OT: Best grill under $500

Submitted by Optimism Attache on

I am in the market for a new gas grill and was hoping the board could provide some recs.

Only criteria: I will likely use it once a week or so in the summer, so would like to keep the price below $500. I don't really need bells and whistles, but I do want something sturdy that won't rust out within a couple seasons.

Will ask Tom Herman for advice on any subsequent grill purchases.

MGoBoard
Recruiting
Tom Herman
grilling

kdhoffma

February 29th, 2016 at 7:12 PM ^

I know you said gas, but what about a Weber Performer charcoal grill? It's a very versatile grill and has gas assist... I.e. You hook up a small Coleman propane tank and combined with a chimney starter your charcoal is good to go in 10 mins tops. The performer also includes the full side table in a cart setup and is also easy to move if need be. Comes with an ash catcher and the hinged Weber grill grate which makes adding charcoal easy during indirect cooks. Also has the charcoal baskets for indirect cook. Being a 22.5" Weber kettle, you have all those available aftermarket accessories... companies that make cast iron grates, pizza oven add-on, there's even a smoker add on that works well (smokenator I believe). Couldn't recommend it more!

Joined: 07/10/2008

MGoPoints: 4983

MAccLA

February 29th, 2016 at 8:04 PM ^

When I was a freshman living in West Quad, we didn't have many options if we wanted to cook our own food so I used the George Foreman frequently. I remember cooking up some grilled chicken breasts, then making chicken quesadillas w/guacamole and the whole Wenley House seemed to come over. That was game over for the MGoWife; we moved in four months later and got married a couple years thereafter.

Joined: 07/21/2013

MGoPoints: 2038

TheRonimal

March 1st, 2016 at 12:05 AM ^

I only use mine for certain things. I like the smell of bacon when I wake up, so I lay some strips of bacon out on my grill next to my bed before I go to sleep. When I do wake up, I turn the grill on and go back to sleep, then when I wake up again I have bacon ready for me. On a sidenote, one time I accidentally grilled my foot. 

Joined: 09/04/2014

MGoPoints: 3877

ESNY

February 29th, 2016 at 7:23 PM ^

Weber makes the best quality grills that will last the longest and have the best build quality if you can find one in your range. Check out amazingribs.com. They wrote up a summary of best grills by price range. Think he did a sub-$500 gas grill write up.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 11/06/2008

MGoPoints: 12310

GoBlueUSMC

February 29th, 2016 at 7:24 PM ^

Get a Weber grill.  It will take some time to find one, but you can probably find one on sale under 500 bucks.  They're made in America and built from much sturdier materials than the others you find at Lowes, Home Depot, etc.

Joined: 01/02/2011

MGoPoints: 1283

DanInTexas

March 1st, 2016 at 9:14 AM ^

I second amazingribs.com they have a ridiculous amount of useful information for grilling and smoking just about anything you can imagine. One product that they recommended that is relevant to the discussion here are grill grates: grillgrate.com I had an old Kenmore grill that was almost useless because it had horrible hot spots and cold spots. I replaced the grates with grill grates and the problem is gone. These things are awesome! Everything cooks so evenly now! If I were in the market for a new grill, I'd just buy something cheap and buy a set of grill grates for it.

Joined: 09/30/2014

MGoPoints: 165

SysMark

February 29th, 2016 at 7:51 PM ^

You can get a Webber Spirit E310 for $500.  The 210 is $400 but only has two burners.  I have a Genesis but I use it a lot so like the extra heft

Joined: 11/15/2008

MGoPoints: 21734

Idzerd

February 29th, 2016 at 7:39 PM ^

I grill extensively and use almost exclusively charcoal for direct grilling and wood for smoking.

I have a large Brinkmann direct griller that is probably too large for what I need.  I also have a Chargriller with a smoker side box.  (A few years ago, I took the CharGriller to Ann Arbor and smoked a 15lb prime rib at the golf course.)

I also have several portables for nomral tailgaiting purposes.

Just getting my credentials out of the way.

If you are an occassional, once per week, griller, no need to spend $500.  A small $100 grill from anywhere is fine. 

I'd like a gas grill as it is very convenient to do a quick round of burgers, but charcoal is king if I want to do it right.

I'd like to downsize* and when I do, this is what I will get:

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/4in1-combo-grill-gas-charcoal-grill/prod16660329.ip?navAction=
 

The Best of Both Worlds!!!

*(I'll likely keep the Chargriller for it's voluminous capabilities -the Brinkmann, while a better grill, is getting old and rusty...)

Joined: 10/01/2009

MGoPoints: 193

TruBluWolv55

February 29th, 2016 at 7:50 PM ^

They stopped making the best grill on the market. I bought an Arkla over 35 years ago and I'm still using it. I've replaced the burner twice and painted it a few times. I hope it lasts a while longer, but if I do have to replace it the Weber grills look like they are well made.

Joined: 11/28/2010

MGoPoints: 8442

UMgradMSUdad

February 29th, 2016 at 7:52 PM ^

I'm in the market for a new grill.  I bought one 6 or 7 years ago at one of the big box hardware stores.  It was great for the first 4-5 years.  Now the burners are rusting out and there are no replacement parts available.  It still looks good on the outside with all that stainless steel, and I got it for a good price, but it is almost useless. My next grill will be a Webber or some other name brand that is tried and true with replacement parts available.

Joined: 07/02/2011

MGoPoints: 13185

BleedsBlue

February 29th, 2016 at 7:56 PM ^

The grates greatly reduce flare ups. Nice even heat. Wanna say it was like $200. Regardless, a cover is a must if you want to slow the rust. We're in Michigan fergodsakes.

Joined: 07/27/2012

MGoPoints: 371

mgomiller

February 29th, 2016 at 9:39 PM ^

I love this grill but hate the grates. They rusted through in about a year. I replaced them with Grill Grates and it works awesome. I don't care what kind of grill I get in the future so long as it fits the Grill Grates. They have a website you should check them out.

Joined: 09/18/2008

MGoPoints: 236

mgobleu

February 29th, 2016 at 8:15 PM ^

Weber, cheap junk, whatever...clean it well and clean it regularly and you can make them last. I, on the other hand, let my Weber genesis go a little too long between cleanings and you'd be shocked at how fast drippings and food chunks can rot out a grill.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 38428

MGoWangler

February 29th, 2016 at 8:42 PM ^

I bought the 3-burner Broil King at Lowe's last spring and it's great. I actually like it better than my old Weber. The burners have 2 rows of flames which makes for great heat distribution. There are really no hot or cold spots. It cost around $400 I think. It's great.

Joined: 01/03/2012

MGoPoints: 506

jabberwock

February 29th, 2016 at 8:51 PM ^

have owned & used them for over 35 yrs.  Currently have 3.
I've got one 20+ yr old one that lives outside at the cottage and everything has been replaced a couple times.

The thicker metal can make a big difference in what & how well you can cook.
It also helps grill during winter or cold days if you're into that.

I'd make sure of the size you need first, then get the best you can afford (even if it isn't Weber) after that.

 

Joined: 07/04/2008

MGoPoints: 51146

APGOBLUE

February 29th, 2016 at 10:10 PM ^

char broil 6 burner with a searer you can use both propane and or charcoal, also has a stove top setting on it paid 250 for it brand new. it's lasted perfectly the past few seasons no rust I do have a michigsn grill cover that keeps her clean all year long though. good luck grilling is great....#manseason!

Joined: 08/28/2008

MGoPoints: 325

Clarence Beeks

February 29th, 2016 at 10:17 PM ^

Weber E-310. We grill at least 4 times a week, all year long, and this thing has been an absolute workhorse (have had it three years and the only thing I've replaced is the cooking grates. The cooking quality is not even comparable to cheaper grills with cheap (and light weight) materials. Even if I were just using it once a week and only in the summer the price (basically right at $500) would be a no-brainer, based on BOTH durability and cooking quality. I'd literally not ever by anything else for my every day grill, even if money were no obstacle.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 09/06/2008

MGoPoints: 22814

rob f

February 29th, 2016 at 11:04 PM ^

A Weber 'Original Kettle Premium' charcoal grill that I keep out on my deck except during the winter months, and a portable Weber Q1200 gas grill that stays in use year-round.

The kettle grill pretty much only gets used on weekends or for bigger cooking projects, as charcoal takes a lot more prep time than gas.  I believe it has almost 400 square inches of cooking surface, about twice the size of the Q1200, which only has room for about a half-dozen burgers at a time.  But I do greatly prefer charcoal over gas when I have the luxury of time to attend to it.

The Q1200 gets a ton of use year-round and is so very convenient for camping and tailgating  (except for the cooking surface being <200 Sq ").  I recommend purchasing an adaptor for it like I did so that I can use my 20lb refillable propane tank, otherwise you'll be spending a lot more for those disposable small tanks.   

Between these two grills and the adaptor I mentioned, I think I spent around $250 when I bought the two of them at a Grand Opening sale at Meijer a couple years ago; otherwise at regular price you'd probably be in the $350 price range total with most retailers.

 

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 194826

BigOzzy86

March 1st, 2016 at 12:04 AM ^

charcoal? Had a gas grill in college and first 5 years after.... then I grew up. Or maybe I am missing something. Did someone invent a gas grill that injects flavor into meat? Plenty of gas lovers on here.

Joined: 06/19/2011

MGoPoints: 2541