After dealing with hundreds of customers over the years, one thing I can tell you that people find it hard to make a decision on what kind of outdoor kitchen bbq to put into their outdoor kitchen. In the overall scheme of things this might seem like something that should not be all that hard, but I assure you it is, at least for most people.

The main problem people seem to have when faced with these decisions is, they want the best grill but they try to find all kinds of ways not to have to pay for it. I cannot tell you how many times a potential customer has looked me straight in the face and told me he needs me to provide the more expensive grill option at the price I showed him for the cheaper model. Sometimes I feel like taking my wallet out and placing it on the table and saying, “go ahead, take what you want”. After all, that is really what they are asking me to do; take money out of my pocket to finance something they “need” but don’t want to pay for. Part of this is caused by having so much word of mouth business. In other words, I do a project for someone and then their neighbor sees it and they want one. In most of these cases I go into it assuming people talk about money and what the project cost them, but maybe I am wrong about that. What I am saying is part of this fascination with high end built in grills is not justified by the gains in quality but rather in a keeping up with the Jones’s mentality. If my neighbor has a high end grill and I get something less expensive, what ever will he think of me? Believe it or not, this is a real issue for some people.

So, let me help you out if you are trying to make a decision on which grill to get. First of all, there is nothing wrong with trying to get a good deal. But we all need to understand that there are limits to how far you should go with that effort. Keep it simple! Think through what features are important to you and get a grill that you both can afford and at the same time one that will meet those basic needs. Love to rotisserie? Then make sure to get a built in grill with a rotisserie. Need lights in your grill? Then get a grill with lights, but consider saving a few bucks and getting a good grill light as a separate accessory rather than letting the price of the grill get out of hand just so you have a light inside.

Stick with stainless steel, and find out what grade of stainless steel the grill you are looking at is made from. Some types of stainless steel will rust while other types like 304 stainless steel will not. The major differences in grills are in the material from which it is made and also in the gauge, or thickness, of that stainless.

In truth you can get a grill with lights, rotisserie, and perhaps even a smoker inside at the lower end of the price range for decent built in grills. That price range goes from around $1000 all the way up to several thousands of dollars. If left to your own searching

you might not find all the options that are available to you. That is one of the biggest reasons I wrote Choosing the Right Grill For Your Outdoor Kitchen. While each brand of grill puts out its own literature, I knew of nowhere I could send a customer so they could see all the main features of various grills all in the same place. They would have to look through many different brochures or visit many different websites. With my new e-book I put all the information about almost 50 different grills in one place. The feedback I am receiving is great and I am glad I made the decision to do the research and write the book. It is proving to be a good answer to the problem people have when faced with making a choice in built in grills.And best of all, once you have narrowed down your search, the book links you to place with the lowest price for each grill!!

If you are interested in my new e-book, just visit the home page of this site, or look over to the right and you will find the link in the sidebar.

Many people get unduly confused when they start looking at outdoor kitchens. One of the big questions they ask is, how is an outdoor kitchen grill different from other outdoor grills? The answer is, the grill itself is really no different at all. If you think about it, most grills we have come attached to carts that may or may not be on wheels to make it easier to move them around. Picture the same grill, but with no cart, or legs, and you have a grill that can be used as an outdoor kitchen grill.

That is probably oversimplifying things, but that is the general idea as to what these grills are. The thing that complicates things is the fact that you have made a decision to add an outdoor kitchen to your home, and that means you are looking to upgrade. In most cases, that same old grill from your local home improvement store will simply not do when it comes to an outdoor kitchen gas grill. Some people choose things like electric grills, but most people who build an outdoor kitchen want to go with a stainless steel bbq, and these are more expensive than those cheaper grills we tend to purchase and use until they start to fall apart from rust.

An outdoor kitchen can cost you anywhere from a few thousand all the way up to $30 thousand dollars. The grill is typically the center of attraction when it comes to the outdoor kitchen and grill, so it does not seem to make any sense at all to go cheap when you are making a major upgrade to the outside of your home. In the vast majority of cases, you get what you pay for when it comes to grills.

If you spend money on a quality built in grill, you will be able to use that grill for many years. This is important when dealing with a built in grill, because your cabinetry will be made to fit a specific grill. if that grill is not of high enough quality to last more than a couple of years, you could be facing having to renovate your cabinetry to fit a new grill. This is because different brands of grills are different sizes, even if they are referred to as the same size. For example, a 27″ Kitchen Aid built in grill is not the same width or depth as other brands, like Fire Magic grills. On top of that, every couple of years manufacturers upgrade their lines of grills and in many cases they make changes to the footprint of the grills. In other words, you may not be able to find the same grill to replace your old one. If that happens, modifications to your cabinetry will be needed to fit another grill.

Having said all of that, if you purchase a quality grill from a good brand and that grill is made from 304 stainless steel, you will not have to worry about anything for a long time. Your grill will last as is for many years, and even then the only thing you might end up replacing is the internal burners. Do not underestimate the huge difference between a regular old grill and a quality built in grill. They are simply not the same thing.

Whether you are building an outdoor kitchen, or just want a freestanding grill, a stainless steel bbq really adds a touch of style and class to the outdoor area of you home. There are varying levels of quality when it comes to this type of grill, and the main difference that will determine the price range is the kind of stainless steel used in the grill.

The single most important thing to remember about stainless steel bbq grills is that just because the grill is stainless does not mean it will not rust! So many people make the mistake of buying a grill at their local home improvement store and think that because it is a stainless steel grill they are set for years to come. To add to their confidence is the fact that many of these grills are made by large companies with names that are very recognizable. People see the grill and see how much less expensive it is than some other stainless steel grills and they figure it is a no brainer. Fast forward several months and the grill is showing rust, just like their previous inexpensive grills did. Let me repeat the one thing I want you to take from this post. The kind of stainless steel your bbq is made from will determine whether it will rust.

OK, so what kind of stainless steel will not rust? 304 stainless is the grade of stainless steel that quality grills are made from. 304 stainless steel bbqs will not rust. Why won’t they rust? It has to do with the materials that make up the steel. In this case, it is the nickel content that prevents the steel from rusting.

The grade of the stainless is very important, but don’t get that confused with the guage of the steel. One reasons for the large spread in grill prices is that different companies use different guages, or thicknesses of steel in their grills. For example, Fire Magic grills are more likely to have a thicker stainless steel used than another brand, like Pro Fire.

So, why doesn’t every company make their bbq grills from 304 stainless? The short answer is, this steel is expensive. Compare some prices on stainless steel bbq grills. Check some that are made from 304 stainless and some that are not. You will find a big price difference in the two different kind of grills. Another thing to think about when pricing these grills are the internal parts of the grill. The main burners should also be made from 304 stainless, or they will eventually rust. of course, this makes the price go up. But the good news is that virtually every manufacturer of these grills offers a lifetime warranty against rust on the burners as well as the overall bbq.

It pays to educate yourself when shopping for grills. There is nothing wrong with purchasing a grill for $100 or $200 at your local home improvement store as long as you understand what you are getting. On the other hand, if you are going through the expense of having an outdoor kitchen built, you should strongly consider adding a quality grill that is going to last many years. But when it comes to these things there is no right or wrong, it is simply what you want and what you can afford. Above all, get educated before spending your money.

There is nothing more frustrating to a lover of grilling out than being told they cannot do what they love. If you live in certain places, this is a very real dilemma. But there is good news for anyone living in a place that prohibits the use of gas appliances on balconies and lanai areas. Introducing the electric grill! There is nothing new about the idea of an electric grills as they have been around for a very long time. But manufacturers have really gone a long way in recent years to make these grills as functional and stylish as any gas powered grill. These improvements are causing people to build outdoor kitchens in places where they previously were not because they thought the project would be incomplete without a “real” grill.

Not only can you get an electric grill for your patio or balcony area, but there is actually now a large selection of built in electric grills, which allows you to have that full fledged outdoor kitchen. It used to be that an electric powered grill was more like an in indoor cooktop than a traditional grill. The market was dominated by the Jenn Aire downdraft style of grill. This unit uses electric griddles to supply yhe heat, while a built in fan draws the smoke down and out through a duct system. the biggest benefit of this type of grill is the lack of smoke and grease in the air and on the wall behind the grill. While these were, and in fact still are viable alternatives for someone who cannot have a gas grill, it does not really have the look and feel of a “real” grill. In addition to that, you cannot do things like rotisserie, smoke, or simply have a “real” looking grill.

That last part is what has changed in recent years. There is now a pretty large selection of built in outdoor grills available that look just like a traditional grill. You can have that stainless steel bbq in an electric version, and you can have a rotisserie,a grill light, a searing burner, etc, all the things you want in a grill. If you read my other posts, particularly the one  on built in grills, you know that I advocate the use of outdoor built in grills made from 304 stainless steel. It just makes sense that if you are building an built in outdoor kitchen you use components that are going to last a long time. If done properly the result should be something that lasts as long as your home lasts. Luckily, you can still follow this advice when using an electric built in outdoor grill. This type of grill outdoor kitchen will not be the least expensive, but it will be the highest quality and will last the longest out of all your choices.

One thing to note is that electric grills require either 110V or 220V power. You have to pay attention to as you research each grill and take note of the power requirements. In general, the higher quality grills are going to require 220V power. Don’t let this scare you away, as these grills are much more powerful than 110V grills and will be able to generate more heat for various kinds of cooking. Many condo buildings these days are pre-wired with 220V power, so you might not have any added expense as far as powering the grill goes.

The term Outdoor Kitchen is a fairly new one, and if you mention it in some areas you will get strange looks from the people around you. But if you live in one of the areas where outdoor kitchens are prevelant then everyone would know exactly what you were talking about. An outdoor kitchen is a term used to describe an outdoor cooking and/or entertaining area that can be as simple as a built in grill or as elaborate as a separate structure housing a grill along with everything else you would find in a regular kitchen. The difference of course is that everything is outdoors.

As I mentioned earlier, outdoor kitchens vary greatly in their size. This also means they vary greatly in their cost. You can have a simple built in grill with a small tiled counter top and storage beneath for anywhere from $2000 up to $8000. The reason for the large price range is because the grill you have installed might cost several hundred or several thousand dollars. There is a huge range in available grill sizes and quality.

Most people who add an outdoor kitchen to their home want a quality grill to be the centerpiece. The choice of grill starts with size. The most popular grill size is either 27″ or 30″, depending on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers measure their grills by the width of the cooking surface, while some measure from the outside of the frame. This is important in looking at comparisons. It is possible that a 27″ grill from one manufacturer might actually have a larger cooking surface than a 30″ grill from another manufacturer. Whichever you choose, a typical 27″ or 30″ is plenty big enough for most people. if you regularly entertain more than 15 people, you might want to look at the next level of grills, typically 36″, then up to 48″.

Once you have decided what the size of your grill will be, you have to decide on any upgrades and also the overall quality of the grill. Many outdoor kitchens are very simple things, and the grill chosen for them is a lower end, simple grill. Assuming you want a stainless steel grill that is warrantied for life against rust, the low end is going to be around $1000, give or take a little. Now you might go to your home improvement store and see stainless steel grills for a few hundred dollars less. Don’t be fooled. The grade of stainless you want is “304 stainless”. The nickel content in this stainless steel is what makes it impervious to rust. Your outdoor kitchen can be totally exposed to the elements, and a grill made with 304 stainless will not rust. The other metal parts that are not 304 stainless will rust, so pay attention to what is inside the grill. But, based on overall quality, it is fair to say the range for prices on a 30″ 304 stainless grill is anywhere between $1000 and $4000.

I will go into the differences between the low end grill and the higher priced grills in another article. But it basically comes down to quality, accessories, and name brand. There are many grills to choose from, from electric grills to more traditional types. When choosing your grill, keep in mind it is the center piece of your outdoor kitchen. Decide what you want your outdoor kitchen to be, then choose your grill accordingly.

There are a number of quality brands when it comes to outdoor kitchen grills, and one of the most popular of those brands is Fire Magic. Fire Magic grills are made in the United States, and that alone makes them appealing to many people. If you purchase a Fire Magic grill, you have a grill that will last you a very long time. There are 3 main levels of Fire Magic gas grills, and they are produced and marketed by RH Peterson Company in California. All of these grills are available in either cart or built in models. Since we deal mostly with outdoor kitchens here at the Outdoor Kitchen Guide, we will be focusing on Fire Magic built in grills.

If you want a good brand that has pretty much any feature available in a grill, this is your brand. the nice thing about having multiple lines is you do not have to pay for features and accessories you are not going to use. While there are 3 different lines of these grills, we will focus on the 2 lines that are most popular for use in outdoor kitchens. These are the Aurora and Echelon lines. Within these lines are several different sizes of grills. Fire Magic Outdoor Grills offers a nice selection of both different widths and depths in their built in grills. This is important when planning an outdoor kitchen because the ability to use a grill that is not as deep front to back as most grills might mean the difference between fitting all the components you want and having to leave something out.

Most built in grills require a cabinet that is 28″ in depth. This depth ensures that once the grill is installed the cover can be opened without hitting the wall behind the cabinet. There are some brands, like Viking, that require a cabinet several inches deeper due to the depth of the grill. Fire Magic offers grills in this standard depth that need a 28″ cabinet, but they also offer grills in both the Aurora and Echelon lines that will fit in a cabinet as shallow as 24″.

Let’s talk about the differences in the Fire Magic Aurora line versus the fire Magic Echelon line of grills. The main thing to keep in mind is these are really the same grill. think about the Aurora as a sort of base model, but only as far as accessories go. The steel used in both lines is 304 stainless steel. The burners are cast stainless, and these are the only grills in which you will find cast stainless burners. This is the most heavy duty burner you can get in a grill, and it will last many years. If it ever does fail, it is covered by a lifetime warranty, so you will just be given another!

OK, so what does an Aurora have that an Echelon does not? Nothing. Remember, the Aurora is the base model of this grill. The same stainless shell is used in the production fo both lines. If you want just a grill, and have no need for a rotisserie or lights in your grill, you simply order an Aurora. You can order an Aurora with a rotisserie and the grill will come with the back burner and rotisserie motor. You can also order this grill with a searing burner in place of one of the 3 main burners.

The Echelon built in grill comes with lights, a smoker burner, and comes standard with a rotisserie motor and back burner. The hood on the Echelon comes with spring assist which makes it feel a lot lighter. There are substantial price differences between the Aurora and Echelon, so you have to give some thought to what options you need in a grill and which you do not need. The differences can add up to thousands of dollars, but since Fire Magic gives you the option to pick and choose what you need in your grill, you can pinpoint your price and spend no more than that yet still get a very high quality grill.

Both the Aurora and Echelon lines come with a digital display that shows the temperature inside your grill. The display looks the same on both grills, but operates a bit differently depending on the grill. On the Aurora grill, the display measures the temperature inside the grill and rotates the display between that and the temperature at the end of the meat probe, which plugs into the side of the grill. The Echelon has heat zone dividers between each burner, and the display will rotate between the 3 internal zones as well as the meat probe.

As you can see, there is a wide range of Fire Magic grills available to suit any functional need as well as any budget. Any of these stainless steel bbq grills will last you many years, so it pays to take the right amount of time and decide which options you need in yours. Once you decide on the grill, make sure you protect it with one of the line of high quality Fire Magic grill covers.

No matter how many accessories you add to your outdoor kitchen, the pride of the area will probably turn out to be the grill. You might have an outdoor bar at or near your kitchen, and everyone will be watching the big game on the television you have mounted nearby. And you may have everything from a kegerator to the highest level of exotic granite available. But, when it all comes down to showing it off, the thing that gets the most attention will more than likely be the built in gas grill.

Long before you got to the point of being able to have an outdoor kitchen to brag about, you had to go through the outdoor kitchen design and planning process. During this process you no doubt agonized over how large of a grill you could fit in your space. And once you had determined the size of the grill you had to decide which options you needed in that grill like rotisserie, lights, smoker, etc. And finally, once you knew the size and functionality of the grill you needed, you had to sort through all the brands of built in grills that are available in order to find the one that would eventually be the centerpiece of your new outdoor kitchen.

Gee, having just reread the first portion of this article I find myself thinking that it sounds like a lot of work. Well, it IS a lot of work! But it is work that is well worth the effort because if you do it right, you end up with something that is the envy of all your friends and neighbors. So when it comes to the grill, just which one is right for you? Well as I said, we have some work to do before we can know that, but there are some pretty simple steps you can go through that will bring you to a logical conclusion.

First, how big of a grill should you put into the outdoor kitchen? This is not just as simple as determining the largest grill that will fit. Quality built in grills are not cheap. You want a grill that will comfortably handle the your needs, but you don’t want to waste space and money on some monstrosity that is severe overkill. Most grill manufacturers offer a few different sizes of grills built in. The standard size is in the 27 inch to 30 inch range.

One thing to keep in mind when talking about grill sizes is the fact that all manufacturers do not measure them equally. Let’s look at a brand like Pro Fire. A 27″ Pro Fire grill is 27″ from the very outside of the frame from one end to the other. The actual cut out required for this grill to slide into the counter top is approx 25″, and the cooking surface is approx 23″ wide. Compare that to a Kitchen Aid 27″ built in grill. The Kitchen Aid grill requires a cut out of approx 27.5″, and measures just under 30″ from one side of the frame to the other. the actual cooking surface is 27″ wide. the Kitchen Aid grill is a true 27″ grill if you are thinking of size in terms of cooking area.That is just a comparison between two brands out of the many available, but you get the idea. The point is to know what it means when someone says “30 inch grill”. Sometimes it means a measurement of the cooking area and sometimes it does not. The other measurement, and one that does not get mentioned enough, is the front to back depth of the grill. Again, there is a difference between cooking surface and overall dimensions so it is important to learn which brands are measuring in which way. In the example above, the Pro Fire grill is less than 20 inches from front to back while the Kitchen Aid grill is over 22 inches. You can begin to see how the differences in these measurements can really add when figuring the overall cooking area of the grill. Between the two grills mentioned in this comparison, the Kitchen Aid 27″ grill clearly offers a lot more cooking surface area than the Pro Fire 27″ grill. It pays to know the difference.

In the example above I was speaking only about a size comparison and not at all about quality. The range of quality in built in grills is very wide, and so it makes sense that the price range is very wide as well. To continue with the example given above on the size comparison, those same two grills are very far apart in price and overall quality. Just to be clear, all the grill I am talking about here are stainless steel built in grills. In terms of quality, we are talking about grills that are made of the same basic material, but when placed side by side have a very different feel and look. Different grills are made with different gauges of stainless steel. Some are made with a double layered hood, some are a single layer of stainless. The difference cannot really be seen, but it can definitely be felt. If you have a chance to actually see and feel the grills you are considering you will see what I am talking about. If you choose to go with a Viking outdoor kitchen, meaning one equipped with all Viking appliances, you better take a close look at your budget! This brand is among the best you can buy in terms of quality, but it is also at the very top of the outdoor built in grills price range.

In addition to the overall structure, the internal parts can be very different from brand to brand. Most brands offer stainless steel burners. You should not consider a grill that is not made with stainless steel burners unless they come with a lifetime warranty, and even then you have to think about whether you want to go through the warranty hassles every couple of years. The level of grill we are talking about is a product you should be using and enjoying for many years. But at the same time, it is an outside appliance and it will get wet. Over time that moisture will take a toll on any sub caliber parts. If the burners are not stainless steel, they will eventually fail and rust. Other than the burners, the only other real concern internally are the grates. In quality built in outdoor kitchen grills, these are almost always made from stainless steel. but, there are varying levels of quality when it comes to the welding and manufacturing of these grates. Some brands of grill actually contain instructions to not let the heat get too high or the grates may warp. I have seen this happen in certain brands and I stay away from those now. You want a grill that has the ability to get extremely hot if you need it to, not one that is made with parts that cannot stand heat.  Ceramic coated grates are also available but my suggestion is to stay away from them. They offer some benefits during actual cooking, but the ceramic can chip and cause other issues over time. There are not a lot of moving parts inside these grills, so if you have quality burners and grates then the operation of the grill should be good for a long time to come.

OK, let’s get into prices of built in grills. Well, before we can really do that we have to know what features we want in the grill. Is a rotisserie important to you? How about lights, or a smoker box? These are all things that each person has to answer for themselves. The only thing I would suggest you do get is the rotisserie. Many people get them and then never use them, but a lot of people do not get the rotisserie and then wish they had. In the overall scheme of the grill and its price, the rotisserie does not had enough money to really worry about. Just get it and try it and you might find you use it all the time!

Once you know which features you want in the grill, you can begin to do some comparison price shopping. If I stick with the example of the Pro Fire vs the Kitchen Aid, you will begin to get a feel for the great variances in built in grills and their quality and price levels. Pro Fire makes a couple of different versions of their 27″ grill, but to make it a fair comparison I am using their base grill with rotisserie with the only Kitchen Aid 27″ grill with rotisserie. the Pro Fire can be had for somewhere in the $1500-$1800 range and full retail is around $2300, while the Kitchen Aid is priced in the same range. These two grills are not even close in terms of quality, with the Kitchen Aid coming in way ahead by that measurement. Considering that, why would anyone choose the Pro Fire grill? It is smaller, lighter weight in all areas, and does not come with lights. This should be a no brainer. The reason some contractors or distributors may suggest the Pro Fire is because they can get it cheaper than they can get the Kitchen Aid grill. In other words they have more profit in the Pro Fire than the Kitchen Aid. it really is as simple as that and that is why you, the homeowner, has to do some homework and not rely on any one contractor or appliance distributor to do it for you.

Now let’s take the pricing issue one step further. Even though the Kitchen Aid grill is a good deal when compared against the Pro Fire grill, there are other brands of built in grills that are even better deals while having not only equal, but superior quality. Enter Fire Magic. Fire Magic grills are made in the United States and is the longest running brand of grill you will find, having been in business for over 90 years. They measure their grills based on true cooking surface measurements, so you know what you are getting in terms of size. You can get a 30″ Fire Magic grill with a rotisserie for less than $3000, although it retails for around $3500. Fire Magic grills come standard with cast stainless burners. they are the only grill made that can stake that claim. In this writers opinion, this is the best deal you can get when it comes to built in grills. It is possible to spend up to $5 thousand on a 30″ grill if you really want to. But you will be hard pressed to show the benefits of doing so, unless you count having a name like Viking as being worth an extra couple of thousand dollars. Viking grills are very good grills, but they do not have much, if any advantage in quality over something like a Fire Magic.

The most important thing about choosing your built in grill is to take it one step at a time. Understand what size grill different outdoor kitchens can fit, then think through the various options you need in the grill. After that it is a matter of doing your homework on the different brands of grills and understanding what you get for their price. Ask your contractor to show you some of his completed work that includes the brands of grill he is suggesting you purchase. If he cannot or will not do this, take that as a red flag and move on. If you handle this project the right way, before you know it you will have your guests parading around your outdoor kitchen while you proudly show off it’s centerpiece; your new built in grill.

In a previous article I talked about the price ranges of the grills that typically go into an outdoor kitchen. There are a few reasons for the wide price range. The first has to do with the accessories on grills. Some things are standard equipment on one grill, but an upgrade on another brand of grill. I will explain some of these differences, but the important thing to remember is always find out the particulars of the grill you are comparing so you can know if it is an apples to apples comparison. The good news is that all the information you need for your research is available online.

Let’s assume you have narrowed your choice down to 3 grills in the 30″ range, which we consider a standard size built in grill. One grill might cost $1000, another $1800, and the third $3000. Learn what each grill comes with. Some grills come standard with a rotisserie, some do not. Some have the rotisserie burner installed in the back wall of the grill regardless of if you ordered a rotisserie or not. Other brands do not include the back burner on standard, non rotisserie grills. If you choose a grill that does not come with the back burner installed, you might not be able to upgrade that grill to use a rotisserie, or at the very least it will be much more expensive than the grill that has the burner in place. On a grill that has the burner in place already, you just buy a rotisserie motor and rod and you are all set. This difference in a future upgrade price is several hundred dollars.

As your grill dealer about the burners in the grills you are looking at. The burners are the parts in the belly of the grill that the gas and flame come out of. Most quality grills will have stainless steel burners, but some do not. Check the warranty on the burners. A quality grill will offer a lifetime warranty on the burners. The best burners you can get in your built in grill are cast stainless steel. Only a few brands offer this, but they are by far the best and will provide even heat and last the longest. Does the grill have lights inside the hood? Some do and some don’t so consider this when comparing prices.

The rotisserie and lights are the most common differences in grills as far as accessories go, but there are huge differences in overall quality. When possible, try to see each grill you are considering in person. If you are dealing with an outdoor kitchen contractor, he should be able to arrange for you to see some of his completed jobs. If he can’t, let that be a red flag to you. When you personally see and touch all the grills you are considering, you will know why the prices range so much. They all do the same basic thing, which is cook your food. But the better grill will feel more heavy duty overall, and the grill with the better burners will produce more and better distributed heat.

You can find grills from $1000 to $4000 in the 30 inch range. You can get a very high quality grill in this size for around $2500. Anything over that is probably just in the brand name and  possibly additional accessories. Again, look at your budget and your overall image of what you want your outdoor kitchens to be and choose your grill accordingly. There is nothing wrong with a $1000 grill. Just know what it is you are purchasing and you will not be surprised down the road.

If you live in a condo or high rise you may find it against the rules to have a gas grill on your balcony or in your screened area. While these rules make perfect sense and are in place for the safety of all residents, it still leaves you with a bit of a void when it comes to filling your desire to entertain your family and friends with a good old fashioned cookout.

You might have more options than you realize, as there are many electric grills on the market today, with more coming out every year. From table top or pedestal models to a built in electric grill that can be an integrated part of your outdoor kitchen, there is surely an electric grill to suit your needs.

Electric grills range in price from around $100 up to several hundred dollars and everywhere in between. Some models operate on standard 110v power, and some require 220v power. Be sure to read the description on any grill you are considering and identify the type of power requirement for that particular grill.

Electric grills are divided into a few basic categories. These are electric table top grills, built in electric grills, electric grill on a cart, and pedestal electric grills.

Table top electric grills are just what the name implies. It is a grill that is placed on top of a counter or table. These grills are very convenient because they can be stored out of sight and only taken out when you plan on using it. They can also be used as a portable grill, as they are usually very small and can be carried quite easily.

Built in electric grills look pretty much like any other built in grill. They are mounted into a cabinet as part of outdoor kitchens. Most built in models are stainless steel, and while they can get expensive, you get closer to “real” grilling than with any other type of electric grill. Most built in electric grills require 220V power.There is a category of electric built in grills that features a downdraft system. The most popular of these is the Jenn Aire electric grill. This grill looks much like an indoor cooktop, but is mounted in your outdoor kitchen cabinet. The built in fan pulls the smoke down and out a vent that usually goes through a wall under the cabinet, or into the wall and then up to the roof. Keep the need for a vent in mind when considering a Jenn Aire.

Electric grills that are mounted on a cart do not look much different than a typical grill you might see in your neighbor’s backyard. These grills can usually be moved around as the cart typically has wheels, and there are usually small wing like peices on either side in order to hold your prepped food or cooking condiments.

A pedestal electric grill looks a lot like one of the table top versions that has been mounted on a pedestal. Think pedestal sink, and you get the idea. While these grills do not take up much space, the downside is you don’t have any part of the grill where you can place food, plates, or condiments to use while cooking. Because of this it is useful if you place this kind of grill near a table of some kind.