My trusty cheap $159 propane grill has just about died. It lasted only 6 years. I have already replaced the heat diffuser and the grill on it but now the gas burner is rusted out and working poorly. My prior grill last maybe 7 years and was another bargain.
I seem to prefer the grills that use stones instead of heat diffusers. They appear to do a better job distributing the heat evenly.
Does anyone make a good grill that can withstand being outside year round in NJ weather?
How expensive are they?
Which brand/model do you recommend?
Price is important, but I am willing to go quite a bit higher if I can expect it to last 15-20 years.
I don’t need a side burner; I have only used the one on my current grill once.
Is it going anywhere, or is it staying in the yard? I ask because our grill, which I love and use often, is “mobile.” It folds up into a smaller unit so we can take it camping. But it has plenty of grill space, is a snap to clean, and didn’t cost a bundle.
This month’s Consumer Reports has a dandy writeup on gas grills.
[goes upstairs and gets it out of the bathroom]
…
[sound of flipping pages]
'Kay.
The Broil King Signet 90 was rated Not Acceptable, plus the CR folks lit a fire (so to speak) under not only the Consumer Product Safety Commission, but also Health Canada, since it’s made in Canada. This is because when they did the flare test, which involves putting six big steaks on at once, closing the lid, and letting 'er rip, the entire bottom melted out of the grill. They tried it with two more (first removing the propane tank as a sensible precaution), and the same thing happened–melted and/or cracked fireboxes. This is a Bad Thing.
[sound of more flipping pages]
The Ducane Affinity 3400 ranked 13th (out of 21) on the Midsized list, after all of the above plus 7 others, with an overall score of 70.
I’ve rebuilt a couple of grills with stainless steel “universal fit” replacement burners. The first (ours) was about 12 years ago when Kevebabe’s uncle gave it to us not-working. No problems at all since then. It was a pretty low-buck grill to start with, but with the new burner has become the energizer bunny…keeps going and going… The other was Kevsister’s just last summer. It was a much higher dollar unit, and definatly worth fixing. I expect the new burner will hold up well.
If you are serious about not wanting to deal with rust, go ceremic. If you insist on gas, I am a big fan of Weber Genesis units. They use bars not rocks, so you don’t get that, but they cook great.
Cook’s Illustrated has always been fond of the Weber Genesis series, which is what I have. It’s currently on its seventh season. I’ve replaced the grates and the “flavorizer bars” twice, and the striker needs replacing now, but the burners are original.
Third vote on a Weber Genesis gas grill. I have a Silver that’s about 7 years old, and I may have replace the flare bars (or whatever they’re called), but otherwise this grill works great and is nigh indestructible.
ETA: my only criticism (and this is a common one with mid-low price gas grills) is that you pretty much can’t cook unless the lid is down. I’d love to have 2-3x the BTUs, but I can deal.
Thank you everyone, looking over the reviews from CR, it looks like the Char-Broil Quantum 463248208 (Lowe’s) $500 CR Best Buy is probably the grill for us. It is large, relatively cheap and stainless including the grill itself with a lifetime warranty on the burner and the local Lowe’s carry them. I even got a hint they might be on sale for Father’s Day. I’m going to visit Lowe’s on the weekend to see one in person.
It has the top rating for Large grills for actual grilling and appears to have the best chance of lasting a long time. Everything else is minor to me.
I’m a Weber man through and through. The CR are very good, and I agree that Char-Broil put’s out a helluva good grill. However, the Weber Genesis series is one the the best grills I have ever cooked with. When we lived in Arizona we had one mounted in a stone countertop in an outdoor kitchen - God I miss that house! For the money they are durable, stainless, efficient, and replacement parts are easy to fit and work with.
Back here in CT, which is basically the same weather you have in NJ, Jim, our weber is outside year-round. Covered of course, but outside nontheless.
I’ve never seen one of those units Rick linked to, those look very cool.
I know you’ve made your decision but here’s more love for the Weber if anyone else is considering. We cook out five days a week easy, if not more. The Genesis Silver B never did wear out after seven years and I eventually gave it to my nephew so he’d have one for college. We now have the stainless Weber Summit and it too appears to be indestructable despite our very rainy climate.
Propane? Propane?? You heathen! The only true fuel for outdoor grilling is charcoal. If my burgers don’t taste like burnt wood, I ain’t having any of it.
I’ve got an oldschool weber charcoal grill right next to the gas one. For those occasions when I want the charcoal taste. But when its raining out, or snowing, or cold or whatever and I justr want a grilled piece of something quick…it’s back to gas…or if I’m cooking for a crowd.
I keep hearing that, but most taste tests show that people can’t tell the difference. I’m not saying that you can’t, but most people can’t.
Personally, my current Vermont Castings grill is my favorite ever. It cooks evenly and is easy to use. My only problem with it is that the lowest setting for the side burner is still too hot for most of the things I want to use it for.
My sole experience with Char-Broil wasn’t good, but I wouldn’t want to make a blanket judgement off of one episode.
RR
[/hijack]How is this thing, really? they sound really cool but can you really roast a turkey with a lump of coal type thing? What’s the Straight Dope? [end/hijack]
