3 Important Tips for Choosing a Built-In Gas Grill
Shopping for a built in gas grill to complete your outdoor kitchen can be very overwhelming. With the abundance of brands, sizes, and features - it’s hard to determine which grill will stand the test of time AND satisfy your grilling needs. Here are a couple of suggestions we share with customers while shopping in our store:
1. Pick a Brand You Know and Trust
2. Pick a Size Appropriate for Your Grilling Needs
3. Know Your Grill Materials
Picking A Brand
Getting familiar with grill brands is the first and most important step in your buying process. We suggest really taking your time when you’re researching brands so that you can find a durable, quality grill, within your budget, that won’t let you down.
Always pick a brand that you can trust. Yes, name brands can get a little pricey, but in the end, it’s worth the investment if you don’t want to replace your grill or its parts soon after purchasing. If you do need to replace your grill at some point, you can always go with the same trusted brand. Their customer service will be able to help you find an updated model of your old gas grill and you won’t have to make any additional changes to your outdoor kitchen structure. The updated model will fit exactly as your old built-in gas grill.
Our brand picks? For built-in gas grills, we trust DCS, Firemagic, Lynx, Twin Eagles and Alfresco. All these brands are extremely high quality and make up the bulk for the high end grill business. For those looking for a quality grill at a lower price point, Delta Heat, Saber, Blaze and AOG are very solid products.
What Size Do I Need?
Let’s be honest here. Most people overbuy their grill. Whether it was a pushy salesman or just plain out pride, most people love to go big or go home (especially here in Texas!). The most common outdoor built-in gas grills are going to be anywhere from 30-36 inches. Personally, we think 30” are great buys for a family that plans to grill for themselves and entertain every once in a while. Anything bigger really is recommended for accommodating people who are entertaining more regularly.
It is also important to consider how the grill will fit into your outdoor kitchen structure. Take measurements beforehand and always remember to leave room for ventilation. All built-in gas grills need to be vented properly and if it isn’t, you could potentially have a huge safety issue on your hands down the road. For proper ventilation procedures for gas grills, see our blog “Venting for BBQ Island Structures”.
Know Your Materials
Most name brand built-in gas grills are going to be either all stainless steel or mostly stainless steel. These are going to be your best bet if you’re looking for durability and longevity. Not only will they last a long time, but they also tend to show wear and tear less and have a great overall look to them.
This is not to diminish built-in gas grills made with porcelain or cast materials. These materials are great for grilling and often are a lot cheaper than the stainless steel gas grills. However, if you do go cheaper, remember to research and get comfortable with the brand of the grill so that you know exactly what kind of product you are getting.
