Best Gas Grills

Grills in the $500 range offer better construction and durability

If you can spend more than the $200 to $300 you'll pay for a basic gas grill, you'll get a more durable model. Several grills hovering around the $500 range receive positive reviews: the Blue Ember FGF50069-U403 (*Est. $450) and the Weber Spirit E-310 (*Est. $500).

The Blue Ember FGF50069-U403 gas grill (made by and sold at Lowe's) is a "beautiful example of getting more for less," says ConsumerGuide.com, adding that the unit "provides a lot of grill for the money." The Blue Ember FGF50069-U403 grill has 45,000 Btu total output and large 675-square-inch cooking area with three stainless-steel burners. Like more expensive gas grills, it's equipped with adjustable porcelain cast-iron grates, a side burner and a built-in cast-iron smoker box. For an extra fee, a rotisserie can be added. The Blue Ember FGF50069-U403 grill lacks a tool rack, and the work surface is made of plastic instead of wood or metal. The rest of the grill is made of stainless steel, painted steel and cast aluminum. The Blue Ember FGF50069-U403's warranty is five years for the burners, and one year for the cart and parts.

In one leading test, the Blue Ember FGF50069-U403 places in the top five of the 25 medium-sized grills tested. It receives excellent ratings for evenness of cooking, convenience and features, and it also performs well at low-temperature cooking. Derrick Riches discusses the Blue Ember FGF50069-U403 at About.com. Riches says this grill is a good pick if you want all the extras -- the side burner, internal LED lights, the bottle opener, etc., but he adds that to compensate, the stainless steel isn't the best grade, and the burners are lightweight. Still, Riches notes that the grill is "well made" for the money.

User reviews for the Blue Ember FGF50069-U403 are sparse. At Lowes.com, a handful of owners weigh in on ratings, but only a few provide comments. Several owners report that set-up is easy and the gas gauge is a welcome feature, while another customer complains that the gas gauge is inconsistent. Users at Lowes.com give the Blue Ember FGF50069-U403 an overall rating of 4.2 out of five stars.

In the same price range as the Blue Ember FGF50069-U403 is the Weber Spirit E-310. Weber introduced the entry-level Spirit grill series in 2007, and its pricing is based on build quality rather than features. The Weber Spirit E-310 has a porcelain-enameled shroud, stainless-steel work surface, a painted steel frame and heavy-duty swivel casters. Weber's Spirit E-310 gas grill features three stainless-steel burners, 36,000 Btu output and a 424-square-inch cooking surface -- smaller than that of the Blue Ember FGF50069-U403 grill. Aside from a thermometer, a pair of side-mounted storage trays, Flavorizer bars and tool hooks, it offers few extra features. The cooking grate is made of porcelain-enameled steel instead of the better-quality porcelain-enameled cast-iron or stainless-steel grates you'll find on Weber Genesis and Summit grills, respectively.

BobbysBest.com (a grill enthusiast site and blog) recommends the Weber Spirit E-310 as an entry-level gas grill for families. Even cooking and easy assembly are other virtues cited for the Weber Spirit E-310 by both experts and users. Owner reviews at Lowes.com, HomeDepot.com and Amazon.com are unanimous in their opinion that the Weber Spirit E-310 is worth the extra money for its superior construction alone. Likewise, About.com's Derrick Riches touts build quality and dependability as the reasons to buy Weber grills. Weber's customer service is highly regarded among owners and industry experts, and the Spirit gas grills are protected by the same impressive limited warranties as are the more expensive Genesis and Summit lines.

Weber rules among pricier grills

Experts agree that the best and most reliable grills are in the $500 to $1,000 price range. That's where you'll find better build quality and higher-end components, resulting in a longer lifespan for your grill.

The Weber Genesis E-320 (*Est. $750) is the overwhelming favorite among reviewers as the best all-around gas grill. The Weber Genesis E-320 grill is made of painted, porcelain-enameled cast aluminum and features porcelain-coated cast-iron grates. The primary cooking area measures 507 square inches and the warming rack measures 130 square inches. Total power output, with a side burner for warming sauces or cooking vegetables, measures 54,000 Btu per hour -- that's more total heat output than larger, less expensive grills. The Weber Genesis E-320, like all gas grills, is powered by a propane tank, but you can get a natural-gas version of this grill as well. Features include electronic ignition, a temperature gauge mounted in the hood, and a tool rack. The Weber Genesis E-320 is available in black, copper and green. For a bit more money, you can upgrade to the Weber Genesis S-320 (*Est. $920), which is the same gas grill, only made of stainless steel with stainless-steel cooking grates.

Like other Weber grills, the Genesis E-320 has a generous limited warranty. Construction materials like the aluminum castings and shroud are covered for 25 years. Other parts, such as the stainless-steel burner tubes, are guaranteed for 10 years. Coverage for the porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates is five years, and all other parts are protected for two years.

Experts and owners indicate that durability, customer service and reliability are what make Weber gas grills stand apart from the pack. The enclosed carts are wobble-free and easy to assemble. Weber's adjustable burners make it easy to create hot and not-so-hot zones on your grill. These Weber grills are still made in Illinois of high-quality cast aluminum and 304 stainless steel (which is of far better quality than the cheaper 430 stainless steel used on some other grills, including the Blue Ember FGF50069-U403 discussed earlier). Weber customer service is available 24/7, and they'll even help you with cooking instructions.