Check out this roundup of low-cost beach gear to help all members of the family enjoy frolicking in the sand and water.
Cheap Charcoal Grill
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Grills Features (continued)
Cheap Charcoal Grills.
This type of grill uses charcoal (or briquettes) as fuel, imparting the authentic grill flavor that's undetectable with gas grills. But charcoal grills have their drawbacks.
Grill Size.
In our research we found that lots of user comments mention grill size. Obviously you want a grill that fits in your outdoor area but also one with a large enough cooking surface to meet your needs. As you shop, remember that if a cheap BBQ grill has a warming rack, that's likely included in the total cooking area listed by the manufacturer (as well as in the surface area we list here).Gas grills generally provide larger cooking areas than charcoal barbecues. Among our top picks, the Char-Griller Grillin' Pro 3001 easily takes the cake, with a total of 630 square inches. The Brinkmann 2 Burner Gas Grill 810-9210-S comes in at 446 square inches, while the 280-square-inch Char-Broil Two-Burner trails behind. The Brinkmann 4 Burner Gas Grill 810-9410-SC (starting at $149) offers 649 square inches, and About.com reports that it delivers plenty of features for a cheap grill, but complaints about its durability kept us from including it on our list.
Cheap charcoal grills tend to be smaller. Among the charcoal barbecues we researched, the Char-Griller Wrangler 2123 offers 435 square inches of cooking surface, followed by the Weber One-Touch Gold 22.5 at 398 square inches, and the Meco 4100 Charcoal Grill at 342 square inches.
BBQ Grill Grates.
Regardless whether a cheap grill is charcoal or gas, the material composition of the grate determines whether food will stick, as well as how evenly the heat disperses and thus how well the food cooks. Experts prefer cast-iron grates because they heat up quickly, hold the heat on the surface, and last a very long time -- although cast iron does need to be oiled to keep food from sticking too much. Another good option is porcelain-coated cast iron. High-quality porcelain keeps food from sticking, while the cast iron heats evenly and fast. Maintenance is easier with porcelain because you don't have to oil the grates. When it's time to clean porcelain-coated grates, scrub gently with a metal-bristle brush; don't use a metal scraper because it will chip the porcelain. Most cheap BBQ grills, including those on our list, feature porcelain-coated grates. The Char-Griller Wrangler 2123 -- our pick for best cheap charcoal grill -- sports cast-iron grates but no porcelain coating.
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Best Cheap BBQ Grills
Char-Griller Wrangler 2123
The Char-Griller Wrangler 2123 impresses users with a cooking surface of 435 square inches, cast-iron grates, adjustable grate height for better heat control, and a warming rack (not often found in cheap charcoal grills). Users sing the praises of this grill and enjoy the tasty end results. Read more »BBQ Grills Deals
Char-Griller Grillin' Pro 3001
The Char-Griller Grillin' Pro 3001 is a gas-burning crowd pleaser with amenities such as 630 square inches of cooking space (including a warming rack), three burners with separate controls, and two smoke stacks for even heating. Users say this grill cooks food quickly and evenly and outperforms more expensive models. Read more »BBQ Grills Deals
Good Cheap BBQ Grill
Weber One Touch Gold 22.5
The Weber One-Touch Gold is a round charcoal grill with 398 square inches of cooking surface, an exceptional 10-year warranty, and a patented cleaning system. This grill gets high marks from users, who say it's durable and easy to use. Read more »BBQ Grills Deals
Brinkmann 2 Burner Gas Grill 810-9210-S
The Brinkmann 2 Burner Gas Grill boasts a cooking surface of 446 square inches (including a warming rack) and two separately controlled burners. Users seem impressed by how easy this grill is to assemble, use, and clean. They say it cooks food perfectly. Read more »BBQ Grills Deals
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Don't Bother Cheap Grills
Meco Charcoal Grill
The Meco 4100 Charcoal Grill is another grill without frills. Its nickel-plated grate is not the best because it can chip easily and food tends to stick. Some users consider this grill cheaply made and note that the lid isn't durable. Read more »
Char-Broil Two-Burner Gas Grill
The basic Char-Broil Two-Burner Gas Grill has an even smaller cooking surface than the charcoal grills we looked at, measuring just 280 square inches. Even users who rate it highly in cheap BBQ grill reviews say assembly is a nightmare. Read more »
Products Mentioned in This Review
Broil-Mate Gas Grill 13024Brinkmann 4 Burner Gas Grill 810-9410-S
Meco Charcoal Grill
Char-Broil Two-Burner Gas Grill
Weber One Touch Gold 22.5
Brinkmann 2 Burner Gas Grill 810-9210-S
Char-Griller Wrangler 2123
Char-Griller Grillin' Pro 3001
Archived Products
Char-Broil T480 Four Burner and Char-Boil Grill2Go AdvantageBrinkmann Pro Series Four Burner Gas Grill 810-9415-w
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