smoker box with shelves for charcoal, and water. Even the wheels are heavy duty. Normally my Gold Awards are reserved for products that are a balance of quality and price, and nobody will ever call Kalamazoo grills bargains, but the get the prize on quality features alone. Click here for more info and pricing: Kalamazoo. . - Meathead
Kenmore is the Sears house brand, and the nameplate seems to be on other manufacturer's products.
Lynx is big in the outdoor kitchen concept with a line of five base units available as cabinet mounted and built-in models from 685 to 1110 inches of primary cooking services. They also sell side burners, warming drawers, refrigerators, beer taps, ice machines, beverage dispensers, patio heaters, and beverage stations. The grills use long lasting brass burners, cool blue lights above the knobs, halogen grill surface light, a lid lift assist system that uses a seesaw-like balance, stainless steel grilling grates,, wood chip box. As you move up the line you can get a rotisserie, and sear burners. A brief discussion of the heating system is useful. Brass is a fine burner, and is practically indestructible. Above the burners they place ceramic briquets, a system popular several decades ago, but abandoned by many manufacturers because the briquets occasionally need replacing. They are not the best system for even distribution of heat, and grease buildup on them occasionally flares up, but I like the flavor they produce. Click here for more info and pricing: Lynx. - Meathead
Sold only at Lowe's, Master Forge offers a lot of grill for little money by using inexpensive materials, construction, and components. While researching products I like to cruise the web and look for comments by owners. Many owners raised concerns about construction, customer service, availability of parts, and the fact that the brand is only a few years old and still unproven in the market. On the other hand, many Master Forge owners love their grills and are eager to post praise. Additionally, Consumer Reports 2012 Buying Guide gives the Master Forge 5-Burner Grill a "Very Good" rating and top pick for large model gas grills. So what's the deal?
The Master Forge gas grill line is extensive, from a small tabletop all the way up to an 8' long, 115,500 BTU, 8 burner, stainless steel deck barge that costs less than a Weber 4 burner Summit. And you get features out the wazoo: side burners, sear burners, warming/steaming stations, LED illuminated knobs, halogen lights in the lid, towel racks, fold-out tables; one model even has a built-in bottle opener!
The steel is thin, and some parts just looked cheap, like the plastic control knobs and the thermometers. As always, we strongly recommend you not rely on dial thermometers, and that you purchase a good digital thermometer to get accurate oven temp readings. Manufacturers would serve us better by replacing cheap dial thermometers with bottle openers. Nonetheless, overall quality was in line with other low cost grills. This is an important point. It's not useful to compare Master Forge to high end brands like Weber. Compare them to Brinkmann. However, if you're looking for economy and are considering other low cost grills, Master Forge may sweeten the deal with all the extras. Then ask yourself how long do you think it will last? Will you be replacing it in 5 years? The bargain price may not be such a bargain in that light.
Lowe's, like Wal-Mart and other big box retailers, carries popular brands and also has private label products made for them. This operation is managed by a division of Lowe's named LG Sourcing. Lowe's seems to have offered various grill lines for several years under various names like "Perfect Flame" and made by various companies like "BBQtek". Currently, Master Forge is manufactured by Sagittarius Sporting Goods headquartered in Taiwan. I have to wonder how the happy Master Forge owners mentioned above will feel about their grill in a few more years, particularly if Lowe's changes their BBQ line again. Any Perfect Flame owners out there care to comment?
I compiled a list of questions and called Loweís to speak with a product manager. There was no Master Forge product manager. I ended up talking to someone in Public Relations. She wrote down my questions to present to the right person, but she wouldn't let me talk to that person. She'd get back to me with answers. The following day she sent an email that said nothing of value and answered none of my questions. If this is the way they handle media inquiries from the world's most popular barbecue and grilling website, I shudder to think what customer service is like.
LP Tabletop Grill has a single U-shaped burner generating 12,000 BTUs, small folding legs, a locking lid for travel and a push button igniter. Stainless Steel body and grate with a 217 square inch cooking surface. The compact configuration by necessity brings the heat up close to the grate for a good sear on your burgers and steaks. Some owners reported igniter and regulator malfunctions. Be sure to position this grill to allow the propane tank to stand upright. This igniter is piezoelectric. The rest of the Master Forge gas grill line includes battery powered electronic ignition and lid thermometers.
2 Burner Grill is great for an apartment, balcony or small deck. The left and right side tables fold down for easy storage. Two P-shaped stainless steel burners produce 30,000 BTUs. Grates are porcelain-coated cast iron with a 346 square inch of primary cooking area and 109 square inches on the warming rack. Construction is black porcelain-coated steel with double wall lid, cast aluminum end caps and a single door enclosed cart.
4 Burner Grill has 4 stainless steel burners for 48,000 BTUs, porcelain-coated cast iron grates with 480 square inches of primary cooking surface and 188 square inch on the warming rack. This also features folding side tables and a single door cart.
4 Burner Green Gas Grill (right) has a neat look with its hunter green and black porcelain and powder-coated steel body and split lid. One side houses three stainless steel burners at 12,000 BTUs each and the other houses a 13,000 BTU sear burner. Porcelain-coated cast iron grates for 535 square inches of primary cooking and 168 square inches on the warming rack. The sear burner is smallish, accommodating perhaps two modest size steaks. Double wall lids and double door enclosed cart. Also includes an 11,000 BTU side burner, side shelf handle, attached condiment boxes, tool holder and a bottle opener! Natural gas conversion kit available.
4 Burner Stainless Steel looks pretty in the picture and on the showroom floor, but remember: Even high quality stainless steel needs to be maintained to keep that fabulous shine. If you cover this grill and polish it periodically, it will still be prone to discoloration and corrosion. It has four 304 stainless steel burners burning 48,000 BTUs and one 13,500 BTU side burner. Stainless Steel grates with a total cooking area of 444 square inches of primary cooking area and 125 square inches on the warming rack. Throw in two stainless steel side shelves and a double walled stainless steel hood. Natural gas conversion kit available.
5 Burner Grill. The model Consumer Reports rated "Very Good" has 5 stainless steel burners for 60,000 BTUs, one 12,000 BTU sear burner, one 12,000 BTU side burner, 576 square inches of primary cooking on stainless steel grates and 211 square inch warming tray. Inside is a 13,000 BTU rotisserie burner back by the warming tray, two halogen lid-lights and LEDs above each control knob. A unique feature is the pull-out table that wants to stay pulled out. I collapsed the table and tried to latch it shut with no success. Some owners complained about this so keep it in mind during assembly. I believe the latch has a very narrow tolerance. Master Forge offers a variation on this theme that appears identical except the retractable table has a slightly different design.
Modular Brown 5-Burner Grill with Modular Sink/Bar. The grill module has four cast iron burners (!), an IR sear burner and IR rotisserie burner for a total of 70,000 BTUs. 618 square inches of stainless steel primary cooking grates on a large cart with three stainless steel doors and brown coated metal cabinet. The sink module mirrors the grill in size and look with the same combo of stainless and brown coated metal. Both have granite counter tops. The sink includes a granite splash guard with a ìbarî on top. Of course there is an under mount sink with bar faucet, two drawers and one door that presumably encloses stored beverages. You also get a 13,000 BTU cast iron griddle and two 12,000 BTU stove top burners. In-lid halogens on the grill and LED illuminated knobs all around. A natural gas conversion kit and custom cover are included at no extra charge. The Lowe's 2011 Grill Buying guide completes this set with a matching 2.1 cubic foot outdoor rated refrigerator.
8 Burner Grill. Invite the whole neighborhood when you fire up this beast: five stainless steel burners, two side by side brass burners, a "sear top with warming station" and one IR sear burner for a total of 115,500 BTUs. Thankfully a natural gas conversion kit is also included as well as a custom cover. All stainless steel construction with a double wall hood and quick disconnect side burners. Stainless steel grates for 684 square inches of primary cooking and 264 square inches of warming rack. Control knob LEDs, in-lid halogen lights, slide out tank tray and trash bag holder complete the package. At eight feet long, with three doors and two pull out drawers, this unit is mighty big. In fact the oversize lid is too big to accommodate a rotisserie. Who would want or need such a large grill you ask? There were quite a few reviews for this unit at Loweís website and almost all were five stars.
Bottom line. The good news is you get a lot for what you pay. Everything with the Master Forge name on it is low cost. For example, a Master Forge rotisserie kit is $35 compared to the Weber Genesis kit for $80. The bad news is you usually get what you pay for. Only time will tell. - Max Good
A line of several grills in limited distribution that I have never been able to lay eyes or hands on.
A small number of grills that I have never seen and a website that offers little info.
Solaire grills are mostly infrared radiation, but a few offer both infrared and convection. They come in a variety of sizes, both pedestal mounted, cart mounted, and built-in Solaire grills all have an impressive list of standard features including removable stainless steel main burners, stainless steel bodies with welded seams and no screws or rivets, inner linings on hoods, covers are included, and can be converted to natural gas.
Cast iron gas grills, four burners, and griddle. Features include wok adapter, easy cleaning, and the meat is only two inches from the flames.
They make a wide range of sizes, all stainless steel, designed to burn propane, natural gas, or lump charcoal with an optional charcoal tray.
Sells a nice range of cart mounted and built-in stainless steel grills. Expensive.
Weber gas grills are simply the gold standard as well as winner of Meatheads Gold Medal. Designed intelligently with attention to details and built to last, they look good, work beautifully, and almost never break down. If they do, Weber is known for great customer service and for carrying an inventory of parts on models from years gone by. My 15-year old Genesis and I know from experience.
All their burners are quality stainless steel, have a long life expectancy, and they come with electronic ignitions. The body is heavy. The casters are sturdy and lock solid. Nothing wobbles on Webers. The grease drip pans are easy to access from the front, not the back as with many other grills. All models hold the propane tank inside the enclosed cart, and all can be adapted for natural gas. They have smaller vents in the hood than most gassers which means they retain more heat than grills with more BTUs.
All have inverted V shaped "flavorizer" bars that cover the burners and protect them while vaporizing drips and turning them into flavor that gets back up into the meat. All either come with a rotisserie or you canorder one as a factory accessory, though one thing must be said about the Weber rotisseries: They are skewer, not basket, type. They are tricky and prone to rotating and failing to rotate the meat. I prefer basket type which they used to sell.
Weber gas grills come in three basic flavors, Spirit, Genesis, and Summit, each with several configurations. Models starting with an "E" are built with Weber's sturdy porcelainized enamel coated steel, and those starting with an "S" are mostly stainless steel. The Spirit line is built in China, while the Genesis and Summit lines are made in IL.
The biggest barrier for many folks is price. Webers are not cheap, but when you consider that they last decades, the price is easy to justify. In fact, when you consider the fact that some cheap grills fall apart after 3 years or so, Webers might be considered a bargain.
My only complaint: All Webers have the obligatory bi-metal dial thermometer in the hood that gives you a ballpark reading of what the temperature is high above the meat. Since we cook on the grates, though, it's always better to bring your own digital grill thermometer and place a probe there. It would be nice if they would go digital in the digital age.
All models can be bought with add-on cabinets that nestle under the side tables as an option. They also come with table extensions. The cabinets have adjustable wire shelves.
AmazingRibs.com is all about the Zen of barbecue, grilling, and outdoor cooking, with great BBQ recipes and techniques: Barbecue baby back ribs, spareribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, steak, burgers, chicken, smoked turkey, lamb, barbecue sauces, burgers, steaks, rubs, and side dishes, with the world's best buying guide to barbecue smokers and grills. It is written, photographed, illustrated, and coded solely by 
About Product Reviews and Best in BBQ Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals are highly recommended products. Awards are based on features, quality, and value. Rest assured that when we recommend a product, it is really because we like it, not because someone has paid us to say so or because the company is an advertiser or sponsor. We purchase most products we review although occasionally suppliers send us samples. We have always been transparent about when we are reviewing a product sample, even before 
With a $30 donation you'll get a 100% cotton brushed twill adjustable low profile cap with the AmazingRibs patch sewn on. I'll even toss in a small bag of BBQ'rs Delight wood smoke pellets. Click here for 
