The Bottom Line

This is a typical $200 Kenmore gas grill (made by Char-Broil). Offering 4 main burners and a low powered side burner, you get a basic function grill for what really is a reasonable price. The porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates will transfer heat well and the 4-burner design, while a little excessive in this price range gives you a lot of heat versatility. The downside is that this grill isn't built with the best parts or the thickest metals. I would expect this grill to give you 3 to 4 years service if you keep it clean and covered and don't live on the coast.

Pros

• Inexpensive 4-burner grill with side burner

Cons

• Lightweight construction
• Thin metals won't hold heat
• Uneven heating

Description

• Four 12,000 BTU stainless steel tubular burners
• 484 square inches of primary cooking area for a total of 650 square inches of grilling space
• 48,000 BTU maximum output from the main burners
• 12,000 BTU standard side burner under a flush mounted cover
• Three porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates
• 430 stainless steel and powder coated steel body and frame
• Electric (AA-Battery) ignition
• Propane tank, rotisserie kit and cover sold separately
• Made in China by Char-Broil exclusively for Sears' Kenmore Brand

Guide Review - Kenmore 4-Burner with Side Burner Model# 464424312

At most of the big box stores there is a grill like this one selling for around $200USD. The Kenmore 4-Burner at Sears is made by Char-Broil under the Kenmore name. This is a large gas grill with 4 burners and a basic side burner. In truth there isn't much that makes it stand out. Constructed of powder coated steel with a 430 stainless steel lid and lightweight internal components this grill isn't built to last and will probably only serve you for a few years (3 or 4).

The BTU output of this grill is good and typically average. The 12,000 BTU side burner is good enough to heat a pot and a nice addition if you actually use it. The main burners can pump out as much at 48,000 BTUs which is good for a grill this size. The reason it has four burners isn't to give you extra versatility as much as it is to try and even out the heat and to make up for the lightweight firebox. The porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates are pretty heavy and will transfer heat, so that's a plus.

One way to tell the lifespan of this grill is to look at the warranty (receipt required). You get 5 years on the burners and 1 year on everything else. Damage due to rust is not considered cause for a warranty claim. Sears does offer an extended protection plan for an additional charge.

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The Bottom Line

This is about as close as you are going to get to a shiny, stainless steel gas grill for under $150USD. This 4-burner grill pumps out 48,000 BTUs under 477 square inches, which is good enough to hit high temperatures. The 12,000 BTU side burner is typical and nothing special. Of course, a side burner is a gimmick for most people. The problem with this grill is the poor construction and flimsy materials. This gas grill, sitting on the floor of some Walmarts is there to entice you with a big cooking area and a shiny lid. What it won't do, is grill well or last.

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Pros

• Full function gas grill for a low price (under $150USD)
• Good heat output from the main burners

Cons

• Low quality materials, including burners
• Lightweight construction

Description

• Four 12,000 BTU stainless steel (400 series) tubular burners
• 477 square inches of primary grilling space for a total cooking area of 674 square inches
• 48,000 BTU maximum output from the main burners
• 12,000 BTU stainless steel capped side burner under a flush mounted cover
• Porcelain coated steel wire cooking grates
• Piezoelectric igniter on knobs
• 400 series stainless steel and painted sheet metal construction
• Cover and propane tank sold separately
• Manufactured by The Brinkmann Corporation in China and sold exclusively for Walmart

Guide Review - Brinkmann 4-Burner with Side Burner Model# 810-3420-W

This is a large gas grill for a good price. At around $150USD this Walmart exclusive Brinkmann gas grill is sure to be popular amongst those who don't do their research. The 4 stainless steel (400 series stainless) burners give you a lot of versatility in grilling both direct and indirect. The 477 square inches of primary grilling space provide ample cooking space and the 48,000 BTU output will give you almost enough heat for high temperature grilling. With the 12,000 BTU stainless steel capped side burner is powerful enough to heat a small pot. This unit only lacks a full rotisserie system (though can get a spit and fork rotisserie rod for it).

Unfortunately this grill is built with low quality materials like the 430 stainless steel tubular burners and the plastic knobs and handles. The lightweight construction doesn't improved the quality either. The shiny stainless steel will need very regular cleaning and care to keep it shiny. There are many more better quality gas grills near this price range that you should look into before this grill.

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The Bottom Line

The 4-burner Brinkmann gas grill from Target is a standard grill these days. The 12,000 BTU side burner gives you an accessory and the bright red color (Target red) makes it stand out. There are a lot of Brinkmann 4-burners on the market, most of them for around $200USD. This version gets a little heavier construction and a $260USD price. While this one seems to be a better built, all these grills suffer from cheap burners and poor quality construction. This grill will probably give three years of service, but don't consider it a long term investment.

Pros

• Full feature, 4-burner gas grill
• Medium weight porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates

Cons

• Low quality materials, including burners
• Shaky cabinet tends to twist so the doors don't line up

Description

• Four 12,000 BTU stainless steel tubular burners
• 513 square inches of primary grilling space for a total cooking area of 650 square inches
• 48,000 BTU maximum output from the main burners
• 12,000 BTU standard stainless steel capped side burner under a flush mounted cover
• Porcelain coated steel cooking grates
• Piezoelectric igniters on knobs
• Stainless steel and porcelain coated steel construction
• Cover and propane tank sold separately
• Manufactured in China by The Brinkmann Corporation and sold exclusively through Target Stores

Guide Review - Brinkmann 4-Burner Porcelain Model# 810-1450-0

This Target red 4-burner gas grill from Brinkmann is labeled porcelain because of the porcelain coated lid. I can't necessarily say that this is a selling point, but it does make the grill look pretty and it makes Target happy to have this color on a gas grill. The trick with this grill, or any gas grill for that matter is to look inside. While this grill sells for more than most of the Brinkmann 4-burner grills on the market this year.

The Brinkmann 4-Burner Porcelain has a 12,000 BTU side burner under a flush mounted cover and individual on knob piezoelectric igniters. As long as these igniters work this grill is easy to use, simply turn the knob and it lights. Unfortunately these igniters don't have the best reputation and once one or more fails you have the swoosh problem of gas jumping to a lit burner, or you are sticking long matches down the grate to get them lit.

The problem with this grill is that it will work when you get it home. If you keep it clean and covered it might work for a few years. Then again it might not. The burners are thin and the other internal components are equally low quality. Grease, marinades, and the elements will wear away at the insides and the grill will rust. My recommendations in the price range of this grill is something smaller, with fewer burners, and if you really don't need it, without the side burner.

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The Bottom Line

This basic unit offers you a full feature gas grill at a discount price (around $200USD). The four burner design gives you lots of versatility in your cooking. With the addition of a side burner you can do virtually anything but rotisserie. This grill is, however, limited in durability thanks to its reliance on low quality materials and lightweight construction. All stainless steel parts, including the tubular burners at 400 series stainless. The knobs and handles are plastic. The "features", like the bottle opener and flip up front panel are more gimmick than gadget. There are certainly better grills out there.

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Pros

• Good heat output for the size
• Full function gas grill for a low price (around $200USD)

Cons

• Low quality materials, including burners
• Lightweight construction
• Limited support from the manufacturer

Description

• Four 12,000 BTU stainless steel tubular burners
• 488 square inches of primary grilling space for a total cooking area of 638 square inches
• 48,000 BTU maximum output from the main burners
• 12,000 BTU cast iron cap side burner under a flush mounted cover
• Porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates
• Piezoelectric igniter on knobs
• Front panel folds down to make a small table area
• 400 series stainless steel, cast aluminum, and painted sheet metal construction
• Cover and propane tank sold separately
• Manufactured by The Brinkmann Corporation in China and sold exclusively through Home Depot Stores

Guide Review - Brinkman 4-Burner Gas Grill Model# 810-2410-S

This is a simple and basic gas grill for a good price. At around $200USD this Home Depot exclusive Brinkmann gas grill is sure to be popular amongst those who don't do their research. The 4 stainless steel (400 series stainless) burners give you a lot of versatility in grilling both direct and indirect. The 486 square inches of primary grilling space provide ample cooking space and the 48,000 BTU output will give you plenty of heat. With the 12,000 BTU cast iron cap side burner you get the ability to do virtual any cooking task. This unit only lacks a full rotisserie system (though can get a spit and fork rotisserie rod for it).

Listed among the "features" of this grill are a side table mounted bottle opener and a flip up front panel that can be used as a condiment table should you need it. This just tends to make this gas grill more gimmick than practical grill.

Unfortunately this grill is built with low quality materials like the 430 stainless steel tubular burners and the plastic knobs and handles. The lightweight construction doesn't improved the quality either. There are many more better quality gas grills near this price range that you should look into before this grill.

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The Bottom Line

This is a dual head (or two lid) gas grill. One compartment is a standard, three burner gas grill that gives you 36,000 BTUs under 380 square inches of cooking area. The other side is a single 13,000 BTU infrared burner under 155 square inches. You get an independent infrared searing grill and a standard gas grill. I have said in the past that I like this combination. Unfortunately on this grill it isn't well executed. The weak construction, many plastic parts and poor quality stainless make this an unreliable grill that simply isn't built to last. At around $330USD this is a lightweight, gimmicky grill.

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Pros

• Dual head grill, one standard, one infrared
• Large amounts of storage space

Cons

• Poor quality materials throughout
• Thin, lightweight burners
• Dual head is an either or proposition
• Many plastic parts

Description

• Dual head gas grill with one 36,000 BTU standard grill and one 13,000 BTU infrared grill
• Three 12,000 BTU 430 stainless steel standard burners and one ceramic type 13,000 BTU infrared burner
• 535 square inches of primary cooking area for a total of 703 square inches of cooking space
• 11,000 BTU side burner under a flush mounted cover
• Porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates
• 430 stainless steel and powder coated steel construction
• Porcelain coated steel firebox with porcelain coated heat tents
• Propane tank and cover sold separately
• Pull out drawer in side table and fully enclosed cart
• Made in China exclusively for Lowe's Master Forge brand

Guide Review - Master Forge 4-Burner Split-Lid Gas Grill Model #SH3118B

The idea of the dual head grill is that you have one standard grill and one small infrared grill. You use the standard grill for regular cooking tasks and the infrared grill for high temperature searing. In a large, well built grill this is a great combination. This grill however is small and poorly constructed. After all, this one only costs around $330USD. Try to think about each of the two grills separately and decide if this combination makes sense to you.

One grill is a standard three burner, 36,000 BTU gas grill. The 380 square inches of primary cooking space makes this a small grill with average power for the size. The porcelain coated, cast iron cooking grates and the dual layer hood are nice features, but the thin metal and lightweight burners are pretty standard for the price range.

The other grill is a single burner, 11,000 BTU infrared gas grill. The 155 square inches makes it very small, but since you would use this as a searing station you don't need a lot of space. However, at only 10 inches wide it is a very narrow space to work with. The problem with this small searing grill is that you can really only put a steak or two on it. Not very practical unless you don't cook for very many people.

Added to this grill is a standard 11,000 BTU side burner under a flush mounted cover. This is a little low powered so don't expect it to heat a large pot.

The biggest problem I have with this grill is, again, that the construction is weak. If you take hold of the plastic handle over the infrared grill part, lift it half way up and then twist it you will find that you can bend it pretty easily. The entire grill is built like this, lightweight. Add to that the fact that all the stainless steel parts are 430 grade (poor quality) stainless. This means limited durability and that the grill can be easily damaged. All the handles and knobs are cheap plastic and the internal components (including hoses, regulators etc.) are as cheap as you can buy.

To illustrate this point, the first time I saw this gas grill, it was a model that had been stored outside. The screws, that are little more than decorations around the lid were rusted. If you have this grill, I bet you will store it outdoors, and I bet it will rain one day. The next day you will find rust.

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The Bottom Line

Recently a major grill maker told me that the future was in accessories.. The Stok Quattro may just be the perfect design for this. With removable cooking grate sections you can convert to use a griddle, vegetable basket or pizza stone without turning off the grill or even stopping cooking. The unique design of this grill gives you a tremendous amount of versatility in a complete unit. The best part is that all these extras come standard so the $400USD price tag gets you everything. Hopefully Home Depot, the exclusive dealer, will have replacement parts and maybe even more toys to play with.

Pros

• Unique multifunctional cooking system
• Attractive design
• Accessories come standard

Cons

• Continuously swapping components may scratch porcelain coating on grates
• Construction is good, but not great
• Lightweight burners and barriers
• Side tables get hot during usage

Description

• Four 12,000 BTU stainless steel tubular burners
• 475 square inches of primary cooking space for a total grilling area of 600 square inches
• 48,000 BTU maximum output from the main burners
• Porcelain coated cast iron cooking grate with interchangeable grate components
• Comes standard with pizza stone, vegetable basket, griddle, two open grate pieces and grate removal tool
• Electric (AA-battery) ignition
• Stainless steel, cast aluminum, and painted steel construction
• Propane tank and cover sold separately
• Made in China by Guangdong Chant Group Inc. exclusively for Home Depot

Guide Review - Stok 4-Burner Quattro Gas Grill Model# SGP4330SB

The Stok Quattro is truly a unique gas grill. The two porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates have round, removable sections in the middle that can be swapped out for accessories like a pizza stone, a griddle, or a vegetable basket. The best part is that these accessories come standard and are not an additional expense. You even get a place to store these accessories in the cabinet and you get a special tool to remove them while hot. This means you can switch between the different components without turning off the grill or even breaking pace, with the exception of the pizza stone which cannot be gripped by the tool.

Beyond this, the Stok Quattro is a standard 4-burner gas grill. The 48,000 BTUs are plenty to heat the 475 square inch primary grilling space. The porcelain coated cooking grates are heavy enough to give you good heat transfer and grill marks though the pop up design makes using a spatula a little clumsy (probably not enough to bother you though). Though it doesn't have any other extras, the design is attractive and modern and the construction is fairly good.

This is a new grill from a manufacturer that hasn't had a lot of success in the U.S. market yet though they have been around for years. If successful we could be looking at a large product line. I would suggest that if you are only looking for a grill to cook burger and steaks that this might not be the grill for you. As a standard gas grill it is okay. It is the accessory system that really makes this gas grill stand out.

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When Emeril Lagasse and the Viking Culinary Group teamed up to to produce this large gas grill they promised a reinvention of grilling. The truth, however, is something different. The Emeril EG300 Gas Grill is a basic, 4-burner grill with a host of nearly useless "features" and a very typical design. Built of cast aluminum, powder coated steel and stainless steel of a wide range of quality, this isn't revolutionary or in truth all that great. Large, but under powered, the EG300 is inexpensive (MSRP of $850USD) if you consider who is behind it, but when you realize who is really behind it you can understand the price and the quality.

Image: Martha Stewart Omnimedia

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