Top 15 Best Propane Grills Under $500

Who doesn’t love grilling? It’s a perfect occasion to get together with friends, family, and colleagues. Whether you plan to grill right in your backyard, your garden, or on a camping trip, there’s no denying that grilling is a fun experience.

However, some people might find propane grills quite expensive. As convenient as propane grills might be, some of them might cost up to thousands of dollars, which will not be fun for your wallet after all.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy this fun experience without forking over an absurd amount of money. As it happens, there are many fantastic propane grills that are just under $500.

What Are Propane Grills?

Propane grills are grills that use propane gas as their primary power source to heat up and cook food. They are the most popular form of backyard grills thanks to their fast heat-up time, ease of use, and how little they require to cleanup.

In case you don’t know or haven’t heard of propane gas before, I’ll quickly explain what it is. To put in simply, propane gas is a type of flammable hydrocarbon gas that is typically compressed and liquefied via pressurization.

Stored in liquid form, propane gas is usually used for heating, cooking, and to power vehicles.

What Are The Advantages of Propane Gas?

What makes propane gas such as outstanding choice?

Price

Because propane gas is plentiful in supply, this type of fuel is relatively affordable for the majority, if not all, consumers. Less likely to go through price fluctuation, propane gas proves to be reliable as well as an economical choice for people from all walks of life.

Environmentally Friendly

Named in the 1990 Clean Air Act, propane is a clean source of power that generally does not leave any negative impact on the environment.

Considerably more environment-friendly than gasoline or charcoals, propane is an excellent choice for those wishing to leave fewer carbon footprints on the Earth. In fact, it has been proved that increased use of propane can somewhat reduce the greenhouse effect by cutting down carbon dioxide and other types of air pollutants.

High Efficiency

One of the characteristics of propane is its low boiling point, which makes propane vaporizes as soon as this fuel comes into contact with open air. As a result, propane appliances generally tend to be far more efficient.

Propane Vs. Charcoal

The question of whether propane or charcoal grill is superior to one another has always been a hotly debated topic between professionals as well as amateurs chefs. It seems that both types have something compelling to offer despite their own shortcomings.

Of course, charcoal grills have been around since forever, and therefore, might be more familiar to some users more than others. A lot of the time, the smokey, savory flavor that is typically associated with a charcoal grill is next to impossible to replicate on the propane grill, which generally does not generate that much smoke.

Most propane grills have ceramic or metal slabs to cover the flame generated by the fuel. Therefore, any dripping from excess fat, marinades, or oil will heat the surface. For this reason, gas grills generally can’t create as much smoke as charcoal can. However, propane grills are better at producing steam, which means that food cooked on gas grills will have more moisture than those cooked on charcoal ones.

When it comes to control, gas grills clearly are the superior one here. Unlike its charcoal counterpart, which makes it hard to control and regulate the temperature, propane grills are considerably easier to monitor and control. You can adjust the temperature however you like with these propane appliances while the same can’t be said for charcoal ones. Furthermore, only propane grills can be used on a rainy or stormy day.

Likewise, cleaning up a propane grill is a lot easier than cleaning a charcoal one. If you’ve clean a charcoal grill before, you’ll be surprised to see how effortless it will be cleaning up a propane one.

In terms of safety, again, propane grills prove to be a better option. While charcoal poses a risk of burns and other undesirable accidents, propane grills are typically safer to use and are not susceptible to causing accidents.

If you take cost into consideration, you’ll notice how expensive propane grills generally are. While charcoal appliances are usually cheap and relatively affordable for all customers, some propane grills might cost an arm and a leg to buy. Of course, there are certain models for propane grills that are cheap, with some products coming at less than $100. However, cheaper models usually are smaller and don’t offer as many features as expensive ones.

What is The Best Propane Grills $500 To Buy?

Below is my top pick for the best propane grill under the price range of $500. To make it easier for you to imagine what they’re about, I’ve written a short description for each.

• Best Overall: Weber 4501001 Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill
  “Reversible cooking grates, iGrill 3 compatible, stainless steel heat deflector, warming rack included, GS4 grilling system, open cart design, folding side table included.”
• Best with Side Burner: Char-griller E 3001 Grillin Pro 40,800 Propane Grill
  “Generous grilling area of 438 sq. inches, electronic ignition for a reliable start, warming rack included, side-shelf, utensil hooks, high BTU count.”
• Best for Camping: Camp Chef Big Gas Grill
  “Suitable for camping, comes with three powerful burners, matchless ignition system, Deluxe BBQ Box included, installed with removable legs and foldable side shelves.”
• Best with Infrared: Char-Broil 463370719 TRU-Infrared 3-Burner Propane Grill
  “Electronic ignition, TRU-infrared technology, no flare-ups, even heat distribution, made of premium quality stainless steel, three burners included.”
• Best for Budget: Char-Broil Classic 280 2-burner Propane Grill
  “Decent cooking space, porcelain-coated steel lid and firebox, Piezo ignition system, metal side shelves for additional prep space, highly durable burners.”
• Best with Smoker: Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Propane Grill
  “TRU-infrared technology, easy temperature control, no flare-up, even heat distribution, suitable for grilling, roasting, and smoking food.”
• Best Portability: Weber 51060001 Q1200  Liquid Propane Grill
  “Stainless steel burner, easy electronic ignition, reliable thermal control, minimal maintenance required, split-grate design, built-in thermometer.”
• Best Small Size: Char-Broil Performance 300 Liquid Propane Grill
  “Highly durable, excellent maneuverability, electronic ignition system, convenient storage cabinet, easy to use and clean, easy assembly.”
• Best for Small Patio: Fuego F21 C-H Element Hinged Propane Grill
  “New hinged lid design, compact size, suitable for small patio, upgraded 22,00 BTU burners, dual-zone burner system, new grease management system.”
• Best for Commercial Use: Blackstone 1554 Station 4-Burner Propane Grill
  “Generous cooking surface, quick ignition button, stainless steel burners, secure footing, easy to assemble, adjustable heat zones, expansive cooktop.”
• Best with Rotisserie: Monument Grills 17842 Stainless Steel 4 Burner Propane Grill
  “Angled flame tamers, LED control knobs, porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grid, rugged stainless steel, even heat distribution, high BTU count.”

Comparison Chart

Before going into the review section for the best propane grill under $500, you should check out this comparison chart first.

Top 15 Best Propane Grills Under $500 Reviews

Weber 4501001 Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill

(Best Overall)

The most outstanding aspect of this propane grill is perhaps, its signature GS4 grilling system from Weber, which consists of four key features: the Infinity ignition, Flavorizer Bars, Grease Management system, and power burners.

With the Ignition system, you will never encounter a single trouble starting the grill, regardless of the weather condition.

Meanwhile, the Flavorizer Bars are designed so that their angles at an ideal position to catch any dripping and sizzle. This means that you’ll be able to replicate that smoky flavor for your grilled food.

The Grease Management system’s main job is to remove grease and reduce any chances of flare-ups. Any dripping that is not handled by the Flavorizer Bars will be going straight into the disposable drip tray lying under the cook box.

Finally, the powerful burners that come with the grill will ensure a uniform heat distribution all over the cooking surface, guaranteeing that your food will come out evenly cooked.

Moreover, this propane grill offers a decent cooking area of 520 square inches in total. You can cook anything you like on the primary cooking surface, which is 424 square inches while leaving food to warm up on the 105-square-inch warming rack.

Thanks to the product’s reversible porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates, you can be as creative with your dish as you want. To be specific, we can cook delicate food on the thin side of the grates while leaving the thicker food for the wider side to handle.

Key Features:

• Reversible cooking grates
• Warming rack included
• Comes with a folding side table
• GS4 Grilling System
• Open cart design
• Integrated hooks attached to the side tables
• Easy-to-read fuel gauge included
• Stainless steel heat deflector
• iGrill 3 compatible

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	52 x 26 x 57 inches
Item Weight	103 pounds
Material Type	Porcelain-enameled, Cast Iron
Manufacturer	Weber
Cooking Area	520 sq. inches (the primary cooking area is 424 square inches and warming rack cooking area is 105 square inches)
BTU	30,000 BTU for main burners

Char-griller E 3001 Grillin Pro 40,800 Propane Grill

(Best with Side Burner)

Whip up amazing dishes with this excellent propane grill. Thanks to its high BTU count of up to 40,800, the grill can heat up in a surprisingly short time. Furthermore, thanks to its electronic ignition, the grill can always start with your first try.

Cook anything you want on this fairly spacious grill, which offers a primary cooking space of up 438 square inches. With the additional 192-square-inch warming rack, you can prepare and cook various food at the same time.

Furthermore, the grill comes with a side burner that gives you more freedom and versatility.

Do you despise a flimsy grill that will fail you within a matter of months? Don’t worry; this grill is sturdily constructed with heavy steel for durability’s sake.

Key Features:

• BTU count of up to 40,800
• Decent main grilling area of 438 square inches
• 192-square-inch warming rack included
• Electronic ignition for a reliable start
• Side-shelf for convenient workplace
• Porcelain-coated cast-iron grates
• Utensil hooks included

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	48 x 28 x 48 inches
Item Weight	88.2 pounds
Material Type	Porcelain-coated cast-iron
Manufacturer	Char-Griller
Cooking Area	438 square inches for primary cooking space, 192 square inches for warming rack
BTUs	40,800

Camp Chef Big Gas Grill

(Best for Camping)

Are you a fan of camping? Do you want a grill that can be taken with you on your camping trip? Look no further as this propane grill might just be the answer you’re looking for.

Equipped with three powerful burners, this propane grill offers a decent cooking surface of 608 square inches. This means that you can prepare a large amount of food with relative ease.

Designed to be portable, the grill has removable legs as well as foldable side shelves. Therefore, even though the product is quite large in size, it can still be moved around with little difficulties.

Furthermore, the grill is equipped with a Deluxe BBQ Box, which offers an excellent heat diffusion system as well as a pre-seasoned cast-iron grill grate.

Tired of grills that refuse to start no matter how hard you try? The matchless ignition feature of the grill will let you start it with a simple push of the button.

Key Features:

• Suitable for camping trips
• Three powerful burners included
• Large cooking surface of up to 608 square inches
• Removable legs with foldable side shelves
• Comes with a Deluxe BBQ Box
• Matchless ignition system

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	15.8 x 24 x 7 inches
Item Weight	85 pounds
Material Type	Cast-aluminium burners, cast iron, grill gates.
Manufacturer	Camp Chef
Cooking Area	608 inches
BTUs	90,000

Char-Broil 463370719 Stainless Steel TRU-Infrared 3-Burner Propane Grill

(Best with Infrared)

Due to its generous cooking surface that can allow you to cook up to 24 burgers at once, this TRU-Infrared propane grill makes an excellent choice for any occasion. Moreover, this product comes with a secondary cooking space which will enable you to prepare sauces as well as side dishes while you’re preparing the main course.

To make sure customers have an easy time monitoring the grill’s temperature, the producers of this propane grill have installed a lid-mounted temperature gauge onto the grill. With this thermometer, you’ll be able to determine how to cook your food to your liking.

You can kiss stubborn grills goodbye with the product’s innovative electronic ignition system that can guarantee you a quick start every time. No more fussing over how your grills won’t start with this amazing appliance.

That’s not all, thanks to its TRU-infrared technology, this propane grill can deliver a uniform heat distribution to make sure that your food is evenly cooked. In addition to this, this innovative technology will reduce the risk of flare-ups to zero.

Key Features:

• TRU-Infrared technology
• Electronic ignition
• Porcelain-coated grates
• Three burners included
• Made of premium quality stainless steel
• No flare-ups
• Cooking space of up to 450 square inches

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	54.1 x 23.4 x 45.5 inches
Item Weight	106 pounds
Material Type	Porcelain-coated
Manufacturer	Char-Broil
Cooking Area	450 square inches
BTUs	24000 BTUs for main cooking surface 10000 BTUs on the side burner

Char-Broil Classic 280 2-burner Propane Grill

(Best for Budget)

An excellent choice for a tight budget, this propane grill has more to offer other than its agreeable price.

Offering a cooking surface of up to 280 square inches beside two separate burners and porcelain-coated grates, the grill is suitable for cooking up to 12 burgers at a time. Additionally, this produce also provides an extra prep place with an area of 156 square inches on the metal side shelves.

The grill is implemented with Piezo ignition system, which will enable you to effortlessly start the grill every single time. Furthermore, the product has two 6-inches wheels so that you can comfortably move the grill wherever you please.

Key Features:

• Decent cooking space
• Porcelain-coated steel lid and firebox
• Highly durable burners
• Metal side shelves for additional prep space
• Two 6-inches wheels for portability
• Piezo ignition system

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	16.9 x 26 x 17.7 inches
Item Weight	43 pounds
Material Type	Porcelain-coated steel
Manufacturer	Char-Broil
Cooking Area	280 sq. inches
BTUs	20,000 BTU

Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Propane Grill

(Best with Smoker)

The most outstanding feature of this propane grill is that it comes with a smoker box, which allows you to replicate that smoky, savory flavor that typically only a charcoal grills can. Say goodbye to preparing wood chips and pellets, with this propane grill from Char-Broil; you’ll be able to whip up the most savory dishes ever.

Thanks to the smoker box, you have more options for cooking, including but not limited to grilling, smoking and roasting the ingredients.

Furthermore, even though this gas grill might look small and lightweight, it can actually hold up to 25 pounds of meat. This means that it’s suitable for virtually any type of meat, be it rib, roast, turkey, chicken, or anything that you can think of.

That’s not all. Because the grill is implemented with TRU-infrared technology, it can cook food much faster than an average grill typically can. Moreover, it offers an even heat distribution while reducing the risks of flare-ups.

Key Features:

• TRU-Infrared technology implemented
• Suitable for grilling, roast, and smoking food
• Can hold up to 25 pounds of meat of various kinds
• A cooking area of up to 180 square inches
• Easy temperature control

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	23.1 x 23.4 x 36.2 inches
Item Weight	22.7 pounds
Material Type	N/A
Manufacturer	Char-Broil
Cooking Area	180 sq. inches
BTUs	9000 to 18000 BTUs

Weber 51060001 Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill

(Best Portability)

Highly portable, this tabletop grill is surprisingly powerful with its impressive 8500 BTUs input for a cooking area of 189 square inches.

Thanks to its glass-reinforced nylon frame, the grill is quite sturdy and durable. Furthermore, because the product is designed with a way that air can circulate freely, you food will be cooked evenly by the combination of direct heat as well as indirect heat.

That’s not all, the grill grates are made of porcelain-enameled cast-iron, which means that the grill is capable of excellent heat retention. The grease management system that comes with the grill will let the oil and excess fat drip into a removable drip pan, making cleaning up considerably easier.

Key Features:

• Stainless steel burner
• Easy electronic ignition
• Burner’s valve setting is easy to control
• Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates for heat retention
• Durable cook box, sturdy shroud

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	20.5 x 40.9 x 24.6 inches
Item Weight	30.1 pounds
Material Type	Stainless steel, porcelain-enameled cast-iron
Manufacturer	Weber
Cooking Area	189 sq. inches
BTUs	8500

Char-Broil 463377319 4-Burner Cart Style Propane Grill

An impressive product from Char-broil, this product’s burners can emit flame from the top for better heat distribution. Furthermore, the four independent burners offer controllable separate heat zones, letting you prepare various dishes at once.

Coming with a swing-a-way rack that has an area of 150 square inches, the grill lets you prepare side dishes as well as toasting buns.

That’s not all, the lidded side burners that come with the grill will be an excellent place for you to prepare sauce while you’re waiting for other food to cook.

Key Features:

• Stainless steel finish
• Lidded side burner
• Burners can emit flame from the top for better heat distribution
• Electric ignition system
• Removable grease pan
• Exclusive stainless steel

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	50.4 x 24.5 x 45 inches
Item Weight	93 pounds
Material Type	Stainless steel, porcelain-coated pan.
Manufacturer	Char-broil
Cooking Area	425 sq. inches
BTUs	10,000 per hour

Char-Broil Performance 300 2-Burner Cabinet Liquid Propane Grill

(Best Small Size)

Don’t underestimate this propane grill simply because of its small size; this grill can cook up to 16 burgers at once on its main cooking area of 300 square inches. Boasting a BTU count of up to 24,000, this grill can handle different types of food with relative ease.

Like most of its competitors, the grill is installed with an electronic ignition system for a quick, reliable startup. Furthermore, the product has a lid-mounted thermometer so that customers can easily monitor and control the temperature.

Built with premium quality material only, this product is highly sturdy and durable, which means that the grill can withstand tough weather and many years of use.

Key Features:

• 24,000 BTU
• 2 burners included
• Porcelain-coated cast-iron grates
• Stainless steel lids
• Lid-mounted temperature gauge
• Electronic ignition
• Convenient storage cabinet
• Can cook up to 16 burgers at once

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	24.5 x 42.9 x 44 inches
Item Weight	82.5 pounds
Material Type	Porcelain-coated cast-iron and stainless steel
Manufacturer	Char-Broil
Cooking Area	300 square inches of primary cooking 100 square inch swing-away rack
BTUs	24,000

Fuego F21 C-H Element Hinged Propane Grill

(Best for Small Patio)

If you’re looking for a propane grill that can go with your small patio, then you’ve come to the right place.

The brand new design of this grill now boasts a new hinged lid that can be open at a 45 degrees angle so that you don’t have to worry about reaching over the hot fire.

Furthermore, this grill BTUs count has been upgraded to 22,000 BTU per hour, which means that its dual-zone burner system is more powerful than ever. What’s more, this grill makes a perfect choice for direct and indirect grilling.

That’s not all, this award-winning grill comes with an optional griddle as well as pizza stone kit. The clasp door close system installed to the product will ensure that there will be virtually no rattle inside the grill.

Finally, the residue removal system of the grill has also been upgraded. Now with the new design, grease can drop down straight through the grill and right into the grease tray.

Key Features:

• Upgraded 22,000 BTU/hr dual zone burner system for direct and indirect grilling
• Features hinged lid design at 45 degree angle
• 346 sq. inches of cast iron grilling grate along with optional griddle and pizza stone kit
• Upgraded grease removal system

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	21 x 21 x 46 inches
Item Weight	72.4 pounds
Material Type	Cast Iron Grilling Grate
Manufacturer	Fuego
Cooking Area	346 sq.inches
BTUs	22,000 BTUs

Blackstone 1554 Station 4-Burner Propane Grill

(Best for Commercial Use)

An excellent choice for those who are looking for something suitable for commercial purposes or heavy-duty use, this grill offers a generous cooking area of up to 720 square inches. That’s not all, the product even gives you an option whether you want to cook food in different quadrants or not.

If you’ve had trouble putting up grills before and don’t want to face another overly complicated grill, you’ll be pleased to learn that this grill makes assembly as easy as 123. With enough practice, you’ll probably be able to put this grill together with your eyes closed.

Another thing that you should know about this grill is that it has a flat cooking surface rather than the commonly seen grill grates. Even though this means that you will not have that perfect sear mark, you can rest assured knowing that your food is being evenly cooked.

Equipped with four independent burners, the grill lets you cook various types of food at once, and therefore, cutting down on prep time.

Easy to clean, generous cooking surface, durable, easy to assemble, this grill has everything you might be looking for.

Key Features:

• Secure footing
• Reliable ignition button
• Thick rolled steel surface
• Four separate burners for adjustable heat zones
• Caster wheel
• Expansive cooktop

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	62.5 x 22 x 36 inches
Item Weight	120 pounds
Material Type	Stainless steel, rolled steel
Manufacturer	North Atlantic Imports LLC
Cooking Area	720 sq. inches
BTUs	60,000 per hour

Pit Boss Grill 75275 Stainless Steel Two Burners Propane Grill

Another excellent choice for portable gas grills, this product boasts a sturdy 430 stainless steel body and a 304 stainless steel grid.

Installed with two powerful burners, the grill has a BTU input of 10,000, which is perfectly suitable for those who love grilling and searing food.

Furthermore, not only is this product exceedingly lightweight, it also comes with folding legs as well as latching hood for the sake of portability.

To make sure you’ll have an easy time measuring the temperature of the food, the dome of the grill has a built-in thermometer.

Key Features:

• Portable design features folding legs and latching hood
• Lightweight and easy to carry
• Push and turn ignition and dome thermometer
• Two 10,000 BTU burner design
• Product’s body and lid is made of 430 stainless steel

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	23 x 19.5 x 16 inches
Item Weight	27 pounds
Material Type	430 Stainless Steel Body & Lid Construction And 304 Stainless Steel Grids
Manufacturer	Pit Boss
Cooking Area	276 sq. inches
BTUs	10,000 BTUs

Blackstone 36-inch Stainless Steel Outdoor Propane Grill

If you’re looking for a grill that can handle cooking for a large group of people, then this product might be the one for you.

Boasting a generous cooking surface of up to 720 square inches in total, the product offers four independent burners that let you control different heat zones. This means that you can easily cook different types of food at the same time instead of waiting for one type to be cooked before taking care of another.

Furthermore, this propane grill has quite a decent BTU count of up to 60,00 for four burners in total. This means that the heat range the burners can generate is quite large, allowing you to tackle many type of dishes to serve our friends and family.

Made of stainless steel as well as cold rolled steel, the product is designed so that it’ll be as durable as possible. Furthermore, thanks to the four wheels attached to the feet of the grill, you can easily transport it anywhere you want.

Key Features:

• Large cooking surface of up to 720 square inches in total
• Suitable for commercial-grade use
• Easy to use and assemble
• Can be transported with ease
• Made of stainless steel and cold rolled steel for extra durability
• Controllable heat zones

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	62.5 x 22 x 36 inches
Item Weight	50 pounds
Material Type	Stainless steel and cold rolled steel
Manufacturer	Blackstone
Cooking Area	720 square inches in total
BTUs	60,000 BTU in total 15,000 BTU for each burner

MASTER COOK 3-Burner Stainless Steel BBQ Propane Grill

Arriving with 3 stainless steel burners, this propane grill boasts a decent 30,00 BTU per hour and a reliable startup every time with the piezoelectric ignition system.

Featuring a stainless steel control panel, the grill offers a chromium plating control knob for as sleek as it is durable design.

For portability shake, the product is installed with two 6-inch wheel so that it can be moved virtually anywhere you want, be it your backyard, the garden, the patio, etc.

Don’t worry if you’re not too good at DIY or if you aren’t too tech-savvy. As it happens, MASTER COOK has made sure that their customers will not encounter any trouble when assembling their grills.

Key Features:

• 3 stainless steel burners
• Metal foldable side shelves
• Piezoelectric ignition system
• Chromium plating control knob
• Built-in stainless steel thermometer
• Porcelain-enameled wire cooking grates
• Suitable for multifunction use

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	46.46 x 20.87 x 41.14 inches
Item Weight	48.9 lb
Material Type	Porcelain-enameled grate, chromium plating control knob
Manufacturer	MASTER COOK
Cooking Area	471.8 sq. inches in total (339 sq. inches in primary cooking area and 132.8 for warming area)
BTUs	30,000 BTUs on burners

Monument Grills 17842 Stainless Steel 4 Burner Propane Grill

(Best with Rotisserie)

If you’re a fan of rotisserie, you can’t miss this amazing propane grill from Monument Grills.

Constructed with rugged stainless steel for extra durability, the product will stand up to many years of grilling. Boasting 4 independent burners, the grill allows you to cook a variety of food at once. Furthermore, the warming rack that comes with the grill will let you to leave your food to warm up while you prepare other dishes.

That’s not all, the grill is also designed with angled flame tamers that are meant for even heat distribution so that you food will always be perfectly cooked. Meanwhile, the backlit LED control knobs will let you cook in any time of the day.

If you feel your tools are getting in your way, you can simply hook the grilling utensils on the fixed tool hooks for a stress-free cooking session.

Key Features:

• Rugged stainless steel for extra durability
• Provides even heat distribution
• Designed to cook faster than traditional models
• Decent cooking area of up to 513.3 square inches
• High BTU count of up to 60,000 in total
• Porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grid
• 304 stainless steel burners
• LED control knobs
• Angled flame tamers

Product Specifications:

Product Dimensions	32 x 25.5 x 25.2 inches
Item Weight	118 pounds
Material Type	Porcelain-coated cast iron and stainless steel
Manufacturer	Monument  Grills
BTUs	60,000 BTUs in total

Buying Guide

When it comes to grills, especially propane ones, there are so many options to choose from. As you might have noticed, propane grills differ vastly in many ways, be it design, special features, construction, material type and cost. As a result, many people have difficulties deciding which model to buy and what brand to trust.

If you’re still struggling to find a grill for yourself, hopefully this buying guide can help you.

Mind the BTUs

As you can see from my review above, each product has different count of BTUs. If you don’t know what BTU is, it’s basically a number to inform you how much gas the grill will be using and how hot it can potentially get.

Of course, to correctly determine how much heat your grill can deliver, you need to divide the BTU rate by the area of the grill. So for instance, the BTU count of a grill is 40,800 while its cooking area amounts to 438 square inches. If you divide 40,800 by 438, you’ll get a heat flux of 93, which means that the grill can deliver 93 BTU per inch square.

Typically, grills with a lower heat flux are more suitable for dishes such as seafood and vegetables. Meanwhile, those with a higher heat flux are meant for thicker food such as steaks. Generally speaking, grills that offer a high BTU per inch square are more versatile and can handle a vast variety of food.

To cut a long story short, if you have versatility in mind, then I’d recommend getting one with a high heat flux. The average heat flux for a typical grill is around 85.

Of course, there are some certain models that only provide the BTU count for their burners or swing-a-way rack only. This means that you can’t apply the method above to determine the heat flux. If you need to get your hands on this info, the only way to do so is to contact the manufacturers themselves.

Pay Attention to The Cooking Surface

When buying grills, you need to know the exact square inches of the grill’s cooking surface. While some grills only offer 145 square inches for the sake of portability, there are certain models that provide a generous cooking surface of up to 720 square inches.

You need to keep in mind that cooking area needs to be large enough so that you don’t crow the surface while preparing food. As a rule of thumb, there should always be at least 0.5’’ between food placed on the grill.

As you might have noticed, some grills have a warming rack beside their primary cooking area. Even though this means that you have a large surface top prep food, remember that you can’t cook your food on the warming rack only. When taking into the cooking area, you need to mind the primary cooking space, not the warming rack.

Portability Matters

While many people might only grill in their backyard, some people prefer to go elsewhere for a picnic and bring a grill with them. If you’d prefer to have a grill that can be taken with you wherever you go, then you should look for those that are designed to be portable.

FAQs

My Top Pick

There’s little doubt in my mind that the Weber 4501001 Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill is one of the best propane grills under $500 there is. If you still don’t know which product to get, then I’d recommend you give this fantastic grill a try.