Imagine… You’re in the backyard of your house, the music is playing loudly, your friends are laughing… You turn your head and catch the light smell of grilled meat. You take a step, one more and the flavor just becomes stronger… The flavor of burgers, hot dogs, grilled corn, and other vegetables — these all combine in one perfect aroma and you are drooling from just one look at all the variety of food. Isn’t it a great day? We hope so.
Do you want to enjoy the grilling experience? A grill is your necessary minimum. We have conducted research to list the most important criteria for each gas grill. Based on this study the top–5 gas grills under $500 were selected. Below you can familiarize yourself with our best models and which features they excel in.
Specs and Benefits | |
The best construction for outdoor cooking | Material: Aluminum Weight (pounds): 83.8 LxWxH (inches): 55.5 x 50.2 x 30 Number of burners: 2 BTU-per-hour (British Thermal Units per Hour) — benchmark used to estimate the heating capacity of gas grills.: 21,700 Minimal possibility of corrosion; Drop-down shelves (save space when aren’t in use but also provide additional space during grilling). Detailed review |
The most practical size | Material: Steel + Cast iron Weight (pounds): 80 LxWxH (inches): 24 x 24 x 47 Number of burners: 2 BTU-per-hour: 26,500 Compactness; Easy to move. Detailed review |
The best heating capacity | Material: Steel Weight (pounds): 92 LxWxH (inches): 48 x 28 x 48 Number of burners: 3 BTU-per-hour: 40,800 (12,000 side burner) Heats quickly fast; A protection plate over each flame to minimize the flare-ups. Detailed review |
The quickest cooking | Material: Stainless Steel Weight (pounds): 105.8 LxWxH (inches): 54.1 x 23.4 x 45.5 Number of burners: 3 BTU-per-hour: 24,000 (10,000 - side burner) Infrared technology helps cook quicker and the meat will be juicier; Easy to assemble. Detailed review |
Best at retaining temperature | Material: Porcelain-enameled + cast iron Weight (pounds): 110 LxWxH (inches): 52 x 26 x 57 Number of burners: 3 BTU-per-hour: 30,000 Good holding capacity; A nonmetal handle to avoid skin burn. Detailed review |
We have our own proven by years of work methodology.
This helped us to understand which criteria are the most important and how each model compares. That is how we chose the top-5 gas grills under $500. You can see the calculations and results of our research in the picture below.
Let’s take a closer look at our list of criteria. We have listed the top 3 the most important criteria for any gas grill according to our research.
The best heating capacity goes to the Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro (review), which not only heats quickly but also has side burners with great functioning. Other gas grills also show high results in this category, however, the heat output can sometimes be inconsistent that can lead to problems in retaining temperature.
The Weber Q3200 Liquid Propane Grill (review) is on top as it’s made from aluminum which reduces the possibility of corrosion and that can’t be said about the Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro (review) as its steel frame can corrode in a couple of years. Also, Weber’s grates are designed to hold the vegetables inside the grill, so they don’t fall out.
Also, a perfect gas grill should take up little space — the compact Fuego Element F24C (review) is the best example. The Weber Q3200 Liquid Propane Grill (review) is also a good example as it has drop-down shelves but its cooking surface isn’t as big as the Fuego’s.
Now let’s go through our selected models.
Category winner: the best construction for outdoor cooking
If you are used to keeping your grill outdoors, then this one will be your trusted friend. It is made from aluminum, which minimizes the possibility of corrosion. Our research shows that when properly used even a 5-year-old version doesn’t have any signs of rust or wear out. The frame and grates design will prevent your vegetables from falling through, so they won’t burn or go to waste. And also, it’s the only gas grill with a handle light, which is cozy when you cook in the evening.
As we have mentioned, Weber Q3200 is suitable for a small yard and has drop-down shelves. This grill is small and you can grill an entire roast. Its size is compact, but if you’re limited with space there are compact models such as the Fuego Element F24C (review). Another advantage of the considered model is to work without flare-ups. Electronic ignition, built-in lid thermometer, and infinite control burner valves — these together protect your food from burning.
Category winner: the most practical size
In regards to the sizing, we paid attention to the grilling and cooking surface. The first thing that catches your eye in the Fuego Element F24C is its untraditional form. Being taller rather than wider, will save your yard space. More than half of the reviews noted the design, minimalism, and compactness of this model. The cooking surface is enormous and of high quality. 525 sq. in. grilling surface provides you with the ability to grill 20 quarter-pound burgers at once. For comparison, the Weber Q3200 (review), with the biggest LxWxH parameters, has a 393 sq. in. grilling surface.
One more advantage is the wheels. Thanks to them the grill is easy to move, so it can be relocated without difficulty. They can be locked in space and that means that your grill will not move suddenly and it’ll be stable when in use. Attention: don’t move or touch the grill while it is hot.
Category winner: the best heating capacity
One of the main criteria in any grill is its heating capacity. Without it, you won’t be able to cook at all. All our selected grills have a good heating capacity, but the Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro is the best of the best. 80% of users note that it gets hot very fast with the help of 40,800 BTU main burners and a 12,000 BTU side burner. Also, the Weber Q3200 (review) gets the maximum points in this category, however, it has only 21,700 BTU. All burners of the Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro work evenly and have smooth control. Maybe you will need time to get the hang of the temperature control but then you’ll be able to cook meals of all difficulty.
What also makes this grill stand out from others is its grates. According to our research, they will last for around 2 years and more. Of course, they can rust (as any metal grates) but proper care will prolong their life. Also, the grates have little pins to hold them in place and not slide to the sides. Moreover, over each flame, there is a protection plate, which helps reduce the number of flare-ups if the grease drops from the food. Unlike the Weber Spirit II E-310 (review) this grill’s plates are not made of aluminum, so they are a little bit heavier and can rust quicker but still, they will protect your food from burning.
Category winner: the quickest cooking
If you’re looking for modern and quick methods of cooking, this grill is for you. It not only has a propane tank but also infrared technology. Thanks to this technology you can cook anything with maximum ease and confidence. Remember we mentioned perfect flare-ups protection in the Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro (review) and the Weber Spirit II E-310 (review)? The infrared technology creates between the food and flame a barrier as it first fries the top layers of meat and then comes to the middle. This way the fat does not drip on the grates and there are no flare-ups. This technology retains all the minerals and vitamins in the food as infrared heat is akin to solar heat and is the most wholesome for humans. Your steaks will never burn or dry again.
And it’s not all about this model. If you haven’t ever assembled a gas grill, this one will be the easiest for you to begin with. The whole process will take around 30 minutes of your time. For comparison, you will need 1-2 hours to assemble both Weber grills. More than 60% of Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared users noted the ease of assembly and only 10% said that they had some troubles as the diagrams weren’t clear for them. If you have some problems with the assembly, you can always find video instructions.
Category winner: best at retaining temperature
We’ve already mentioned the importance of heating capacity. The Weber Spirit II E-310 heats fast: at 600°F (approx. 316°C) in 10 minutes. This temperature is enough to fry a boneless, skinless chicken thigh in 8-10 minutes. But what is more important is that it also retains the temperature with just one burner on a low setting. Thanks to this you can cook meat more evenly allowing it to roast from all sides. A good heating capacity is also achieved with the material of the grill. This one is porcelain- enameled which makes it the heaviest among other gas grills but even the Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro (review) doesn’t retain the temperature so well.
One more feature is the nonmetal handle. This grill retains the heat so well that you will not realize how hot it is until you open the lid. In many grills, you can face a problem trying to find a potholder not to burn your fingers. It makes us happy that Weber thought about this and found an easy solution. You just have to open the lid to check on your meal without worrying about burning your fingers.
It’s not a secret that your passion for cooking and inspiration is the most important in the cooking process. But we know how to make it easier and a pleasant experience. Here are the small secrets of all hosts and hostesses thanks to which their grilling is easier, faster, and more comfortable.
You no longer have to run around looking for all the tools as they are stored in one place. Pay attention to sets in a case as they are more practical to keep. For example, this toolset has the most common tools like a spatula, tongs, brush, fork, kabob skewers, and corn cob holders.
Save your time: put all vegetables in the basket and grill them together with the meat. Everything will hold nicely in place and won’t scatter around.
No more doubts about whether your barbecue is ready or not. Use a meat thermometer and your steaks will always be tender and delicious.
Add a special taste to your meat with a marinade injector. Cook the most delicious Thanksgiving Christmas turkey, beef brisket, pork, lamb, chicken, goose, or duck by injecting sauce straight into the meat instead of pouring on top.
Pull apart large cuts of meat easily. Note: heat-resistance is a must-have. Forget about knives and forks, just tear apart.
Take care of your hands. You’ll need heat-resistance gloves if your gas grill doesn’t have a non-metal handle.
Rust, grease, and stuck food…here is the other side of the coin. But we know how to deal with it. Look through our list of cleaning and care products.
The cover will protect your grill from rain, snow, and temperature changes. It will not rust for a long period and you will stay satisfied with the functionality of your device.
Clean your grill faster.
Now with just one stroke, you can clean a larger area without any problem.
Grill cleaner in addition to a brush will make your gas grill shine like a new one in a short time. Our choice is safe for food-prep surfaces.
Be sure that next time you won’t see leftovers of burnt food on the grill grates. It isn’t esthetic, is it? A grill scraper will deeply and effectively clean debris and hard-to-clean smudges.
Last but not least. Take care not only of the cleanliness of the gas grill but also of your own. Be a real chef — don’t be afraid of grease and stains.
There are some typical mistakes that people make while choosing a gas grill. We did research highlighting the most critical criteria to prevent these common issues. Heating capacity, construction, and the right size are things to look for at first. When you’re sure that these parameters match your plans and facilities then look further down the list: cooking surface, wheels, handle material, how easy the grill is to clean, trays for grease, and duration of use. We have also discovered accessories and care products that will make the process of both cooking and cleaning much easy, faster, and calmer.
Here you can find our top-5 best gas grills under $500, the best of their kind.
The best construction for outdoor cooking |
The most practical size |
The best heating capacity |
The quickest cooking |
The best at retaining temperature |
First of all pay attention to the heating capacity, size, and construction of your desirable gas grills. Also, keep in mind how often you want to cook and for how many people. It will help to understand which cooking surface you’ll need.
The best gas grills under $500 in 2020 are:
Find out more about the best gas grills in our article.
Look for protection plates in your gas grill. If it doesn’t have them, you can buy them separately. However, the best flare-ups protection provides infrared technology, for example, as in the Char-Broil Performance TRU-Infrared.
It needs an additional conversion. This process itself is dangerous, and we DO NOT recommend doing it by yourself. Read the manual of your gas grill and consult with your gas provider.
Clean your grill each time after cooking and when it has cooled down. Use a grill brush, grate scrape, and grill cleaner for your best experience. We also recommend using a grill cover if your grill is outside.
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