What do you really get when you spend more money on a grill?
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Shopping for a new grill is a lot like shopping for a new car. There are so many types and models available, the sheer amount of choices can make your head spin.
Do you stick with a small and budget friendly subcompact car? Spend a little more and upgrade to a roomier SUV? Or go into full mid-life crisis mode and splurge on a new Corvette?
The same goes with grills. You can spend as little as $50 on a small charcoal model for basic grilling, or you can drop thousands on a souped up model with all the bells and whistles.
Are expensive grills worth it?
I think so, at least to a certain point. Here’s why…
Durability and Longevity
You know the old saying “You get what you pay for” and there is definitely some truth to that.
When I first got married and started building a family I couldn’t wait to buy my own grill and hang out in my own backyard cooking up a storm. But man babies and mortgages are expensive! We just didn’t have a lot of discretionary income to splurge on an expensive grill. So I settled for a cheaper one.
And it was fine at first. But within a couple of years it started rusting out, one of the wheels broke off, and the cover warped and wouldn’t close snugly. The final straw was when flames started coming out of the center knob.
To the curb it went. And because we were working on buying a new house for our expanding family, money was still tight and I bought another cheap grill. This one only cost me about $100 and I certainly got what I paid for it.
I had one decent summer with it and by the following July it was already looking like it was five years old. It wobbled so much that whenever I scraped down the grates I was afraid I’d tip it over onto its back.
Once we moved into our new home I decided to stop throwing good money after bad. I knew a few guys who loved their Weber grills and had them for many years with no problems at all. So I saved up and bought myself a Weber Genesis. That was 12 years ago and that baby is still going strong!
Sure it was more expensive than some of the other brands you’ll find in stores, but in the long run it has proven to be be far more cost effective in the long run.
Customer Support
If you buy a cheap grill from some no-name brand and you run into trouble with it, will they stand by their product or leave you hanging?
Well known grill manufacturers like Weber and Traeger are known for their excellent customer service and support.
When I bought my Weber more than a decade ago I had them put it together in my backyard for me. When I fired it up I noticed the flame was a little, almost as if the burners weren’t getting enough gas.
I thought I might have accidentally tripped the safety mechanism in the propane regulator (here’s how to fix that issue) but when I looked closer I noticed a bigger problem.
The knucklehead who put my grill together installed the propane intake upside down. In order to connect the propane hose that leads to the tank, he had to install that upside down to, forcing it in a way it wasn’t meant to go. The hose was kinked which blocked some of the gas flow. But that wasn’t the scary part. The hose was forced into a tight spot and when he forced it in he actually tore a small hole in it.
So not only was the hose kinked, it had a small leak as well which is extremely dangerous. I called Weber to explain what happened and they quickly apologized and sent me the replacement part overnight so I could have it the next day.
While he entered my info and set up delivery, the Weber support rep took his time chatting and offering other tips to help me maximize my grilling experience.
With part in hand. the fix itself was easy and I was grilling again in no time. But I wonder, would a cheap no-name brand provided the same level of service?
Features
The more you spend the more extra features you can expect in a grill. Some features you may not care about at all but others could be considered a must have.
Are you just interested in cooking up some hot dogs and chicken breast a couple times a week? Or are you training to be a true backyard grill master? Do want a side burner? A built in smoker? A rotisserie? Built in lights so you can grill at night?
There’s really no end if you’re willing to spend.
More Cooking Space
When it comes to grills, size matters. If you’re mostly cooking for yourself than you can get away with a smaller grill. But if you have a big family or enjoy entertaining in the summer months you’ll be better off going with a bigger model.
Availability of Replacement Parts
I put this one last because I don’t think its a huge deal but it is worth mentioning. Many grills use universal parts so you should be able to find the replacement parts that might go bad such as the propane regulator or burner tubes on Amazon or Home Depot.
But when you stick to brands that have been around for ages you know those parts aren’t going anywhere. I love knowing I can walk into the store anytime I want and pick up some new Weber flavorizer bars or grill grates.
Summary
So are expensive grills worth it? Yes, spending more on a grill will typically get you a better made, longer lasting grill with more cooking space to cook for your family and friends.
