Selecting a Grill..... we can help make it easy!
With so many grills to choose from, how do you select the "right" grill?
Our knowledgeable staff can help you find a grill that will work for your budget and meet your needs. We help our customers work through a selection process based on answering three important questions:
When considering the size of a grill, it’s important to think about the largest number of people you entertain when barbecuing. Equally important is what you grill for a large group. For example, you can purchase a smaller grill if you typically rotisserie a turkey for large group. But the grill would need to be larger if you typically cook hamburgers or chicken breasts for large groups.
If the grill is to be built into a barbecue island, a secondary consideration is to size the grill so its proportional to the island and the other accessories in the island.
It's really not possible to compare grill size by burners or even by the width. Each manufacturer uses different burner types and also promote their grill size using different criteria. Not all 30" grills are created equal.
Features
When comparing equally well made grills…the deciding factor often comes down to a grill feature that is important to you. No one grill has all of these features, but below are some features you might find interesting and important to have in your grill. If you prioritize your top 3 to 5 features, we can usually narrow down the search to two or three brands:
When considering a grill purchase, there are two purchasing philosophies: (1) purchase an inexpensive “disposable” grill, one you might keep for a few years and then replace it with a new one; or (2) purchase a quality grill that you will use for 15 or more years. Most of the grills we sell fall into the second category. Here are 5 things that will impact the cost of a grill:
Warranty
How long is the warranty, what does the warranty cover and what is the track record of the company behind the warranty.
Stainless Steel
Not all stainless is equal, not even all “304” stainless is equal. Some manufacturers use the best of the best which is critically important along the coast. Some manufacturers use a quality stainless for most of the grill, but will compromise by using cheaper fasteners or other components. Even some famous brand names do this.
Manufacturer Location
Whether the grill is made in the US or off-shore also contributes to the cost of the grill. Southern California is home to some of the largest and best known grill manufacturers where quality is consistent, parts are easy to obtain and a long track record of quality customer support.
Features
Some manufacturers package features you don’t want and will not use into their grills. This is common, especially with larger sized grills. There are other manufacturers that allow you to pick and choose the specific features you want.
Frequency
If you grill once or twice a week through the summer months, you might not want to spend as much as someone who grills 5 nights a week all year long. The premium grills are made to be used daily, just like a restaurant uses its commercial stoves and ovens daily. Most lines we carry offer 2 or 3 quality different models; something for the occasional outdoor chef and another option for the "king of the grill".
Grill Myths
1. The more burners a grill has, the better the grill is.
Cheaper grills often have more burners than a quality grill. Higher end grills design an efficient cooking system, they don’t just increase the number of burners.
2. The number of BTU’s per burner is important.
As a loose rule of thumb it’s helpful, but more important are burners that are incorporated into an efficient cooking system. The better grills don’t focus on BTU’s per burner, but have invested in a well schooled gas engineer to design a commercial quality cooking system. A design which allows you to grill consistently at high, medium and low temperatures day in and day out.
3. The wider the grill…the bigger the grill
All manufacturers label the size of their grills using different criteria. Some measure from outside flange to outside flange, others include the warming tray as part of the cooking surface. To accurately compare grill size, you need to multiply the width by the depth of the cooking grates in inches. This will give you the actual number of cooking square inches when comparing grill size.
4. The type of burner is really important.
Comparing cast stainless, to cast brass, to tubular stainless may feel like comparing apples to donuts to basketballs. But actually the burner material is not as important as the quality of the materials, the burner efficiency, the warranty of the burner and even more importantly the company standing behind the warranty. A quality burner will cook a great meal equally well, regardless of what its made of.
Our knowledgeable staff can help you find a grill that will work for your budget and meet your needs. We help our customers work through a selection process based on answering three important questions:
- How big a grill should you buy?
- What features are most important to you?
- How much should you spend on a grill?
When considering the size of a grill, it’s important to think about the largest number of people you entertain when barbecuing. Equally important is what you grill for a large group. For example, you can purchase a smaller grill if you typically rotisserie a turkey for large group. But the grill would need to be larger if you typically cook hamburgers or chicken breasts for large groups.
If the grill is to be built into a barbecue island, a secondary consideration is to size the grill so its proportional to the island and the other accessories in the island.
It's really not possible to compare grill size by burners or even by the width. Each manufacturer uses different burner types and also promote their grill size using different criteria. Not all 30" grills are created equal.
Features
When comparing equally well made grills…the deciding factor often comes down to a grill feature that is important to you. No one grill has all of these features, but below are some features you might find interesting and important to have in your grill. If you prioritize your top 3 to 5 features, we can usually narrow down the search to two or three brands:
- Smoker burner so you can smoke and grill meat in the same grill
- Multiple fuel source - cook with gas or charcoal in the same grill
- Glass window to view the grill surface without lifting the hood
- Remote controlled, push button, automatic hood lift
- Spring aided lift assist, so the grill hood is easy to lift manually
- Small drip pan, that makes clean up easy
- Halogen built in lights for easy viewing
- Hex shaped grates for beautiful grill marks and easy cleaning
- Pyramid shaped briquettes to help prevent grease flare-ups
- Wind baffle to keep the cooking surface heat consistent even in a breeze
- Accent lighting on the grill knobs
- Reversible rotisserie brackets so the motor is located on the side you prefer
- Side burner lights controlled by the grill switch; easy one switch control
- Lifetime warranty on the burners and firebox
- Made in the USA, even more specifically, made in southern California
- Warming racks that move out of the way, without having to be removed
- Double walled hood sides
- Infrared Sear zones under the grates
- Infrared back burners for the rotisserie
- Price - I want the most grill for the lowest cost
When considering a grill purchase, there are two purchasing philosophies: (1) purchase an inexpensive “disposable” grill, one you might keep for a few years and then replace it with a new one; or (2) purchase a quality grill that you will use for 15 or more years. Most of the grills we sell fall into the second category. Here are 5 things that will impact the cost of a grill:
Warranty
How long is the warranty, what does the warranty cover and what is the track record of the company behind the warranty.
Stainless Steel
Not all stainless is equal, not even all “304” stainless is equal. Some manufacturers use the best of the best which is critically important along the coast. Some manufacturers use a quality stainless for most of the grill, but will compromise by using cheaper fasteners or other components. Even some famous brand names do this.
Manufacturer Location
Whether the grill is made in the US or off-shore also contributes to the cost of the grill. Southern California is home to some of the largest and best known grill manufacturers where quality is consistent, parts are easy to obtain and a long track record of quality customer support.
Features
Some manufacturers package features you don’t want and will not use into their grills. This is common, especially with larger sized grills. There are other manufacturers that allow you to pick and choose the specific features you want.
Frequency
If you grill once or twice a week through the summer months, you might not want to spend as much as someone who grills 5 nights a week all year long. The premium grills are made to be used daily, just like a restaurant uses its commercial stoves and ovens daily. Most lines we carry offer 2 or 3 quality different models; something for the occasional outdoor chef and another option for the "king of the grill".
Grill Myths
1. The more burners a grill has, the better the grill is.
Cheaper grills often have more burners than a quality grill. Higher end grills design an efficient cooking system, they don’t just increase the number of burners.
2. The number of BTU’s per burner is important.
As a loose rule of thumb it’s helpful, but more important are burners that are incorporated into an efficient cooking system. The better grills don’t focus on BTU’s per burner, but have invested in a well schooled gas engineer to design a commercial quality cooking system. A design which allows you to grill consistently at high, medium and low temperatures day in and day out.
3. The wider the grill…the bigger the grill
All manufacturers label the size of their grills using different criteria. Some measure from outside flange to outside flange, others include the warming tray as part of the cooking surface. To accurately compare grill size, you need to multiply the width by the depth of the cooking grates in inches. This will give you the actual number of cooking square inches when comparing grill size.
4. The type of burner is really important.
Comparing cast stainless, to cast brass, to tubular stainless may feel like comparing apples to donuts to basketballs. But actually the burner material is not as important as the quality of the materials, the burner efficiency, the warranty of the burner and even more importantly the company standing behind the warranty. A quality burner will cook a great meal equally well, regardless of what its made of.
