Consumers who are looking to cook with gas have two options available to them. They can either purchase a grill that uses propane or a grill that uses natural gas. Both of these models work very well, but there has been a recent uptick in the popularity of natural gas models. Many people believe that models are not only the most reliable grills, but also do the best job of grilling or cooking BBQ. We wanted to find out for ourselves if this was true, so we decided to review some of the best natural gas grills available, and this article chronicles our results.
- Editor’s Choice
Weber Genesis II S-435 Stainless Steel Grill (Amazon) – Review - Also Recommended
Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Grill (Amazon) – Review - Also Consider
Napoleon Prestige 665 Stainless Steel Grill (Amazon) – Review
Editor’s Choice: Weber Genesis II S-435 Stainless Steel Grill
Anyone who has a first look at this natural gas grill is going to be impressed with it. This is a beautiful grill that’s made out of stainless steel and looks very much like a professional model. Upon closer inspection, however, the consumer is sure to notice that this grill isn’t just another pretty face, but is instead a model that’s packed with some serious power and features. We’re going to examine some of its features next.
This product is approximately 65-inches by 29-inches by 47-inches in size and weighs under 180-pounds. It’s a grill that’s made by Weber, so consumers can expect a quality product, and is backed by a significant 10-year warranty. This polished grill looks like it’s made for professional BBQ chefs, but is designed to be easy enough to be used by just about anyone.
When the lid on this exceptional grill is lifted, the consumer will find a formidable cook station that’s ready to be put to work. It has a porcelain-enameled cooking grate that provides up to 646 square inches of cooking space. That’s enough space to fit 28 burgers that have been formed with the Weber Burger Press. It also has a tuck-away warming rack that delivers an additional 198 square inches of space for keeping already cooked food warm to free up cooking space.
This grill also features a side burner that can be used to saute veggies or to keep sauces on a low simmer. Another thing we liked was that this grill gave the user a wide variety of options for controlling it—including a sear station that can be used to create an intense zone of heat for searing meats. It’s also equipped with a built-in thermometer so the user can keep an eye on their grilling temperature at all times and do it without having to open the grill’s lid. This is definitely a grill that will get the cooking done and we highly recommend it.
– It has a beautiful stainless-steel exterior.
– Gives the user a lot of control over their grilling.
– It’s made of high-quality materials and is well designed.
– This natural gas grill costs more than some other models.
Also Recommended: Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Grill
The next natural gas grill on our list is the Weber Spirit II E-310. It’s a grill that has quite a few great features but isn’t as expensive as the model at our number one spot. This is a grill that’s approximately 52-inches by 26-inches by 57-inches and weighs around 110-pounds. It’s a model that’s also equipped with two wheels, but let’s face facts here. Once this grill is attached to a natural gas line, it’s not going to be moved, so we don’t feel that the wheels are that much of a big deal.
This grill has an open cart design that gives the consumer plenty of storage underneath it and little tables on the side of it that can be used to hold utensils or other essentials. Inside the grill, the consumer can expect to see porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates that provide 529 square-inches of cooking space over three gas burners. It’s also has a lid that seals well and has a built-in thermometer that allows the user to monitor grill temperatures all of the time.
Under the grates, the user will find something that Weber calls “Flavorizer Bars.” These bars are angled in a way that allows them to catch drippings as they fall through the grate. The drippings are then sizzled and vaporized. This allows the food to be imbued with flavor and moisture. Any of the drippings that aren’t vaporized, however, don’t build up in the grill. Instead, it travels along with the grease management system where the user can deal with it at a later time. This minimizes grill cleanup for the user.
Additional features that can be found on this great natural gas grill include integrated utensil hooks on its side-table, side-tables that fold down for storage, burner tubes that provide consistent gas flow throughout the grilling process, and a warming rack for storing already cooked food. And all of this is available for a price that’s quite reasonable.
– This is an affordable natural gas grill.
– It’s backed by a 10-year warranty.
– It has three burners.
– It can take a bit of work to get it put together.
Also Consider: Napoleon Prestige 665 Stainless Steel Grill
Even though Napoleon is a grill brand that makes several different grills in its Prestige line, we decided to review the Prestige P665NSS to see what it could do. This is a large and very nice looking grill that has plenty of features and is well worth a look by most people—although we do have to say straight away that it’s on the higher end of the grill price range among comparable natural gas grills.
This product is approximately 26.5-inches by 75-inches by 50.25-inches and weighs around 225 pounds. This is a product that has a distinctive wave cooking grid that creates excellent grill marks on the food and provides the consumer with 1,000 square-inches of cooking space. This model also has a jet-fire ignition that allows the user to start the grill up quickly and easily every single time they want to use it.
This product provides 60,000 BTUs of cooking power that’s divided over five stainless steel burners. It also has knobs that can be lit up, so the consumer can grill during the evening hours. The lid of this unit has a roll-top that allows for smooth opening, and the entire lid helps to provide the inside cooking area with superior heat retention.
It also has adequate cabinet space below the grill, and like the knobs found on the front of the unit, this cabinet space is illuminated so the consumer can use it at night. Taking all of these features into consideration, along with its cooking power, and it’s easy to see how this model made it on our list. It might not be the best natural gas grill, but it does come close to being one.
– It has five stainless steel burners.
– It has 1,000 square-inches of cooking space.
– It has 60,000 BTUs of cooking power.
– This model costs more than other grill models.
When it comes to gas grills, we think that most people are probably more familiar with propane grills than they are natural gas grills, and that’s understandable. After all, not everyone has a natural gas line in their home, so they have to purchase a propane grill. However, for those consumers who do have a natural gas line, we do think that it’s worth it to purchase a natural gas grill. We definitely think that for people with a natural gas line already in their home that a natural gas grill has more pros than cons. And to prove it, we’ve listed the pros and cons of these grills below.
Pros & Cons Of Natural Gas Grills
Below are some of the pros and cons of natural gas grills.
Pros:
- Never have to buy another LP tank again.
- Provides consistent and clean grilling.
- Provides the consumer with plenty of cooking power.
Cons:
- Natural gas grills need to be hooked up by qualified gas technicians.
As you can see from the pros and cons above, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy using one of these grills. Once our readers have decided that they should purchase one of these grills, all they have to do is select the one that’s the most suitable for their needs. To help our readers solve that problem, we’ve included a section on how to purchase the best natural gas grill. It’s our sincere hope that it will allow all of our readers to find the grill of their dreams.
Okay, let’s get down to the proverbial meat and potatoes of this guide, shall we? In this section, we’re going to provide our readers with some tips that will get them thinking about their personal needs when they’re shopping for a new grill. It’s as simple as that, so let’s get started.
Step One: Choose The Grill Size
One of the very first steps the consumer is going to want to consider when buying a natural gas grill for the first time is the size of the grill. No one wants to purchase a grill that’s too small for what they need to cook, nor do they want to spend extra money on grill space they’re never going to use. That’s why the consumer is going to want to think about their needs and then choose a grill size accordingly.
Consumers should think about the maximum amount of food they may have to grill (for the 4th Of July, Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, or Labor Day) and then work out how much grill space is needed. As a general rule, the consumer should make sure that the grill offers approximately 72-inches of grill space per person. That means that a 300 square-inch grill can fee approximately a family of four, while a grill with 1,000 square-inches of cooks space can likely prepare enough food for 14 people at a time.
Step Two: Consider The Number Of Burners
The next thing that the consumer is going to want to think about is the number of burners to be found on the grill. The more burners that the grill has, the more flexibility the consumer has with their cooking. It allows the consumer to lower certain burners or even leave them off, so they can create “heat zones” through the grill. Maybe there’s a zone for searing and a zone for cooking low and slow. Also, consider whether the grill has a warming rack—which can also make the grill easier to use and more versatile.
Step Three: The Amount Of Heat The Grill Produces
The consumer is also going to want to think about how much heat the grill produces. Heat is measured in BTUs and the more BTUs a unit has, the more heat it can produce. As a general rule, most grills produce anywhere from 30,000 to 60,000 BTUs, but there are exceptions to that rule.
Step Four: Consider Some Final Features
Okay, now it’s time to think about some of the other features that the consumer is going to need when they purchase their next natural gas grill. The following features all make an impact on the useability, affordability, or general usefulness of the grill, so the consumer should make sure they keep them in mind. If they do and have paid attention to previous steps, then they should have no problem finding the best natural gas grill for their backyard.
- The Grill’s Price
- Electronic Ignition Systems
- Height Of The Grill’s Lid
- Whether It Has A Side Burner
- The Amount Of Storage Space Underneath It
- Whether It Has Side Tables