| PRODUCT | RATING | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Webber Q2200 Gas Grill | 4.6 | Check Price | Read More |
| Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro Gas Grill | 4.1 | Check Price | Read More |
| Char-Broil Performance 300 Gas Grill | 4.4 | Check Price | Read More |
| Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro Gas Grill | 4.0 | Check Price | Read More |
As any BBQ enthusiast will happily tell you, grilling is one of the most enjoyable experiences. For starters, it is a group activity. The grill is usually fired up when hanging out with your loved ones. Apart from the socializing aspect, grilling also gives you the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. This is especially important if you spend most of your weekdays in an enclosed office environment.
More importantly, nothing beats the taste of well-grilled food, and the options available to you when it comes to grilling are almost endless. However, you need to note that different grills are suitable for different needs, not all grills are created equal.
To help you make the right decision, this guide will provide an in-depth, and objective, review of four of the best gas grills under $300. This will cover both their technical specifications as well as the intended consumer for each model.
Contents
Why Buy A Gas Grill
There are three types of grills, when you categorize them by fuel type: electric, gas and charcoal grills. This review exclusively covers gas grills, which makes it important to highlight its benefits over other types of grills. So, why should you buy a gas grill?
It offers more convenience when it comes to flame grilling. Most BBQ experts agree that flame grilling offers the best taste. While both charcoal and gas grills offer flame grilling, it takes longer to ignite charcoal. A gas grill can be up and running in less than five minutes, as shown in the YouTube video below.
Gas is also a much cheaper fuel than both electricity and charcoal. While gas grills tend to cost more in terms of the initial purchase price, you can recoup this cost from the cheaper fuel cost over the years. With smoke boxes, you can achieve the ‘smoky’ and ’woody’ flavor offered by charcoal while enjoying the increased convenience.
Factors To Consider Before Purchasing A Grill
Don’t approach the grill shopping process blindly. To ensure that you get a grill that will perfectly suit your needs, you need to consider the following factors:
Your Available Budget
Always spend within your means. Only consider the models that fall within your available budget.
The Type Of Food You’ll Be Grilling
This is mostly an issue concerning heat power and the size of the cooking surface. If, for example, you are mostly grilling burgers and hotdogs, then you can make do with a smaller cooking surface than someone who will be dealing with ribs and large meat joints. Likewise, if you’ll be mostly grilling fish, chicken and other light foods, you don’t need much in terms of heat power (measured in BTUs).
Available Space
Since a gas grill cooks over an open flame, adequate space has to be provided for safety purposes. The type of grill that you can get is largely determined by the space available to you.
Portability
Most people usually do their grilling at home, which makes portability a non-issue. However, if you will be moving a lot with your grill, for tailgating parties, picnics and such; then you really should look to get a grill that can be moved easily from one location to another. For portable grills, you should also consider the increased cost of buying a suitably sized (as per your needs) propane tank.
Mouths Being Fed
Basically, if your cookouts involve large parties, then you need a grill with multiple burners and a larger cooking area. A smaller model will do for small family gatherings.
How We Selected The Best Gas Grills
When carrying out our review, we chose the features and characteristics that determine which gas grill will be suitable for different consumers. We determined these features to be: weight, number of burners, cooking area, BTU rating (heat produced), user rating (out of five) and price.
| PRODUCT | WEIGHT | NO. OF BURNERS | COOKING AREA | BTU RATING | RATING | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webber Q2200 Gas Grill | 44 lbs. | 1 | 280 sq. inch | 12,000 BTU | 4.6 | $$ |
| Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro Gas Grill | 88 lbs. | 3 | 438 sq. inch | 40,800 BTU | 4.1 | $$$ |
| Char-Broil Performance 300 Gas Grill | 82.5 lbs | 2 | 300 sq. inch | 24,000 BTU | 4.4 | $ |
| Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro Gas Grill | 43 lbs | 1 | 320 sq. inch | 12,000 BTU | 4.0 | $ |
4 Best Grills Under $300, Reviews and Comparison
We carried out an extensive review of a wide variety of products to come up with the following list of 4 of the best gas grills under $300. We put a lot of care to ensure that we come up with a diverse set of recommendations that would suit a wide variety of users. If you are in the market for a sub $300 gas grill, one (or more) of these products should suit you.
Webber Q2200 Gas Grill
Features:
- Inbuilt thermometer
- Folding side tables
- Electric ignition
The main selling point for the Webber Q2200 grill is the impressive portability that it offers. It is a small gas grill that comes packed with numerous features and, for its size, an impressive heat rating of 12,000 BTU. Weber has established itself as one of the more reputable grill manufacturers due to the attention to detail that they place on build quality, pleasant aesthetics, and innovative features. The Q2200 does not disappoint in any of these domains.
The lid and body are made from a sturdy cast aluminum frame which is both durable and lightweight. The cooking grates are made from porcelain-coated cast iron. Most of its eternal features, such as the knobs and handles, were designed ergonomically which makes it easy to operate. While the grill is designed to use disposable propane tanks, you can purchase an adapter to make it compatible for use with larger refillable propane tanks.
Thanks to its Webber heritage, there are tons of optional extras that you can buy for the grill to increase its functionality. Due to its portability, and its smaller cooking area, the Webber Q2200 is perfect for camping and tailgating for a small group. It’s best suited for making burgers, kebabs, hotdogs, poultry, and other smaller meat portions. It can be used as a primary home grill for a small family of four.
Pros
- Portable
- Sturdy and durable build
- Numerous optional extras
- Very energy efficient
- Virtually rust proof
Cons
- Too small for larger gatherings
- Cart/stand only included as optional extra
Char-Griller E3001 Grillin’ Pro Gas Grill
Features:
- Electric ignition on all grills
- 40,800 BTU gas grill
- 438 square inches of main grilling area
- 12,000 BTU side burner
- 192 square feet warmng rack
- Side working shelf
- Inbuilt thermometer
- 3 burners
When looking at sub $300 gas grills, you expect the list to be largely populated with single burner and the odd two burner gas grill. It is, therefore, a (pleasant) surprise to find a bonafide three burner gas grill in the Char-Griller E3001. As you would expect from a three burner grill, the heat output on the E3001 is impressive, maxing out at 40,800 BTU.
There is more to the Char-Griller E3001 than just raw power; it also scores well in terms of functionality and additional features. For starters, it has a side burner that’s connected to a warming grill. Its frame is constructed from powder coated steel which is sturdy and rust-resistant. The grill can either be hooked up to a propane tank or the main gas line.
Thanks to its wide cooking area, high heat output, and its rust-resistant build, this is the perfect outdoor grill for entertaining a sizeable gathering and cooking larger food portions (ribs and such). If you have a spacious outdoor space, this is one of the best propane gas grills under $300.
Pros
- Impressive 40,800 BTU heat output
- Sturdy build
- Warming rack and side burner
Cons
- Flare-ups during grilling
- Limited portability
Char-Broil Performance 300 Liquid Propane Gas Grill
Features:
- Two foldable work shelves
- Storage cabinet
- Electric ignition
- 2 burners
For our money, this is one of the best 2 burner gas grills that cost less than $300. The Char-Broil performance 300 stands out from competing models due to the perfect balance achieved between pleasant aesthetics, functionality, and durability.
One of the things that immediately stand out when looking at the Car Broil 300 is how visually stunning it is. The frame alternates between silver stainless steel and black colored steel. It is a two burner gas grill with a heat output of 24,000 BTU and a total cooking area of 300 square feet. This makes it the ideal all-purpose grill.
The grill also comes with an inbuilt cabinet that can hold the propane tank, utensils, and other accessories. Its base contains wheels which can be used to easily move the grill around.
You can cook for larger gatherings (more than 10 people) and the adequate cooking space means that you are not restricted to grilling small meal options (such as burgers and hotdogs). If you have a big family or entertain several guests regularly, then this is the perfect grill for you.
Pros
- Easy to clean stainless steel surfaces
- Even heating
Cons
- Dents easy with small knocks
Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro Gas Grill
Features:
- Infrared cooking system
- Electric ignition
The char-broil TRU has two main selling points its portability and its infrared cooking system. It is a small, lightweight (just 43 pounds), single burner grill that can work perfectly within a smaller space (such as a patio or balcony).
Despite its small size, it still features a 320 square inch cooking area which can hold up to 12 burgers at the same time. The infrared cooking system adds more firepower to the modest 12,000 BTU heat output. Another benefit of infrared cooking is that there are reduced flare-ups, which is a problem that plagues most gas grills.
The main frame is fitted with wheels which add to the portability of the Char-broil TRU. The grill is designed to work with disposable propane tanks, but with suitable adapters, it can also work with larger refillable tanks or even the main gas supply.
Thanks to its small footprint and decently sized cooking area, the Char-broil TRU is the perfect grill for avid grillers who lack the space required for larger models.
Pros
- Sleek, pleasant design
- Energy efficient
- Cooks well
- Works with limited space
Cons
- Difficult to assemble
- Durability issues
Conclusion – Which is the best grill?
Our list of the best grills under $300 is quite diverse, which means that your ideal grill depends on numerous factors such as available space, type of food you will be grilling and the size of gathering you will be working with.
Based on our experience, the best grill has to be the Weber Q2200, simply because it does it all. Its portability means that you can use it for camping, picnics and tailgating parties. It even makes for a decent home grill for smaller families. It has a pleasant design and a sturdy build quality.
In terms of best value, the Char-Broil Performance 300 2-Burner grill wins hands down. It is the cheapest option among the reviewed grills, yet it still offers a lot in terms of functionality and performance. Its heat output is 24,000 BTU (second highest among the reviewed products) and it has a 300 square inch cooking area.
If you are a grilling enthusiast who will be entertaining regularly, then performance wise, the Char-Griller E3001 3 burner grill will suit you well. It is very hard to find a sub $300 grill that can match its 40,800 BTU heat output and the 438 square inch cooking surface. The side burner and heating rack add to the functionality that it offers.
The Char-Broil TRU is the perfect grill for you if you lack yard space. It can fit well within a small patio or apartment balcony. We were particularly impressed by the infrared cooking system which reduces the number of flare-ups and delivers delicious meals.
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