“where cheap is chic” — wisebread

Cheap gas grills and cheap charcoal grills offer different advantages and tend to appeal to different breeds of backyard cooks. But there are a couple of key features to look for in either type of cheap barbecue grill: the size of the cooking surface, the type of grate, and any extras that will make grilling easier, such as a side burner, utensil hooks, and a warming rack. Heat control is also important. With a cheap gas grill you can adjust the temperature of each burner, whereas one of the only ways to adjust the heat in a cheap charcoal grill is by moving the grate closer to, or farther away from, the flame; some cheap charcoal grills also have vents on the side that you can open or close for more or less oxygen to feed the fire. BTU is a measure of how powerful a gas grill is; there is no equivalent for charcoal grills.

Grill type Cooking surface (with/ without warming rack) Temperature control Grate type BTUs Warming rack Utensil Hooks
Char-Griller Grillin' Pro 4001 estimated price $199
Gas 834/580 square inches 4 main burners plus 1 side burner Porcelain-coated cast iron 54,400 Yes Yes
Brinkmann 2 Burner Gas Grill 810-9210-S estimated price $99
Gas 446/310 square inches 2 main burners Porcelain-coated steel 24,000 Yes No
Char-Griller Wrangler 2123 estimated price $106
Charcoal 435 square inches Adjustable grate height Cast iron N/A Yes No
Weber One Touch Gold 22.5 estimated price $130
Charcoal 398 square inches None Plated steel N/A No No
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