Best BBQ Gas Grills for 2012 - Part 1

Best BBQ Gas Grills for 2012 – Part 1

Published on May 28, 2012 by Futuro Futuro in Appliances, BBQ Grills

June 23rd is National BBQ Day! Nothing says summer like the smell of barbeque in the air – and nothing is as convenient as a gas-fired grill. Electric grills don’t give you the flame-broiled taste, and charcoal grills are messy. A modern gas grill can be the centerpiece of your backyard party, and a great way to spice up family meals with seared steaks and juicy burgers. Here’s a review of a dozen great grills in the low-to-mid price range.

Note: most grills use Liquid Propane (LP) fuel, which is contained in a separate tank that needs to be refilled. Homes with natural gas heat can use the Natural Gas (NG) conversion kits to connect the grill to the gas line – lower cost than LP, and there are no tanks to refill. Most major grill manufacturers offer an NG conversion kit.

Broil King Sovereign 90 987744 LP – $ 850.00 Pros: includes motorized rotisserie kit; rear burner; lid-covered side burner; lightweight but sturdy stainless-steel construction; 72,000 BTU’s of power; large warming rack; Cons: primary cooking area is relatively small – 450 square inches. Overall: versatile and roomy; rotisserie and large warming rack; only 150 lbs.	Broil King Sovereign 90 BBQ Gas Grill
Broil King Monarch 40 934664 LP – $ 435.00 Pros: cast-iron grate for heat retention & sear marks; lightweight (95 lbs); small and portable; Cons: LP only (no NG option); relatively small cooking area (350 square inches); 35,000 BTU’s is slightly underpowered. Overall: best option for small parties or small spaces.	Broil King Monarch 40 BBQ Gas Grill
Char-Broil Commercial 500 463244011 – $ 250.00 Pros: powerful for its size – 50,000 BTU’s; LP or NG fuel; large cooking area – 500 square inches; limited lifetime warranty on burners; cast-iron grates for heat retention; stainless-steel lid. Cons: no separate rear burner. Overall: if you don’t need fancy options like rotisserie and separate burners, this “no-frill grill” offers a surprising amount of power and space for its size & price.	Char-Broil Commercial 500 BBQ Gas Grill
Ducane Affinity 4100 – $ 529.00 Pros: stainless-steel construction; 2 side shelves; 48,000 BTU total power; 693 square inches of total cooking area; LP or NG fuel options; stainless-steel cooking grate. Cons: no side burner, power is average for its size/price; less than impressive website support. Overall: only 4 burners, but gets the job done. If you need something simple and easy to use, with high quality, for under 600 bucks – this is the grill for you.	Ducane Affinity 4100 BBQ Gas Grill
Master Forge Split-Lid SH3118B – $ 329.00 Pros: sear burner with separate lid; 49,000 BTU is relatively high power, and 535 square inches of cooking space is plenty for its size & price; LP fuel with NG conversion option. Cons: steel grill is not rust-resistant; customer support is unimpressive; sold only at Lowe’s. Overall: sear burner can be used separately without firing up the entire grill, offering a way to cook a quick meal while saving fuel. Construction quality is OK, not as good as most of the other grills in our lineup, but it offers plenty of power & space for its size. Best choice for the sub-$400 category.	Master Forge Split-Lid BBQ Gas Grill
Napoleon Mirage M485RSIB – $ 1,050.00 Pros: infrared rear & side burners for more versatility; 74,000 BTU’s total, stainless-steel. Cons: main cooking area is relatively small for its class – 485 sq. inches. Overall: good power, solid construction, flexible cooking surfaces. Rotisserie add-on option.	Napoleon Mirage M485RSIB BBQ Gas Grill