Best Gas Grills

Grills in the $400 to $600 range offer better construction and durability

If you can spend more than the $200 to $400 you'd pay for a basic/budget gas barbeque grill, you can get a larger or a more durable model. Three grills in the $400 to $500 price range receive positive reviews from owners and experts. They include another Char-Broil Red infrared grill and two Weber Spirit grills.

The highly rated Char-Broil Red 500 463250511 (*Est. $400), also a Home Depot exclusive, is larger than the RED Infrared Urban grill, but has the same features. The Red 500 has three main burners with a Btu output of 35,300, plus a 13,000-Btu side burner. It has a total cooking area of 680 square inches, and has side shelves. Like the Urban model, this three-burner Char-Broil gets good reviews from owners at HomeDepot.com; its average rating from about 95 people is 4.2 out of 5 stars. A Char-Broil model very similar to the Red 500 463250511 grill performed well in comparative tests, ranking higher than some more expensive grills.

Weber introduced the entry-level Spirit grill series in 2007 and redesigned it in 2009. These grills are made in China using less expensive materials than other Weber grills, so they can be priced lower but still provide Weber quality. Weber's Spirit E-310 gas grill (*Est. $520) includes three stainless-steel burners, a 36,000-Btu output and a 536-square-inch cooking area. Aside from a thermometer, a pair of side-mounted storage trays, Flavorizer bars and tool hooks, it offers little else in terms of add-on 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. The Weber Spirit E-210 (*Est. $400) is a smaller version of the Spirit E-310. The E-210 has only two burners with a 26,000-Btu output, and a total cooking area of 458 square inches. Otherwise, the two grills have exactly the same features. (Note, however, that the Spirit E-210 sold by Home Depot has porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates. No other version of this grill does.)

BobbysBest.com (a grill enthusiast site and blog) recommends the Weber Spirit E-310 as an entry-level gas grill for families. Experts and users like the grill's even cooking and easy assembly. About.com's BBQs and grilling guide, Derrick Riches, touts build quality and dependability as the reasons to buy Weber grills in general, and includes the Spirit E-210 in his list of the top 10 grills in the $250 to $500 range. Weber's customer service is highly regarded among owners and industry experts, and the Spirit gas grills are protected by the same highly regarded limited warranties as the pricier Genesis and Summit lines.

The best grills cost $500 to $1,000

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.

This price range is where the Weber Genesis line of grills resides. Genesis grills, praised by almost every reviewer, have been redesigned for 2011: control knobs are now on the front rather than on the right side table, and the burners are mounted from back to front rather than side to side. According to About.com's Derrick Riches, the changes have made these grills even more efficient, but haven't changed the way they cook.

Prices for Genesis grills range from about $700 to $950, depending on which model you choose -- 310, 320 or 330 -- and within each model, what version it is, from the basic "E" version to the premium "EP" version, and finally, the "S" version, which is all stainless steel. The 310 models (*Est. $700 to $850) have three burners; the 320 grill adds a side burner; the 330 gas grill adds a side burner and, as of 2011, an internal sear burner.

The Weber Genesis E-320 (*Est. $750) is the overwhelming favorite among reviewers as the best all-around gas grill, period. It is made of cast aluminum, enameled steel and stainless steel, and features porcelain-coated, cast-iron grates. The primary cooking area measures 507 square inches and the warming rack measures 130 square inches. Total heat output, with a side burner for warming sauces or cooking vegetables, measures 50,000 Btu per hour -- that's more total heat output than larger, less expensive grills. Features include an enclosed cart, individually controlled electronic ignition, six tool hooks, a fuel gauge and a temperature gauge mounted in the hood. The Weber Genesis E-320 is available in black, copper and green exterior finishes. The Weber Genesis EP-320 (*Est. $800) is identical, except that it has stainless-steel rod cooking grates and stainless-steel Flavorizer bars, and comes in your choice of five colors rather than three.

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 temperature zones on your grill. Finally, Weber's customer service is available 24 hours a day, and they'll even help you with cooking instructions.

If you're willing to spend more, you might consider the Broilmaster P3BL (*Est. $850), which gets high ratings from two of our top reviewers. This gas grill has features that experts say make it one of the best grills for cooking, including adjustable-height, multi-level, porcelain-coated, stainless-steel cooking grates. It's made of high-quality materials and comes with a lifetime warranty on most of its components. Its two burners are rated at 20,000 Btu each, and it has 695 square inches of cooking space. While the total Btu may seem low, the efficient design of the grill means that food cooks perfectly with less heat, according to reviewers who have tested it. The Broilmaster P3BL is available with a range of a la carte mounting and accessory options, from having it built into a cabinet to having it mounted on a stainless-steel pedestal. You can also buy side shelves and a front shelf separately. The different options affect the overall price; mounted on a stainless-steel post and base and with two side shelves, for example, it costs well over $1,100, and the more you add, the higher the number goes.