The Bottom Line
Char-Griller has been making low priced charcoal grills and smokers for a few years and has recently started making gas grills. This gas grill is built on the modified body of the smallest of their charcoal grills, basically replacing the coal grate with three burners. In addition they have put on a 12,000 BTU side burner. This means a heavy thermal painted steel grill body and porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates on a gas grill. Surprising this actually works quite well for a low priced (typically under $200) gas grill.
Pros
- Inexpensive full feature grill
- Heavy construction for the price
Cons
- Weak plastic wheels
- Lower quality internal components
- Difficult and complex assembly (buy it assembled if you can)
Description
- Three 13,600 BTU Stainless Steel burners
- 498 square inches of primary cooking area with 630 square inches of total cooking area
- 40,800 BTU maximum output from the main burners
- 12,000 BTU brass capped side burner under a flush mounted lid
- AA battery electronic igniters
- Porcelain cast iron cooking grates
- Barrel shaped thermal painted steel body and lid
- Hood mounted Thermometer
- Propane tank and cover sold separately
- Made in China by Char-Griller (A&J Mfg) and sold through several retailers
Guide Review - Char-Griller Grillin Pro Gas Grill Model #3001
Char-Griller has developed a good reputation for making charcoal grills and smokers in the lower price range. In the past year they have started producing gas grills, built on the same design that actually work. This is surprising since gas grill bodies make lousy charcoal grills and visa versa. This gas grill can produce good heat and hold it, partly because of the porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates and the relatively heavy steel body. As many low end gas grill manufacturers have moved to thin sheet metal bodies, this one has enough thickness to hold in heat and make a grill that can sear steaks and cook at high temperatures.
This somewhat unconventional looking gas grill is in fact a very conventional 3-burner gas grill with side burner. The nearly 41,000 BTUs from the main burners seems a little low for the 498 square inches of primary grilling space. However the weight of the cooking grates and the barrel shape (less cooking chamber volume) tend to make up for this. You also get a pretty good side burner that is powerful enough to do some pretty heavy cooking on. Of course you are paying less than $200 for this grill so you can't expect high quality components or a long life for this grill, but if you don't have a lot of money to spend this is a grill you should consider.
