Looking for a good model bbq grill.

[Podunkadunk]

With Independence Day just around the corner, my wife and I are going to be having some family and friends over for some food, julips and good conversation.

I'm looking for a good bbq grill that won't rust away, or at least wont' rust away in the next several years. It will be stored/used on the back deck, which isn't covered and used/abused like a sweatshop worker. You guys own one worth mentioning?

Price under 1k.

Any ideas?

"Preciate the counsel.

Podunk

 

[Skyco]

Used to go through grilles every few years. I now have a Weber which has held up extremely well and has been running longer than any other grille I've ever had. Yes it did cost more but proportionally speaking it is cheaper in the long run.
I really like the cast iron cooking grates. I will never own another grille with chrome plated or porcelain coated cooking grates, they just don't last.

 

[scgargoyle]

I'm assuming at that price you want a gas grille? I'm a bit of a charcoal snob myself, although I did finally let a gas grille share the patio. For charcoal, nothing beats a Weber, except the very expensive Big Green Egg. For gas, I would think any of the better stainless steel ones would last. Look for weak links, like a stainless steel grille with painted steel legs or something.

 

[Bird]

I'm not sure you gave us enough information for us to make valid recommendations. Do you want gas or charcoal? As mentioned above, I'm guessing LPG. For your budget, you should be able to get a good one. Personally, I now have the Big Easy by Char-Broil that came from Home Depot just over 4 years ago for $259 plus tax. It's cast metal that isn't going to rust out, 3 burners, plus the 4th side burner for the pot of beans. Mine is in the breezeway so it's out of the weather except for a blowing rain from the south. However, I also have canvas cover for it that also came from Home Depot. I have it more to keep the grill clean and free from dust than from the weather, but I'd recommend such a cover for you if yours will be out in the weather.

 

[deputyrpa]

If you want a serious, no frills, last-a-lifetime stainless steel grill that can do everything, try a Holstein. They cost about $1000, but they have years of experience into it as they build large commercial units. I bought one a few years ago. Stays outside in all year, and we use it year-round. It weighs over 200#, just to give you an idea of how it's built. It won't win a beauty contest, but it's a worry-free unit. My previous grill was a Ducane, and this one will be the last one I buy. The thing's a tank.

Check them out: Home / Commercial Barbeque Grills - Mobile Grill, Smokers, Concession Trailers, Pig Roaster & Corn Roasters

No- I am not affiliated with them, I'm just an over-researching buyer.

 

[Podunkadunk]

Yeah, guess I should have been more specific, but thought the price ceiling I mentioned would have ruled out anything for the back deck that I'd have to build a fire under.

I like charcoal flavoring, but just don't have the time for one. I'd rather go out, pop a coldie, throw on a slab, sear it on both sides, knock it's horns off, eat what I can when it runs by and ride home what I don't.

Seriously, I want stainless everything, internal and external. I'd like a side burner whether infrared or regular flame.

Of course propane.

As long as it'll fit in the back of my "yota for the ride home...I'm game.

I really like the Holstein grill. It is a hoss. Right down my alley. Gonna check Monday to see what the cost is for shipping. Thanks DeputyPa for the tip.

However, I'm not sold on anything yet. Keep those recommendations coming...I 'preciate it.

Podunk

 

[CurlyDave]

For gas, I would think any of the better stainless steel ones would last. Look for weak links, like a stainless steel grille with painted steel legs or something.

We had a very expensive Coleman gas grill a few years ago that was such a piece of caca that we sent its miserable carcas to the dump.

The single most glaring problem was that the plastic knobs which controlled the flame under the grill did not have metal inserts where they gripped the shaft of the gas control valve. The metal parts of the gas valves (there were three of them) got hot, and after an hour or so the plastic knob would melt and spin uselessly on the shaft.

Coleman sent me many new sets of knobs, but they were all the same design and all failed the same way. The worst part of the problem is that the markings to show high-lo, and all the intermediate settings were on the knob instead of on the metal plate behind the knob, so I couldn't even replace the knobs with something of higher quality.

 

[gfd_703]

Check out the Holland Grill. They have lifetime cast burners and come in both black painted and stainless. I have had one for over 15 years and when it wears out I will get another one just like it. ( if it ever does)It has sat outside every day of its life and we cook on it at least 4 and sometimes 7 times a week. It will not flame up no matter what you do. It does not cook fast so you may want 2 cold ones while it cooks. It is the best money I ever spent and with your budget you can invite us over for steaks when you get it.

 

[Ronbo]

Go to Lowes with your magnet. It will stick to many of the "Stainless" grills. I spent $800 on a grill and the company authorized Lowes to replace it for free with a new model when I had complaints. I am very happy. In is Jinair. I have a seering burner, large storage under neith. I added a hose so my tank sits outside now and I have a larger tank. Do not use the Blue Rhino tanks that Loes and Home Depot sells. They do not work well with many grills, something about a safety valve in the that reduces the pressure too much.

Do a google search for barbque forum and you will find out lots of information including how to pimp your grill.

Ron

 

[anojones]

I agree with the Weber plan, you can get a stainless E-320 (ES-320?) which has a side burner, comes in a choice of colors and will last a long time. It gets great reviews, and I think Consumer Reports rated it top as well. I have always been a charcoal snob, and have a ceramic smoker similar to the Big Green Egg (www.kamado.com). I love it for low and slow, but we borrowed a gas grill for a get toghether and the convience can't be beat- it's not the right tool for true low and slow BBQ but it's great for a steak, burgers or dogs. I have a new Weber on order and look forward to using some gas this summer.

 

[Podunkadunk]

Thanks for all your help guys. I went to Lowe's and bought the Jenn-Air all stainless model. Although a magnet partially sticks to the outside (probably the lowest grade stainless steel they could use), the burners and rack are good, thick stainless and a magnet won't stick at all. I think it will last me quite a while. For the price, I'm hoping

'preciate all the advice.

Podunk

 

[N80]

If you have a few bucks left over, just for kicks, get yourself one of those little Weber kettle grills. Set you back about $80. But, you also need to get one of those cannisters for lighting the charcoal.

You put one sheet of newspaper in it, put the charcoal in and light the paper. Twenty minutes later you have perfect coals.

I have a cheapo gas grill at home. It has lasted 11 years but won't make 12. I've got one of the little Webers at my cabin. Sure, the gas grille is a little faster, but the food cooked on charcoal is sooooo much better and its just too easy and too cheap for me ever to go back to gas. My next grill for home will be one of the larger Weber kettle grills.

I never thought it would happen, but I'm a charcoal purist now!

 

[Highbeam]

We actually use the small Weber Kettle table top model to cook for our family of four regularly. It actually has a lot of cooking area for grilling. It was more like 30$ and has performed very well. No indication of corrosion even though it sits outside on the picnic table year 'round.

We also have a gas grill for those quick meals. The grille's body is cast aluminum and all the other parts are replaceable so who cares if they corrode. I have replaced the grates twice and about 4 burner assemblies over the last 10 years. I guess that's the "rebuild" procedure.

 

[grnspot110]

I got tired of replacing parts on the standard gas grills every year. So I broke down & bought a stainless steel 'Pheonix' lifetime warranty on the burner & cooking grid. Not cheap, but worth it to me! ~~ grnsot110

 

[schmism]

hears the thing, my dad cooked on charcole his whole life (still does). IMHO a buger/hotdog/brautwurst and steak gets little flavor from charcoal fire. They should be cooked in such a short period of time it doesnt have time to take on the flavor (now pulled pork memphis style, is a WHOLE diffrent ball game)

but for 90% of the grilling i do, i do on gas.

About 10 years ago i picked up a gas grill that a neighbor had thrown out. Glass front window, "grill rocks" in the bottom, and i replace a burner in it about every 2 years with another generic one from a box store. never replaced the grilling surface, i suppose when you keep it clean i use it regularly, it doesnt rust away.

TO be honest, i cant find myself spending $$$$ on a gas grill when my free one has severed me so well.

Dont get me wrong, i use my grill often, fireing it up usually a couple of times a week 52 weeks a year. Ive cooked a LOT of food on my free grill. I konw its hot spots, its cool spots, the settings for doing veggies or fish or for searing a nice 2" thick medium rare tenderlone in 4 mins.

but alis, i find myself finnally wanting to upgrade. Something i can do some rotisery chicken in, something a little larger...

but again, i cant find anything that seems to be the right grill for a decent price.

A $400 grill seems to have the same parts and makeup as my free-off-the-curb-10-year-old one has. and somehow its not convinceing me to get a new one.

perhaps i just need to look for a new off-the-curb one to replace this one.

 

[N80]

My 11+ year old grill sounds like it would be perfect for you. I don't use it, my wife does. And I don't know how she does it. The flames are uneven, it has hot spots, cold spots, the adjustments don't work very well. However, it was a $150 grill and has lasted over 11 years and it has been outdoors its whole like and without a cover for the last 6. I replaced the fake charcoals with those ceramic tile things about 5 years ago, other than that, no repairs. So I too can't see dropping mega bucks on a grill unless you're doing the type of things that require precision, or large volumes.

I disagree about the charcoal vs gas. I think I can tell the difference even on a hotdog. Definitely on a steak, shrimp or fish. But that comes down to a matter of individual taste.

I now see that they have these infra-red grilles. Why bother?

 

[hazmat]

I had a cheapy sears grill until the dog chewed thru the propane hose. Couldn't get a replacement hose - it required the whole regulator assembly from sears & cost what the grill did. So I bought a weber gas grill (3 burner model). It has performed admirably for 5 years now. I did just notice that the paint was peeling on the inside.

Anyway there is no comparison in performance between the 2. The Sears unit had hot spots, cold spots etc, required constant attention. The weber is even steven.

I am thinking about a charcoal unit - especially a smoker type to get some more flavor...

 

[Highbeam]

Ah yes, N80, I too dumped those nasty lava rocks for a set of ceramic tiles made for this. This almost entirely eliminated the flare ups. I call it a great upgrade for little money.

Paint peeling off of the inside is bad news. Momma won't like finding BBQ black on her meal. Are you sure it is paint? Maybe fat/dirt accumulation flaking off? I believe it might be paint since some brands are known to paint the inside of an aluminum grill body. I have long since wire brushed my lid off when I first started seeing the flakes. It's not like the lack of paint will hurt the aluminum.....