Weber also guarantees major parts on its 2022 Genesis grills—including the grates, hoods, burner tubes, lid assembly, and cookbox—for at least 10 years. Charcoal grills are much cheaper, however, and they can burn hotter than gas grills, for a better sear. Charcoal also imparts a pleasantly smoky flavor to your food, which is something you can’t get from a gas flame. But charcoal takes time to light, and you have to be comfortable with moving around coals and fiddling with vents to control the grill’s heat. All of our picks are propane-gas grills, since propane tanks are portable and can be purchased almost anywhere, and they don’t require any special hookups in your backyard.
The Weber Genesis E-325s puts out more heat per square inch than our pick, and the main grate has a 20% larger cooking area. Weber also redesigned its expandable upper warming rack, with bars that run front to back (rather than side to side), so it’s easier to slide a spatula under the food. Instead of porcelainized cast-iron cooking grates, the Genesis E-325s has a grilling surface made of thick stainless steel rods (these won’t make a huge difference in your grilling results).
For our 2022 update, we relied mostly on research and reporting, as well as our rigorous testing from years prior. We combed big-box home-improvement stores—including Home Depot and Lowe’s—and Big Apple BBQ in New York to view anything new. And we again chatted with Joe Salvaggio at Big Apple BBQ to get his expert opinion of the gas grills available for 2022. Overall, we found that the core function and design of grills we’ve covered in the $400 to $900 price range hasn’t changed.
If a random person walked into our offices off the street and demanded the best grill they could get, I’d point them to this. Beginners will be able to weber gas grill turn out great food without needing to master anything new, and serious grillmasters will find that the Spirit II E-310 is great for acing the basics.
This grill boasts 672 square inches of grilling space across two levels of grates, and it offers an impressive temperature range of 200 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing it to be used for both grilling and smoking. The aim of this test is to assess how the grill handles thicker cuts of meat and slower, more subtle cooking. We used a spatchcock chicken slathered in BBQ sauce, another test of whether food sticks to the grill. We cooked it for 40 minutes, using the two side burners on a low heat, with the middle burner off to create indirect heat. There are plenty of basic gas grills with minimal features, such as the Char-Broil Signature Series Amplifire 2-Burner Gas Grill, but you can also find grills with specialty features, if you’re so inclined. Some popular options include a side burner, which can be used to boil a pot of water to cook vegetables while you grill, or a sear station, which delivers extra-high heat to put a beautiful char on meat.
However, if you have a natural gas line in your home, there are some gas grills that can use this type of fuel. Some grills come with a conversion kit that lets you change them from propane to natural gas, while other grills are solely designed to use with natural gas. Many Weber grills, including our runner-up for best overall, the Weber Spirit II E Burner Gas Grill, can be purchased in both liquid propane or natural gas models. As you look at different gas grills, you’ll want to consider factors like their cooking space, number of burners, and special features like side burners or smart connectivity. To help narrow down your options, we tested 13 of today’s best large gas grills, evaluating their ease of use and cooking abilities.
Its racks are made from porcelain-coated cast iron, and it has an open-cart design with two wheels for easy portability. Yet its three-burner grilling surface is big enough to cook a complete meal (meat or fish and a couple of veggies) for a family or a dozen burgers for a party. With its thick, rust-proof cast-aluminum firebox, this grill will last for years. The Spirit II is also a particularly simple grill to assemble, maintain, and use.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Of all the fuels mentioned here, charcoal emits the most carbon into the atmosphere. Though there’s no debating that, some experts argue that lump charcoal (not briquettes, which can have added chemicals) is potentially carbon neutral. If you want to read more about comparing grilling fuels, we found helpful articles from The Atlantic, Slate, and NPR.
When I checked three-star reviews, a handful of users were saying that their grills arrived with missing screws or were damaged in transit. Even better, you can see in the image above that the chicken fit within the round grill plate. You could roast vegetables or other meat dishes either side of it – there’s plenty of room. The halloumi caught a little, but not weber portable grill as badly on other barbecues we tested where it fused to the grill. We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more.