# Time to buy a new propane grill, what is the best outside grill for the money? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328 "2008-05-14T19:54:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/1 "2008-05-14T19:54:14Z")
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. ---
**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 14, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/2 "2008-05-14T20:02:28Z")
Is it going anywhere, or is it staying in the yard? I ask because [our grill](http://www.joessports.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3026857), 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. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/3 "2008-05-14T20:05:24Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Is it going anywhere, or is it staying in the yard? I ask because [our grill](http://www.joessports.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3026857), 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. [/QUOTE] This will stay in my yard. I generally use it 9-10 months out of the year. The most I roll it is once and a while into my garage to grill in the rain. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/4 "2008-05-15T00:23:01Z")
::chirp chirp:: ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/5 "2008-05-15T01:54:46Z")
I have a Ducane Affinity 3100, three gas jets with controls and two side “tables” to set stuff on. I LOVE it. I expect to have it for years. My last one had a side burner that I never used once in 6 years. Mine is [this one](http://www.buy.com/prod/ducane-3100-series-affinity-3-burner-natural-gas-grill/q/loc/111/204304958.html). ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/6 "2008-05-15T02:00:31Z")
Ducane - seconded. Also natural gas over propane. Great investment 10 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/7 "2008-05-15T03:02:23Z")
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] > [@](#): > > Quick Picks > > Best for most; all are midsized; all are CR Best Buys: > > Blue Ember by Fiesta FG50069-U401 (Home Depot) $450 > Brinkmann 810-8410S (Home Depot) $200 > Char-Broil Commercial Series 463268008 (Lowe’s) $300 > > The Blue Ember excels at cooking food evenly. Features include generous shelf space, a side burner, a built-in smoker box, and a rotisserie burner. The Brinkmann combines fine cooking, a side burner, and lots of shelf space at a lower price. The stainless-steel Char-Broil offers excellent griling, side burner, shelf space, and liftetime burner warranty. > > The Fiesta Optima Pro Series EZD555-B428 and Char-Broil 463730807 are attractively priced and do a very good job overall, but their carts weren’t very sturdy, their handles became too hot to touch, and they had thin grates. 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. > [@](#): > > If you cook for a crowd: > > Kenmore 16237 (Sears) $800 > Kenmore 16315 (Sears) CR Best Buy $570 > Char-Broil Quantum 463248208 (Lowe’s) $500 CR Best Buy > > All three models are stainless steel. Both Kenmore grills provide very good performance with five main burners and have a 10-year warranty. They also have a rotisserie and side burners, and plenty of shelf space. The Kenmore 16237 has slightly better cooking performance. The Char-Broil also excels in grilling and has infrared heat and a lifetime warranty on its burners. > [@](#): > > It you like to tailgate or space is tight: > > Weber Q200 396002 $190 > > This portable grill is very good at evenly cooking food and grilling. You can also buy a cart and adapter for a larger tank. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/8 "2008-05-15T03:15:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/9 "2008-05-15T03:26:33Z")
If you are serious about not wanting to deal with rust, go [ceremic](http://www.biggreenegg.com/eggs_L.html). 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. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/10 "2008-05-15T03:34:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/11 "2008-05-15T04:02:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/12 "2008-05-15T12:49:11Z")
[QUOTE=Duck Duck Goose] This month’s Consumer Reports has a dandy writeup on gas grills. > [@](#): > > If you cook for a crowd: > > Kenmore 16237 (Sears) $800 > Kenmore 16315 (Sears) CR Best Buy $570 > Char-Broil Quantum 463248208 (Lowe’s) $500 CR Best Buy > > All three models are stainless steel. Both Kenmore grills provide very good performance with five main burners and have a 10-year warranty. They also have a rotisserie and side burners, and plenty of shelf space. The Kenmore 16237 has slightly better cooking performance. The Char-Broil also excels in grilling and has infrared heat and a lifetime warranty on its burners. [/QUOTE] 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. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/13 "2008-05-15T13:12:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/14 "2008-05-15T13:22:46Z")
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](http://www.buy.com/prod/weber-summit-s450-1840001-66-freestanding-gas-grill/q/loc/111/204318278.html) and it too appears to be indestructable despite our very rainy climate. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/15 "2008-05-15T13:39:28Z")
Well, I still need to check out the Char-Broil, but at nearly $1000 cheaper, I will probably pick it over the Weber. I will keep looking though, at least until Saturday. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/16 "2008-05-15T13:47:51Z")
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. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/17 "2008-05-15T13:58:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/18 "2008-05-15T13:58:50Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] 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. 😉 [/QUOTE] 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 ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/19 "2008-05-15T14:12:49Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Well, I still need to check out the Char-Broil, but at nearly $1000 cheaper, I will probably pick it over the Weber. [/QUOTE] buh…? I’m seeing Weber Genesis Silver B advertised in the $550-ish range. [Example](http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/genesis-silver-b-gas-grill-lp-p-69094.html?ref=42). I think SRP for that grill is $659. What grill are you looking at? ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328/20 "2008-05-15T14:14:19Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] If you are serious about not wanting to deal with rust, go [ceremic](http://www.biggreenegg.com/eggs_L.html). 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. [/QUOTE] [/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] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-to-buy-a-new-propane-grill-what-is-the-best-outside-grill-for-the-money/449328.md?page=2)