Grilling is a summertime favorite for many people. Although summer barbeques can be tough, everyone enjoys them because they’re a great way to spend time with loved ones and make delicious food. If you want to do this, however, you’ll need a good gas grill under $500.
If using the grill is tricky and stressful, then what’s the point of having a barbeque? You can easily cook food on a gas grill since it is highly efficient.
There are many affordable gas grills available despite the fact that they can be pricey. If you’re on the lookout for a gas grill under $500, you’re in luck.
We’re here to help with so many types and so many brands. This is the article you’ve been looking for if your budget is around $500 for a gas grill. Based on our research, we selected the best gas grills under $500 from among dozens of options.
We’ve compiled a list of our favorite high-quality yet affordable grills.
| Products | Price |
|---|---|
| American Gourmet 463773717 Char-Broil Classic | |
| Weber 54060001 Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill | |
| Weber 46110001 Spirit E-210 Gas Grill | |
| Monument Grills 24367 Stainless Steel | |
| Char-Broil 463370719 Performance TRU-Infrared |
1. American Gourmet 463773717 Char-Broil Classic
Generally, gas grills are more expensive than charcoal ones, but this one won’t break the bank. There aren’t as many bells and whistles on it as you’ll find on more expensive models, but it’s still wonderful for grilling steaks and burgers, with enough room for more.
The porcelain-coated grates allow for 360 square inches of primary grilling area, as well as a warming rack for keeping finished foods at serving temperature. For perfect barbecue ribs, you can cook them on this grill using up to 30,000 BTUs of power.
Three burners provide great searing power as well as low-and-slow cooking power. The reviewer praised the even temperature of the stove: “The flames were even and responded well to temperature adjustments, resulting in evenly cooked food and the right amount of heat.”
In addition to the two metal shelves that hold sauces and plates, the grill is easy to move thanks to two wheels. The reviewer found the grill a little shaky when cutting meat on the side shelf, but found it convenient and sturdy overall.
2. Weber 54060001 Q2200 Liquid Propane Grill
Even though it’s a tabletop model, the Weber Q 2200 Gas Grill has every bit of power as a full-size model. A single burner on this little grill produces up to 12,000 BTUs per hour, and its cast-iron grates provide 280 square inches of cooking space.
You can easily cook hot dogs, steaks, veggies, and hamburgers with this grill. You can start it quickly and easily with its ignition button.
We found the folding side tables to be one of our testers’ favorite features; they’re big enough to accommodate a plate filled with food.
Despite the grill reaching 400 degrees in 5 minutes, we were impressed with how quickly it heated up, and its sturdy construction makes it perfect for camping and backyard cooking.
In case the Q 2200 is not what you need (or what your budget allows), the Weber Q Series has a number of other models you might want to consider.
The Weber Q 2000, for instance, offers the same cooking area and side tables. A few features, such as a built-in lid thermometer, are missing, however, such as its slightly shorter dome.
3. Weber 46110001 Spirit E-210 Gas Grill
Despite its smaller size, the Weber Spirit II E-210 delivers the same grilling experience as the best overall grill on this list.
The grill is very solidly built and is an excellent choice for those looking for a two-burner grill that is still highly effective. You can cook great meals on this grilling time after time because it has all the features you need.
It will fit on even the smallest patio or deck thanks to its small footprint and folding shelf. Its main grilling area has enough space for almost any crowd, yet is generously sized when it comes time to grill.
In addition to the side shelves, the open-case design provides additional storage space. You can easily access your most important tools thanks to the six utensil hooks.
Weber’s GS4 grill provides a powerful and constant heat source. Having porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates results in good-tasting food for years to come. Moreover, they can be easily cleaned.
An open-cart design makes it easy to clean and maintain the grill, so you will have more time to enjoy your meal and relax afterward.
4. Monument Grills 24367 Stainless Steel
At an affordable price, the Monument Grills 4-burner grill offers an excellent grilling experience. The high-quality cooking you’ll enjoy on this grill will last for years.
This Monument Grill features a side burner and a side sear burner that provide 72,000 BTUs of cooking power. All four stainless steel burners perform exceptionally well. Large enough to handle cooking for a large crowd, this grill offers plenty of space for grilling.
It has two side burners, which are uncommon for grills in this price range. Steaks or other cuts of meat that require a high degree of heat can be seared with the sear burner.
Using a cast-iron grill with porcelain coating produces fantastic grill marks that not only enhance the taste of your food but also make it visually appealing. When you grill for the first time, everyone will think you are a grilling master.
In addition to the LED lighted knobs, this grill is also suitable for grilling at night or in low light conditions. Its bright stainless steel finish is also guaranteed to look good in any backyard.
5. Char-Broil 463370719 Performance TRU-Infrared
This Char-Broil model is perfect for those who enjoy a perfect sear. Steaks and other meats are sear-grilled evenly using its three burners.
An oversized cooking surface of 450 square inches provides ample space for food preparation. Despite emitting a mere 24,000 BTUs, its infrared technologies compensate for that by directing heat efficiently to the cooking surface while its three burners produce a bit more BTUs.
This is one of Char-Broil’s more affordable stainless steel grills in their Performance Series lineup. Aside from the two large side tables, the grill has a 10,000 BTU side burner as well as a swing-away warming rack.
Things to Consider Before Buying
The size, build quality, and heat output of a gas grill should all be considered when choosing one. Find out more about all of these features and more ahead.
Cooking area and size
The size of the grill is usually the first factor to consider when purchasing one. Despite the fact that a large grill has the capacity to cook a lot of food at the same time and come with prep tables on its side, it also occupies a great deal of space on the patio, balcony, or deck. The portability of a grill is also affected by its size.
Generally, the size of a grill is determined by the cooking surface, which is usually measured in square inches. There are a variety of grills under $500, ranging from portable models with a cooking area of about 250 square inches to large models with a cooking area of over 700 square inches.
Typically, mid-tier grills with approximately 400 square inches of cooking area are around four feet long, while 600-square-inch models are closer to five feet in length.
Build Quality
The quality of the build determines how long a grill lasts, and the $500 models are at the lower- to mid-tier level. Grills with a body made of folded sheet metal and some plastic parts are typical for this price level.
The material is not as durable as that used in more expensive grills, but it’s still of reasonable quality. For under $500, you can find some stainless steel grills with enamel coatings as opposed to fancier stainless steel grills.
Grate Material
Grill grate materials should be considered since they are typically the first thing to wear out on a grill and can be expensive to replace.
Porcelain-coated iron is the grate material that is found on the best gas grills under $500, which does a good job of retaining heat while resisting rust.
Grates coated with porcelain eventually rust due to the wear and tear of the protective coating and the exposure to air and moisture. Stainless steel is another common material for warming grates.
BTUs and burner number
A gas grill’s ability to reach high enough temperatures to sear steaks and hamburgers to that perfect char depends directly on how much heat it can generate.
Gas grills produce heat by releasing BTUs (British Thermal Units) from each of their burners, just as gas heaters do. Four burners of 10,000 BTU each provide a total of 40,000 BTU for a gas grill.
Grills need more BTUs to evenly heat their cooking surfaces, the bigger the cooking surface. The BTU per square inch of an effective gas grill should range between 80 and 100.
The cooking surface of a grill with 450 square inches should have enough burners to generate between 36,000 and 40,000 BTUs. The sear burner on some gas grills emits 15,000 BTUs, which are required to produce the high temperatures needed to get a crusty brown crust on the meat.
Source of Fuel
Natural gas or propane are the fuels for gas grills. The price point of a pure natural gas grill at $500 is very low, as these grills are usually high-end built-in grills. For small, portable models, propane canisters are available in 1-pound sizes or 20-pound tanks for larger grills.
An extra conversion kit can convert some propane gas grills under $500 into natural gas grills. Wood or charcoal are also possible with some dual-fuel propane gas grills.
Added features
Gas grills may also come with additional features designed to make grilling easier, such as an electronic ignition system that eliminates the need to use a lighter or match, a fuel gauge that informs the chef of how much gas is left in the tank, and a side burner for preparing sauces and side dishes.
The cook can even monitor the food temperature from their smartphone using a wireless meat thermometer system found on some grills.
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