Gas Grills for Year-Round Gourmets
Find yourself an all-season cooking contraption
Whoever said that Labor Day is the end of grilling season, obviously hasn’t grilled with guys like us. In fact, a lot of guys will tell you that unless it’s snowing, it’s always grilling season. And some don’t even care about the snow. Well thankfully, today’s top manufacturers are producing heavy-duty grills that are tough enough (and smart enough) to grill anytime, anywhere.
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Let’s not forget, grilling is a terrific way to prepare savory meals without adding fat, and that’s a great benefit to your weight-loss efforts. The longer you can extend grilling-season, the better off your waistline will be. To give you an idea of the multi-seasonal grills available, here are seven models that can take on the elements and provide your family with summertime taste even with the onset of snow season. Here are our reviews:
Prices and availability may vary.
 Computerized Cooker
I’m not much for gadgetry when it comes to steak on the grill, but even I am impressed with the computerized cooking of the Blue Ember iQue Grill from Fiesta. The built-in cooking probe works just like a meat thermometer, except you program the kind of meat you’re cooking and how well you’d like it cooked. The grill does the rest. But let’s say you like your meat well done and your delicate vegetables much less so—just program the grill’s two cooking zones to the temperature you like and problem solved.
Sure, the grill has a digital computer display, and is hailed as the first ever computer controlled grill, but at the end of the day, it does what it’s supposed to do: grill. The cooking surface is big enough for my family of four (plus the in-laws), and cleanup is no problem since the grates have a non-stick coating. The grill looks good, cooks great and has some cool gadgetry. It’ll need to live near an electrical outlet, since it has to be plugged in for the computer magic to happen, but given its stellar cooking (and rotisserie!) abilities, it’s well worth it.—Kevin Treacy, Contributing Writer
$700.00; Available at sears.com
 Space-Saver
The name may make it sound like strictly a travel-grill, but the RoadTrip® Pro Grill from Coleman is just as effective for back-deck burger flipping as it is for outdoor getaways. The 345 sq.-inch cooking surface was ample for family dinners as well as a couple of game day cookouts with my buddies. The two adjustable burners, with powerful 24,000 BTU output, allow me to tweak the temperature so I can grill foods exactly to my desired “done”-level. The surface is also great for full meals—I just put my meats over the direct flame and lay my veggies over the off burner to cook. At the end of the day, the grease tray and porcelain-coated grill grate remove and clean up easily.
The unit conveniently breaks down for easy storage/transport. The two side trays fold onto the grill-top, with the lid still able to close, and the scissor-legs fold all the way to the ground (much like an ironing board). In the off-season, this collapsible unit takes up such little space, I hardly notice it in the corner of my garage. Plus it’s a breeze to break it out for the occasional sunny Sunday in December.—Jamie Gerardi, Assistant Men’s Editor
$240; Available at rei.com
 Idiot Proof
This heavy duty stainless steel outdoor cooking device is a beauty. I say cooking device because the Fire Stone LG24C Propane Grill is far smarter than a typical grill—it has convection oven properties that cook food evenly while taking full advantage of BTUs to make propane last longer. While this grill looks high tech, it’s actually idiot proof thanks to the built-in meat thermometer. Just stick the probe into whatever you’re cooking, select the level of doneness and wait for the beep.
Since the temperature gauge tells you when the food is done, I didn’t waste gas or energy by opening the hood. There’s also a “heat exchange system” allowing you to shift the flames toward built-in searing/sauté plates, perfect for vegetables. The easily removable grease catch makes cleanup easy. There’s even storage space for grilling tools or spices. Bottom line: this grill is tough enough for year-round grilling, and since the food sensors do most of the work, you can sit in the warm house and wait for your food to be cooked to perfection.—Lee Giagoudakis, Contributing Writer
$1,479.00; Available at shopping.com
 Avid Grillers’ Delight
I’m a professional chef who grills year-round 3-5 days a week, and the Epic from Holland Grills has made me forget about any other grills I’ve used. It’s great whether you’re a grilling novice or an experienced veteran—it’s simple to learn how to use, and the advance griller will love the ability to cook foods to an exact temperature. So if you like a steak rare and the Missus likes it well done, this grill will accommodate both your tastes.
With more than 400 sq. inches of cooking space, this grill’s sturdy cast-iron burner is as heavy duty as they come. When it’s time to get cooking, the rotary spark ignition system allows for easy and quick lighting. The galvanized stainless steel component helps guard against flare-ups, keeping that “flame thrown” flavor away from my food. In addition, there’s a temperature thermometer imbedded in the lid and even a woodchip drawer if you’re interested in smoking meats. As an avid griller with three grills in his backyard, I’m probably getting rid of the other ones.—Aaron Kiefer, Contributing Writer
$849; Available at hollandgrill.com
 Roof-Deck Ready
The Minden Master Grill is great for grillers of all calibers, particularly those who have limited outdoor space (such as city dwellers like me). This grill heats up quickly; I actually started cooking within 10 minutes of unpacking it. The lighting mechanism (powered by an electric starter) typically ignites on the first or second try. As for the actual cooking, the grill performed admirably with salmon, lamb and beef-kabobs. The non-cooking surfaces are also extremely useful; especially the condiment tray, the cutting board, (both dishwasher safe) and the warming rack, since they provide plenty of space for pre- and post-grilling activity and preparation.
The cooking space is generous, particularly given the small footprint of the grill (quite welcome on a New York City roof deck). With a 366 sq.-inch primary cooking area and a 170 sq.-inch warming rack, I can easily cook for six to eight people at a time. There’s also a nifty tank storage system that makes replacing the propane simple. I’m an avid all-season griller with every intention of continuing to use this grill well into the fall and winter.—Michael Echenberg, Contributing Writer
$430; Available at mindengrill.com
 Rock the Rotisserie
Any grill that comes with its own rotisserie is sure to be the envy of the neighborhood, but the MHSC 4-Burner Grill from Vermont Castings is much more than that. First off, it’s got five burners, so the grill heats up in a hurry and offers even temperature distribution allowing you to enjoy a perfectly cooked steak, or pork chop or … you get the idea.
What impressed me was the 937 sq. inches of cooking space, which allowed me to cook for the whole family—no dish got cold before the rest of it was done, so we all ate together and everything was still piping hot. Cleanup was almost too easy because the cast iron grates are coated in porcelain. That rotisserie fit two big chickens on it no problem, and they tasted better than any pricey poultry in a restaurant. This grill is a winner, plain and simple.—Joe Noia, Contributing Writer
$1,349.00; Available at newenergyinc.com
 Simple Classic
The Weber Spirit E-210 doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, which is a good thing for a classic no-frills griller like me. As such, its simplicity makes the grill stand out. It cooks food thoroughly and quickly on its sizable 350 sq.-inch cooking area. This grill performed equally well cooking foods such as chicken, pork steak or veggies at various temperatures. The exterior of the grill is attractive black steel, and there’s ample storage room next to the propane tank underneath.
The startup time is great—I'm able to grill about 5 minutes after ignition, and the electronic lighting mechanism works after two clicks without fail. The grill is mounted on castors and moves around a lot easier than most—it’s a light one-person job and the wheels are quiet. I tested this grill more than 20 times with no flare-ups at all, which meant no burning meat and easy clean up. I’d say this is an Old School professional’s grill—a classic if you will.—Peter Gracey, Contributing Writer
$400; Available at amazon.com
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