OT: Looking for a new outdoor gas grill

[marit]

We have a cheapo outdoor grill that is falling apart and we want to upgrade...

Can someone please explain to me the different cooking grates? We want something that requires NO MAINTENANCE (in other words, if it can rust, it will in our house). It doesn't have to be big, we're not heavy users, just good quality, so it won't fall apart. No need for a side burner either.

Also, any recommendations for a certain brand? Where to buy?

We have a Weber Genesis Silver A and have been really happy with it. We got it at Home Depot. Ours has enameled cast iron grates which, as long as you don't chip the enameling, shouldn't rust. They don't need to be scraped with a wire brush - would damage the enameling - and nothing sticks as long as it's lightly oiled. We brush chicken breasts with olive oil and have no problems. The grates are like Le Creuset pots if you're familiar with those. Our grill has two burners. There are bigger grills in this line if you need more space or power. Ours does not have a side burner.

I've heard the grates we have are a special gig with Home Depot and I've seen the same grill at Lowe's and it just had regular metal grate (that would rust without special care) but my sister has the same grill, from Amazon, and it has the same grates ours does so who knows.

For whatever it's worth, Consumer Reports likes Weber grills. I think we paid $350ish (maybe $250ish). Not cheap but good quality. Good luck on your search!

[squimp]

We just recently got a new grill, and in the search process, discovered that there are two philsophies about grills. They all rust, eventually. So you can buy cheap ones that will rust in a year or two, and just plan on replacing it. Or you can buy a good one that might last a few years longer.

We decided to go with the second approach and got a Weber. We got the Genesis B, which is embarassingly expensive, but we grill a LOT, and needed a bigger one than the A, since we sometimes cook whole steelhead. The Genesis A is nice, and only slightly smaller. The design of these grills is a bit better than some others. Consider where the cooking grease falls. In our old grill (a Sunbeam that had high Consumer Reports rating) the grease got funneled to one spot on the burners, and hey, guess what, that's where it rusted through! On the Webers, lots of the parts are stainless, and less likely to rust quickly. They also have a good design - the burner heads that carry the propane are protected from grease drippings by these nice big shields. You can actually look at the grills at the store and see how well (or poorly) protected the burner heads are.

Home Depot also has a Vermont Castings grill that had gotten good ratings, and is really nice looking (blue + stainless). We might have that one, were it a little larger.

[TonFirst]

Based on recommendations from Consumer Reports and Cook's Illustrated, we bought a Weber Genesis Silver B. Like the PP said, this is an AWESOME grill. We have never been disappointed in anything we've cooked on it. I don't have the Le Crueset-style grills - I wish I did! - but we've been using the standard grills with no problem.

Also, the grill guide that comes with the grill is invaluable. We always use their charts to determine how long, and on what heat, to cook whatever we're grilling, and the results are always perfect.

[zuzu]

Another Weber fan here. This spring we replaced a smaller Weber we had had for several years with a new, larger one. It was much, much more that I was planning on spending on a grill, but they do have several reasonably priced Weber models. (And now I won’t have to buy DH a present for a LONG time! ;) )

If you want a copy of the Consumer Reports review on grills, email me – I found it it had a lot of helpful background information on grates, etc.

Melissa, mom to Sarah (5/03)

[marit]

Thank you all for your replies. So what is the Creuset grates? Is that the enamle coating? According to Weber's website, all the Genesis Silver line (A, B and C) have them (enamle coating). The more advanced ones have stainless steel grates. So only Home Depot has the Silver line or do other places have them with different grates? How is the enamle coating compared to stainless steel?

Thanks!

Perhaps all the Silver line models have enameled grates now. I feel like when we were looking at Webers a year or so ago that there were some stores that had non-enameled grates (for whatever it's worth, the enameled cast iron grates are black, the pieces of metal are about the size, diameter-wise, of my pinky, and if you pick one up, they weigh a TON; the regular grates will be shiny and skinny) . Anyhoo, wherever you buy, check out that feature - we really like them. I hope my Le Creuset comparison wasn't confusing. Le Creuset is a brand of cookware and most of the stuff they make is enameled cast iron. It's a dream to cook with and the grates on our Weber are similar but not related to L.C. I believe you should be able to find the Silver line many places. I don't know how stainless grates would work for cooking on. You may need to use more oil or may experience more stickage but I'm only guessing based on cooking with stainless pots and pans. Regardless, Weber is a highly regarded company and you should enjoy cooking with whichever model you end up with!

[DebbieJ]

Another vote for Weber Genesis Silver B.

We've had ours for about 5 years and LOVE it! We just replaced the grates and those pieces that go over the burners and it's like brand new!

~ deb
DS 12/03
And a niece or nephew arriving in early August!

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/10029.gif

[Marisa6826]

Love our Weber Genesis one too!

We've had it for about five years. I did find, however, that the hotdog bun rack thingie that floats on the top rusts a bit if you leave it out.

I've run it through the dishwasher and it comes out fine.

Home Depot, Lowes, and I think Target all carry it.

I got ours at Fortunoff and gladly paid the $25 for them to assemble it.

-m

[wagner36]

We just bought a new grill too! We actually went with the Vermont Castings model they sell at Home Depot instead of the Weber. Vermont Castings apparently has really high quality grates becuase of the casting/enameling process and it has NO side burners, which was really important to us. I HATE those.

We love it so far - it's great!