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Grilling is a major occupation in many countries, especially the US and Australia. Before you start, however, you have to choose a grill. Yes, you could still make a delicious meal on the small charcoal grill you’ve had for years, but if you decide to upgrade, you need to look for the best grill within your budget.
The more money you have to spend the more elaborate your grill will be, but it is still possible to buy a great grill if your budget is low.
Invalid table id.Best High-End Grill
Napoleon P500RSIBPSS-3 Prestige 500 Propane Gas Grill
This grill is well worth the money. It has 4 stainless steel burners and stainless steel sear plates. The burners provide 48,000 BTU per hour so that’s plenty of heat for whatever you want to cook. The sear plates allow the fat from your meat to evaporate.
There is plenty of cooking space in different areas. The main cooking space is 500 square inches and you can cook over 30 burgers on this at the same time. It’s ideal for a party. The grill also has a warming rack which is 260 square inches.
You can toast your buns on here and prepare side dishes. There is a side burner which has 140 square inches of space. This side burner heats up to 1800F in just 30 seconds. It’s a great place to cook steaks.
If you’re interested in rotisserie-cooked food there is an 18,000 BTU infrared rear burner which is perfect for the job. The grill even comes with a rotisserie kit.
- 4 Stainless Steel main burners that produce 48, 000 BTU-per-hour input along with Stainless Steel sear plates that provide even heat with their layered positioning and intense flavor for creating Unforgettable meals
- Invite all your friends and family over with 500 square inches of main cooking space, enough to cook 31 burgers at once! Take advantage of the extra 260 Square inches of cooking space offered by the warming rack and 140 square inches on your side burner
- Forget the matches, a quick start up you can count on every time with the flame throwing JETFIRE ignition system on each main burner. As an added back up feature the Napoleon prestige 500 offers a back channel between burners to allow them to light off each other. Never worry about your grill not lighting Ever again You will be up and grilling The first time every time
- Cook a steak house quality steak every time with the infrared sizzle Zone side burner that heats up to 1800 degrees in 30 seconds
- Enjoy rotisserie cooked food with the 18, 000 BTU Infrared rear burner and the Napoleon heavy duty rotisserie kit included with purchase. Why not get a bit creative with the Napoleon rotisserie basket perfect for rotisserie vegetables, fried or Chick wings (accessory sold separately).
This grill starts up easily with the press of the ignition button. The burners can even light up off each other which makes life simple. The control knobs light up in the dark which makes grilling in the dark so much easier.
It is easy to clean, lights up quickly and heats up faster than a lot of gas grills out there.
The grill has a cabinet where you can store the gas bottle out of sight.
It comes with a lifetime warranty.
A couple of customers have said that the fat from the meat causes fires and then burns the meat. Apart from that, there are no cons as far as I can see.
Best Low Budget Grill
Royal Gourmet BBQ Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced grill you won’t go far wrong choosing this charcoal grill. A bonus is that it comes with a smoker so you can barbecue easily although it can also be used as a grill. The grill has a total of 800 square inches of cooking space.
The main grill is 438 square inches in size, the smoker is 183 square inches and there is also an additional rack which is great for toasting buns and grilling vegetables at a lower heat. The rack is 179 square inches in size.
The cooking grates are made out of durable porcelain which retain the heat well and make your meat tender. Add some wood chips to the charcoal to give your food that lovely smoky flavor.
- 811 Square Inches: Includes 443 sq. in. porcelain-enameled steel wire cooking grates, 184 sq. in. chrome-plated warming rack and 184 sq. in. offset smoker.
- Tasty Smoke Flavors: The offset smoker is firmly attached to grill to ensure good circulation of heat and smoke. Easy to open side door to add charcoal and remove ashes; air vent stokes fire instantly.
- Adjustable Pan: 2-level height-adjustable charcoal pan creates better heat control and holds up to 4.4 lbs. of coal.
- Temperature Monitor: Lid-mounted thermometer gauge helps check and monitor the cooking temperature and you can cook with great confidence.
- Ample Space: Front and side tables offer workspace for seasonings and grilling tools. The bottom shelf provides extra storage space and holds up to only 20 lb. accessories when they are evenly distributed.
There are lots of additional features which makes this grill well worth investing in. On the lid, there is a temperature gauge so you can keep an eye on the temperature throughout the whole cooking process.
The handle always stays cool so you won’t burn your hands. There is a door on the side through which you can add extra charcoal easily. There is also an ashes pan making it easy to clean.
The smoker can also be used for roasting side dishes like corn or vegetables for the vegetarians in your family.
There are two dampers to help you to control the heat.
There are racks in the front, the side and underneath the grill which is great for storage and food preparation.
The black coating on the grill allows temperatures to reach 400F.
The grill has 2 wheels so is portable.
A few customers have complained that there are air gaps in the smoker so you don’t get a steady temperature.
How to Choose a Grill
There isn’t a grill out there that will fit everybody. We all want different things from a grill so you need to decide what your priorities are before you go to the store or look online.
If Your priority is the price, check our reviews of:
Considerations to be made include how often you intend to use your grill. There isn’t that much point buying a state-of-the-art grill if you’re only going to use it now and again though if that’s what you want, there’s nothing stopping you.
Another thing to keep in mind is how many people will you usually be cooking for? The more people you cook for the bigger the grill needs to be. You don’t want people standing around waiting for their food while others are eating.
Another consideration to be made is what you are going to use the grill for. Will you just be grilling things like steaks, fish and vegetables or do you want to barbecue large pieces of meat over a low heat for several hours. If you do want to barbecue, you really need to get a grill which comes with a smoker.
Gas versus Charcoal Grills
This is the age-old question. Some people think that it’s not really grilling unless you use charcoal, but there’s a lot to be said in favor of gas grills as well. In the end, it’s a totally personal choice.
Charcoal gets hotter than gas so you get that seared effect on your food. However, you won’t get that smoky flavor unless you add some wood chips to the charcoal. On the other hand, it is easier to burn food on a charcoal grill.
Charcoal is more difficult to use than gas and probably suits those who enjoy the whole cooking experience with fire. You have to keep a close eye on your food if you are using charcoal.
With gas, on the other hand, all you do is push a button to get it started and then regulate the heat with a knob. However, cheaper models don’t usually have enough power and therefore don’t sear the food as well as a charcoal grill.
How to Choose a Charcoal Grill
It is a bit easier to choose a charcoal grill rather than a gas grill. A door in front of the grill is a good idea so that you can add more charcoal when needed. Adjustable vents are also important as is a tight-fitting lid. Finally, you will want to get a grill with an ash catcher so that cleaning is made easy.
Criteria to Look For
You will want to get a grill which is sturdy with stable legs and possibly wheels so that you can move it about. A heavy metal grate is important. Cast-iron and stainless steel are the best. In addition, getting a long warranty is a good idea. Another criteria is the price so consider reading our lists of:
How to Choose a Gas Grill
The most important factor is the number of burners. The more you have the more variety of cooking you can have. After all, you don’t want to cook vegetables at the same temperature as meat. A drip tray to catch the grease is also important so that you can clean the grill with ease. If you want to barbecue get a grill with a smoker.
Final Thoughts
It’s not difficult to find a grill within your budget be it $100 or $1000. There’s a great choice of grills out there whatever price range you are looking at:
- Best grills for under 1000
- Best grills for under 500
- Best grills for under 400
- Best grills for under 250
You just need to find a grill that is sturdy and stable and will do whatever you want with it, be it just cooking burgers, cooking a gourmet meal or barbecuing a large piece of meat. Take your time choosing a grill as you will want it to last a good few years.
