Grill Recommendations?

**brianhos** · 02-19-2011, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by isuaggie

Best advice I ever got came from my father-in-law...buy a Weber. If you can afford it:

Amazon.com: Weber 6521001 Genesis E-320 Liquid Propane Gas Grill, Black: Home & Garden

He's had his (Weber different model) for 10 years. Rock solid. Replaced the burner for the first time last year and the grates about 3 years ago. Don't buy the Spirit models because they have cheaper metal, rivets not welded, and assembled in China.

The link is what I bought last year. Awesome!

That is the grill I have, I love it also. Next I need a smoker.

**balken** · 02-19-2011, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by Senolcyc

A grill is a grill unless it's being purchased as an extension of your manhood. If you're already big enough "down there", go cheap. A $200 grill that lasts three years is the same as a $750 grill that last ten years. Except you get a brand new grill every three years. I go cheap and wear 'em out, grill 3-4 times a week spring, summer and fall.

I understand the math, but not sure I agree with the thought process. Even if you assume the grills are identical in performance, I would rather have a good grill for ten years than have three cheap grills over the same period. Plus, if you consider you will have a grill on its last legs three times and need to make three purchases, I am not sure that is a better deal. Also, there are usually compromises on features like number of burners (for indirect heating), grilling area, etc.

Mostly subjective, but to each his own.

**cdekovic** · 02-19-2011, 05:19 PM

When I bought my current grill about 5 years ago the #1 Consumer Reports "Best Buy" recommendation was a Vermont Castings grill from Home Depot. That's what I bought and I love it. However, the current CR "Best Buy" is a Kenmore model 16641. They also rate these very high. The Weber is +$700, the Charbroil is $450
Weber Genesis E320
Char-Broil Red 463250509 (Home Depot)

**CYdTracked** · 02-19-2011, 05:40 PM

My $80 Charcoal Weber is all I have ever needed. About to make some BBQ chicken quarters on it tonight!

**dmclone** · 02-19-2011, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by CYdTracked

My $80 Charcoal Weber is all I have ever needed. About to make some BBQ chicken quarters on it tonight!

Ditto. I went from a cheap gas grill that wore out after 4 years to a big classic charcoal weber.

**minnesotaclone** · 02-19-2011, 05:56 PM

I've not used many grills, but observed and researched a few. I ended up buying a BroilKing Sovereign and really like it for a number of reasons.
1. It's cast aluminum which retains heat well. It's got stainless steel trim to look nice and clean up nice.
2. It came with really heavy steel grates the have two surfaces (steak lines vs. tender chicken) They require some maintenance - seasoning.
3. It's heavy on the BTU's
4. Lifetime warranty on burners
5. Folding, sturdy side tables.
6. Rotisary (Spelling)
7. Build pretty sturdy (better than most all I've seen)

I've been really pleased with it and spent 500 at the end of the season.

Here are my thoughts on the following.

Weber - solid gas grill, but made for mass-production. However, sold just about anywhere. I have a large charcoal grill - charcoal grilling and weber go hand in hand. Webers are easy to assemble, but you can get a better upper end grill with more in a different line.

Green Egg - neat idea, holds heat well, too heavy and expensive and cumbersome.

Traeger - you can smoke easily, but noticed it couldn't develop a high level of heat for a med - large amount of meat.

Holland - nice, solid built, no flare ups (for the most part), yet hard to adjust temperature. I really like the grates until I learned that the more heat you can store in a grate, the better you can put those great lines on a steak.

I don't know where you can find a BroilKing, but I got mine in Michigan before we moved. BUT, I was at a John Deere store recently and noticed that the John Deere Gas Grill is almost identical to my BroilKing. I would bet money that BK makes it for JD.

I tend to like companies that produce a product without a lot of advertising. Unfortunately, you usually have to look extra hard. My family and friends have Webers and I think they are happy with them. I think the high end ones are a little over priced, but I'd say that of a BK. Do you really need a burner for beans? Who cooks beans on the grill. Same thing with a rotisary burner, is it needed. Nope, you can still rotissary grill. People who don't like to be detail oriented regarding grilling, they tend to like the Hollands. I don't know anyone with a green egg, but supposedly the people that do love them and obviously have a sturdy deck without openings between boards.

I learned in the process that not all stainless steel is the same. In fact the cheaper grills would be better off just having plain steel versus the poor quality stainless.

I really love my heavy steel grates. Number one recommendation.

So, in the end, you know that I like BroilKing and/or John Deere Grills and I still don't know how to spell rotissssssssary and I don't like cooking beans on my grill.

**gtlars** · 02-19-2011, 06:50 PM

I bought this one 3 1/2 years ago. It was a Consumers Report Best Buy that year. I grill at least 4 nights a week year around (I have a covered porch). Last summer I had a burner burn through, deteriorated flavor plates and the electronic ignition stopped working. Called them up and had replacement parts in 2 days for free under warranty. Great customer service. I've used the rotisserie many times and had excellent results.
Blue Ember Grills

**Clonehomer** · 02-19-2011, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by Senolcyc

A grill is a grill unless it's being purchased as an extension of your manhood. If you're already big enough "down there", go cheap. A $200 grill that lasts three years is the same as a $750 grill that last ten years. Except you get a brand new grill every three years. I go cheap and wear 'em out, grill 3-4 times a week spring, summer and fall.

You seem to have forgotten a season there. If you get a good grill with enough BTU's to keep the heat up during the winter then you wouldn't be missing out on year round grilling.

**Clonehomer** · 02-19-2011, 07:57 PM

The one feature that I want is a built in deep fryer. I saw one at lowes a couple of years ago and haven't seen it since. It essentially replaced the side burner with a medium fryer. It wouldn't do turkeys but it would be nice to throw some fries in as you're looking a burger. I can't stand the smell in the house so I got rid of the fry daddy years ago.

**dukeebear** · 02-19-2011, 08:39 PM

Get a Big Steel Keg. It's like a Big Green egg but made of steel. It comes with a trailer hitch for tailgaiting. You can smoke on it, or sear steaks at 900 plus degrees. Baking is awesome and it will hold at 250 degrees for 16 hours without reloading. I have a bit of a grill problem. I have two smokers and two gas grills. A weber and a Blue Ember that gtlars has. I haven't used anything else since.

BIG STEEL KEG GRILL

**SplitIdentity** · 02-19-2011, 08:50 PM

Oklahoma Joe's Smoker

**sunset** · 02-19-2011, 09:04 PM

If you are going to grill burgers, dogs, steak or other easy quick things then you don't need a lot. I have a four burner from Lowes that has lasted over five years so far. If you are even thinking about smoking, get a Traeger. Most user-friendly way to smoke. Great tasting and you don't have to sit by checking the fire for eaight hours to cook a brisket. Traegers are awesome.

**1100011CS** · 02-19-2011, 09:06 PM

The one feature that I want is a built in deep fryer. I saw one at lowes a couple of years ago and haven't seen it since. It essentially replaced the side burner with a medium fryer. It wouldn't do turkeys but it would be nice to throw some fries in as you're looking a burger. I can't stand the smell in the house so I got rid of the fry daddy years ago.

Never heard of that but would definitely like one.

Sent from my DROID Incredible using Tapatalk

**Blandboy** · 02-19-2011, 09:10 PM

Traditional Weber charcoaler. Use it year-round. The only way to go if you like REAL grilled or smoked flavor. Nothing beats hickory-smoked chicken, cherry-smoked pork, mesqute-smoked salmon. If you don't want to wait on the charcoal to heat up, bust out your leaf blower and you'll beat grilling in less than 10 minutes.

**cydsho** · 02-19-2011, 09:13 PM

As mentioned above BroilKing are great grills. The parent company is Onward Manufacturing and they now own Weber grills interesting enough. BroilKing have been great grills long before they did Weber though.
A cheaper version of the BroilKing is the BroilMate. I bought one about 5 years ago and it is still going strong. Mine uses the same aluminum cast "ovens". Gets SUPER hot and holds it well.
Broilmate make some cheaper versions for less than $200. Similar cast alum oven, stainless steel burner, and heavy duty grates. I think they can be purchased on amazon or Ace hardware.

OMC – Great Names In Grills