# Help me find the right grill **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [May 31, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674 "2012-05-31T17:25:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/1 "2012-05-31T17:25:34Z")
I’m in the market for a grill. Our needs are modest (just the two of us) but we would like to entertain once or twice a summer. We would likely be cooking steak, chicken, vegetables, maybe fish. I suppose hamburgers and hot dogs will happen too. What should I look for in a grill? Any recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/2 "2012-05-31T17:30:28Z")
Don’t think you can go wrong with the classic [Weber](http://www.weber.com/explore/grills/charcoal-series/one-touch-silver-22-1). ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/3 "2012-05-31T17:38:50Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Don’t think you can go wrong with the classic [Weber](http://www.weber.com/explore/grills/charcoal-series/one-touch-silver-22-1). That brings up a good question. Should I get a charcoal grill or a gas one? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/4 "2012-05-31T17:43:40Z")
You’re gonna hate me but in my opinion the best answer is both. I have a classic Webber kettle, and a big honkin gas grill. If it’s nice out and it’s just the family, the Webber gets used every time. If it winter and I don’t want to futz with the charcoal or we’re having a party and I need to feed a crowd the gas monster gets fired up. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/5 "2012-05-31T17:47:49Z")
Both. Neither. Your preference. I have a Weber, but haven’t fired it up in years. Gas is just too damned convenient. In the summer we do most of our cooking on the gas grill. I make pizza on it, bake biscuits, anything I can do with the oven I can do with the grill. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/6 "2012-05-31T17:58:04Z")
What’s your budget? How often will you use it? Weber gas grills are a bit pricey, but they’re better quality than the nearly disposable lower-end gas grills. They look a bit better and you probably won’t have to replace rusted out parts as often. Good customer support, as well. One of the parts on the one I bought was bunged up out of the box and they shipped me a new wing, no questions asked (well, they asked where to send it.) ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/7 "2012-05-31T18:08:39Z")
Budget: I don’t want to spend more than 1000. I also don’t want to buy bells that are more gimmicky than useful. Speaking of gimmicky, are the side burners a good thing or a gimmick? I think I would like to use them for “regular” cooking in the summer, so I don’t heat up the house. Do they work like that? Or do they suck? Use: Good question. I don’t think I’ll know until I start grilling and cooking outside. My feeling is that once the heat goes up for the summer I’ll want to cook outside more. I’ve never done it, so I don’t know how much I’ll like it. We tend to cook dinners 4-5 times a week and eat out 1 or 2. I guess I would try to use it once a week in the summer. Based on the above, I’m leaning gas. Charcoal sounds nice, but I think I’d fall into the “too much trouble to bother” camp. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/8 "2012-05-31T18:12:17Z")
Side burners are great for keeping things warm while the grill is busy. I’ve used them to heat up beans, but primarily to keep a pot of onions and peppers hot while I grill brats. You get a lot more btus on the main grill, but they are handy and I recommend them. The [Weber S-330](http://www.bbqguys.com/item_name_Weber-Gas-Grills-Genesis-S-330-Gas-Grill-W-Sear-Burner_path_11448-10472-7165_item_2786284.html) seems to fit your budget. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/9 "2012-05-31T18:15:01Z")
I agree, it’s nice to have that side burner. The S-330 **silenus** picked out looks quite nice. Personally I’d spring for the vinyl cover too. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/10 "2012-05-31T18:18:28Z")
What qualities in a woman are you seeking? ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/11 "2012-05-31T18:28:48Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Side burners are great for keeping things warm while the grill is busy. Just warm? Can you cook on them? Could I, for example, boil a pot of pasta? I’m guessing the BTU may not be high enough for that. What about pancakes? Could I make pancakes on the side burner? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/12 "2012-05-31T18:34:33Z")
You can definitely cook on them. Weber refers to them as a “sear station.” You just get more heat on the main grill. Think of it as a one-burner camp stove. Pancakes I’ll do on the main grill with a griddle installed. More room to work with. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/13 "2012-05-31T18:37:34Z")
Has anyone tried a natural gas grill? We have natural gas for our home and the meter is in the backyard so I’m guessing it wouldn’t be too hard for a plumber to run a line to the grill. Good idea or horrendously bad idea? Is propane a pain to deal with or relatively easy? ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/14 "2012-05-31T18:39:20Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Pancakes I’ll do on the main grill with a griddle installed. More room to work with. A-ha! That makes more sense. This could work out quite nicely. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/15 "2012-05-31T18:44:58Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > Has anyone tried a natural gas grill? We have natural gas for our home and the meter is in the backyard so I’m guessing it wouldn’t be too hard for a plumber to run a line to the grill. > > Good idea or horrendously bad idea? > Is propane a pain to deal with or relatively easy? Lugging the tanks back and forth is a bit of a pain. In addition if you’re having a big get together there’s always the fear the tank will run dry 1/2 way through your cook - I can never accurately tell how much is left in the tank so now I have 2 and one is always full just in case. Can you get a grill hooked up to your home gas line? I know some places do not allow it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/16 "2012-05-31T18:47:51Z")
One of my best friends did that at his house. Ran natural gas lines out to the patio so he could hook up the grill. Didn’t have any problems that I remember. This is Southern California. ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/17 "2012-05-31T18:55:28Z")
I go with gas, but just as a mental nugget to chew on, here’s [Alton Brown](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5tytP4Do-A) talking about how to cook a Porterhouse steak on something less than a $1,000 grill. Also something else to think about, if you’ve ever seen _Primal Grill_ on PBS, host Steven Raichlen uses a number of different grills. Link to products from the website: [http://www.primalgrill.org/Tools.asp](http://www.primalgrill.org/Tools.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/18 "2012-05-31T19:21:25Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > One of my best friends did that at his house. Ran natural gas lines out to the patio so he could hook up the grill. Didn’t have any problems that I remember. This is Southern California. I have a friend who did the same in central Indiana with no problems. He absolutely swears by it. Personally, I love charcoal, and would recommend the Gold 26.75" ($300). The extra size doesn’t hurt you when cooking small batches, and is a huge asset when entertaining. If you don’t want that size, dropping down to 22" you can get the Platinum, which comes with a great stand and side tables (of sorts). ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/19 "2012-05-31T19:40:26Z")
I have a gas grill and a charcoal smoker. I agree with all of the posters in that it is your choice. If I want it fast, my steaks on the gas grill go from the frig to my stomach is 20 minutes, 5 minutes longer than it would take to get the coals going. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674/20 "2012-05-31T19:47:34Z")
Look for a thick, heavy grate. It holds heat better, makes for a better sear, and will last longer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-the-right-grill/623674.md?page=2)