You Don’t Have to Pay Too Much With These Best Gas Grills under $500

Durable and sturdy, this Char-Broil grill is made of cast iron and steel and has a porcelain-coated steel lid and firebox that will stand up to the elements and give you years of grilling pleasure. In addition to the actual grill, this model has two sturdy side shelves that provide lots of space for prep or just a place to put your platters. Two sturdy wheels are attached to the bottom of the grill on one side so that you can move it anywhere on your patio or deck. This model is designed to use a 20-lb. propane tank and cannot be converted to natural gas. Char-Broil covers this grill with a five-year warranty on the burners, two-year on the firebox and lid, and a one-year warranty on all other parts.
On one side, the grill has a handly shelf for prep or to hold dishes, but on the other, there’s a side burner. Putting out another 12,000 BTUs, this side burner makes it easy to prepare side dishes or sauces for the items on your grill. When you’re not using, it, the cover sits flush so you have even more shelf space. Underneath, the cabinet has two doors so that you can stash away the propane tank and any necessities that you need to keep handy. It also features wheels that let you easily move it around the patio or into storage.
Pros:

Freestanding, Built-in or Portable?

Another aspect to consider when shopping for a grill is what types of food you cook the most. For instance, if you’re a meat lover and regularly grill steaks, it’s important to find a grill that achieves a heat high enough to sear the steak for the best results. By contrast, if vegetables and more delicate items like fish are your grilling go-to items, then you want a model with good heat control and not necessarily the highest temperature range. Also, think about whether you’ll be using the grill for smoking or slow roasting.

Plenty of cooking area and a sleek design mean that you can entertain a crowd with style when you put the Char-Broil Classic 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill with Side Shelves in your backyard. Cook up to 17 burgers at a time with this four-burner model that puts out 32,000 BTUs of power. It features 405 square inches of main cooking space, along with 190 square inches of secondary cooking space on the warming rack that can be swung out of the way when not needed. Fire it up quickly and easily with the Piezo ignition system that sparks with the touch of a button. Cooking — as well as clean up — is easy with the porcelain-coated cooking grates.

The Weber Q 2000 portable gas BBQ grill offers up a good amount of cooking space along with the portability many consumers are looking for. Whether camping at the lakeside or relaxing on your small patio, this Weber grill’s 280 square inches of cooking surface can handle just about any dinner and fires up with the touch of a button. Its 12,000-BTU stainless steel burner is controlled with a knob that adjusts the infinite control burner valve to fine-tune your cooking.
Built-in grills are just that: installed in a permanent fixture, like an outdoor counter or full kitchen layout. The advantages of a built-in model include having more counter space around the grill and having the feeling of a real outdoor kitchen. These can be more durable because they stay in one spot. While they are a good outdoor home improvement, the choice of adding one should be about your enjoyment, not to increase home value, because not all buyers will appreciate it as much as you do.

Natural Gas or Propane?

A freestanding grill is a full-size grill that gives you the flexibility of moving it around the patio, deck or backyard. This is important if you need to move it for entertaining or for end-of-season storage. A freestanding grill has advantages over a built-in style for a small outdoor space, where you may not want the grill set up as a permanent fixture. These grills come in a range of sizes to accommodate the number of people that you typically cook for. Most models also offer up a side shelf or two for handy prep space, and some may even have a side burner for preparing other dishes or warming up sauces.
This slim profile brings with it some special features. First, the lid hinges at a 45-degree angle, meaning that you don’t have to reach across the hot grill surface. Clean-up is easier too because the fire bowl has an open design so that grease and debris all fall into the removable tray. The tall, slim grill is easy to move thanks to handles and locking casters. At the bottom, the propane tank is accessible through a hinged door as is the drip tray. The Fuego Element is a versatile and fun way to grill at home, no matter how small your outdoor space.

What Size Do You Need?

What Will You Be Cooking?

Cons

Extra Features?

With a totally different profile, the Fuego Element 21-Inch 2-Burner Propane Gas Grill brings great grilling to small spaces. With a footprint that’s a mere 21 square inches, it amazingly still offers up enough cooking space to do up to 14 burgers at one time,.The slim design boasts two burners that put out 22,000 BTUs of power to heat the 346 square inches of cooking space. The heavy-duty cast-iron cooking grates heat evenly and lets you cook at low or high temperatures. The burner configuration in the Fuego Element is unique, offering three ways to cook: With the independent 15,500-BTU outer burner ring you can barbecue. Using the heat reflection shields in the lid and residue tray, the. cooking is much like a convection oven allowing you to roast foods. With both burners on at the same time, it’s hot enough to sear steaks and seafood. In fact, the temperature range on the grill is 250-650 degrees, which you can monitor with the built-in thermometer.

• Push-button ignition — Most gas grills now have a push-button ignition, but some models are still lit with a match. A push-button starter, or an electronic ignition that uses batteries, creates a spark that in turn lights the gas coming from the burners. Firing up the grill is quick easy and safe using an ignition system.
• Flame tamers — These are porcelain or steel elements that sit over the burners and help cut down on flare-ups that can char your food. They’re a physical barrier between the flame and the cooking grate.
• Side burner — These can be found on medium- and large-size grills and are very handy if you like to do lots of cooking outside. It’s like having a stovetop next to the grill. You can keep a sauce warm on the burner or use it to cook a side dish or secondary entree like boiled shrimp or lobster. Basically, anything you do on a burner in your kitchen you can do on the side burner of a grill.
• Rotisserie — Cooking a slow-roasted chicken is easy if the grill has a rotisserie. These are sometimes accompanied by a dedicated burner. You can also slow-roast meats and other poultry on the rotisserie attachment.
• A Warming Rack — This is like a small partial shelf at the back of the grill that lets you move food off of the cooking surface but still keep it warm. It is also handy for warming food items like buns and bread.
• Fuel Gauge — These are handy if not completely accurate. They will indicate the amount of propane left in the tank so that you can refill it or get a second tank.
• Cabinet — Most all freestanding gas grills come on a cart with a cabinet of some type. The most basic is a shelf that holds the propane tank while others have doors, drawers and other storage utilities.

Flanking the Weber grill, two side work tables with tool hooks can be folded down for storage or easy moving. The bottom of the cart is fronted by a screen that hides the propane tank. There’s also a grill out handle light that lets you grill at night without a problem. There’s also a removable grease catch pan for easy clean-out and a hose and regulator that attaches to your refillable 20 lb propane. Weber covers its grill with a five-year limited warranty on the aluminum castings, lid assembly and stainless steel burners, as well as the plastic components and porcelain-enamel cast iron cooking grates. The paint, excluding fading or discoloration, is covered for two years, as are all the other parts.

1. Weber Q 2000 Portable Propane Gas Grill – Titanium

Pros:
Even after you’ve narrowed down the type and size of grill you need, you may be faced with a boatload of extra features that may or may not be available. It’s a good idea to explore the different options and see which ones are important to you so that you’re happy with your purchase.

Now that you know what you need, here are some of the best grills under 0 that will make your outdoor cooking or fun and efficient.