Q: I'm looking for a new lower-priced grill, less than $250. I would like it to have high enough heat to sear steaks and cook evenly. A table top will not work, and electric grills seem to produce less heat. A smaller sized grill would be perfect since I normally cook for 1-4 people. Any suggestions?
Sent by Gail
Editor: This round-up of grills might give you a place to start:
• How to Shop for an Outdoor Grill
Readers, do you have an under-$250 grill to recommend?
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How about a traditional Weber charcoal grill? It's inexpensive and the food'll taste a lot better than if it were cooked on a gas grill.
I was at Target the other day and they are clearancing all grills. HUGE deals to be had (no, I don't work for frickin' Target, lol). $300 grills for $75! Basically, shop for a grill at the mid to end of grilling season, not the weekend before the 4th of July, and you can find amazing deals.
I second the Weber Charcoal Grill suggestion. We LOVE ours. They have three sizes of the traditional kettle shape which lets you choose the perfect size for your space (our little porch is quite narrow, so we went with the 22.5 inch in Blue). It's awesome and the perfect size for cooking for 2-8 people or so. Plus it's a steal at $160. We bought it through Amazon with a charcoal starter chimney and a weatherproof grill cover, and our total was less than $200.
http://www.amazon.com/Weber-758001-22-5-Inch-One-Touch-Charcoal/dp/B00005V5ZS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343165819&sr=8-1&keywords=weber+blue+grill
I bought a Char Broil infrared grill at the beginning of the summer and I love it. It's small but still can cook 7 burgers at a time.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DM5DV4/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00
While I feel safer with charcoal and like the smokier flavor, I hate the mess and the prep time so my husband and I bought a tabletop gas grill and we love it. We had a couple of issues with our NexGrill recently (discolored badly and the hose wouldn't come off) and are purchasing the Cuisinart one to replace. Based on the reviews, I think it'll be a good grill.
Another vote for a classic Weber charcoal grill. We bought ours used on Craigslist, have had it for years, and looks like it will last a few more. Use it with a chimney and some hardwood charcoal for fast heat and delicious food.
Another vote for Weber. Best quality with the best range of options from budget to show-off.
I have the Weber electric grill (my co-op doesn't allow charcoal or gas) and it is impressive. As long as you pre-heat it and leave it on high heat, it is similar to gas.
weber Q100 - hands down the best. we have one, my sister has one, our friends have one, everyone loves it. heats evenly, isn't too big and the price is pretty reasonable.
Weber Lil Smoky! It's perfect for 1-4 people. I bought mine for about 35 bucks. Also, invest in a chimney starter ($14)! You don't want to have to use chemical starters in such a small cooking space. I also love that I can take it camping, or to a friend's house.
I second the Weber Q100 (which is gas, not charcoal). It's heavy (cast iron grill grate inside!), sturdy, heats up in a flash, and has produced some great food results for me.
Oh, and it's only about $160.
Weber Q 120 - we love it. We also have the lil Weber Charcoal, which is great when we have a lot of people over, but I feel guilty wasting the perfect hot charcoal (which could cook food for 2 more hours) on just the 2 of us. The gas is great, turns on and off fast for a quick summer meal.