At a Glance:
What is a Stainless Steel Grill?
Why Are Stainless Steel Grills Superior?
What Are the Benefits of a Stainless Steel Grill?
Different Types of Stainless Steel Grills
Our Top 5 Stainless Steel Grills
Have you been considering a new grill? Just doing an online search for grills will give you an overwhelming number of options. If it’s been a while since you look at grills, you might be surprised to see that most of them are now made of stainless steel. Many people have discovered the benefits of grilling on stainless steel.
A high-end durable stainless steel grill is an investment. If you choose wisely and follow maintenance guidelines a new grill could last for up to 15 years. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about grilling on stainless steel. We’ll also take a look at the five best stainless steel grills for built-in or portable grilling.
What is a Stainless Steel Grill?
Stainless steel grills are extremely popular in San Diego, and not many people buy the cast iron equivalents these days. Most of these grills have stainless steel interior in and on the outside of the stainless steel grill. These grills are most likely to have ceramic or enamel coated stainless steel grill grates.
Like other types of grills, stainless steel grills are designed to use charcoal, propane, or natural gas for fuel. Propane and natural gas burn cleaner and don’t add unwanted flavors and odors to your food, and these grills are most likely to be made of stainless steel. Unlike coated or uncoated cast iron grills or ceramic grills, stainless steel grills stand up to the elements and protect against corrosion.
Why Are Stainless Steel Grills Superior?
The biggest problem with traditional cast iron grills is that they are porous and corrode easily. If you leave it outside unattended and don’t keep up on cleaning and maintenance, your cast iron grill will rust and erode. Ceramic grills are resistant to corrosion, but they aren’t as durable overall.
There is a big difference between grilling on iron or cheap steel and grilling on stainless steel. Doing so just once will convert you to stainless steel grills forever. Food doesn’t stick to stainless steel grill grates the way they do cast iron or cheaper steel.
Grilling with stainless steel also changes the flavor of the food. Iron and cheap steel are porous, soaking up the grease, steam, and flavors of the foods you cook. Cast iron grills can be seasoned like cast iron cooking pans, but it takes time and care that most people don’t take. If not seasoned or coated, cast iron grills soak up grease and odors from previous meals, eventually making the food grilled take on unpleasant tastes.
What Are the Benefits of a Stainless Steel Grill?
Grilling on stainless isn’t just a new experience, it is also a new way of life. Quality stainless steel grills make outdoor cooking a true pleasure. While cast iron grills might retain heat better than stainless steel, they can’t compete in any other way.
Because they do not contain as much carbon, stainless steel grills are resistant to rust and corrosion. The carbon in cast iron and lower-grade steel causes these grills to rust over time. There are varying grades of stainless steel, but all of them are more durable than traditional grill materials.
Here are other benefits of switching to a stainless steel grill.
- Stainless steel is very lightweight and is a great choice for portable grills. Even larger grills can be wheeled from place to place.
- Due to its shiny, slick surface, stainless steel is easy to clean and sanitize. You can use bleach to clean stainless steel grill grates, but if you use it on a cast iron grill it will eat away the iron.
- Stainless steel heats up fast. You won’t spend as long prepping your grill, but it also doesn’t hold its heat when the fuel source is removed.
The grates on a stainless steel grill are naturally nonstick, but unlike cast iron, they don’t become seasoned. This means that your grates might start out as a nonstick cooking surface, and the grate will warp over time. High-end stainless steel gas grills have cast iron grates for better searing and longer durability.
The only reason you might not want a stainless steel grill is if you are going to be doing a lot of smoking. Smoking meat generally requires radiant heat, and a stainless steel grill is more likely to give direct heat.
Different Types of Stainless Steel Grills
There are two main types of stainless steel grills: built-in and freestanding. Built-in stainless steel grills are meant to be installed in permanent outdoor kitchens. When it comes to designing an L-shaped outdoor kitchen, the right built-in grill can make or break your setup.
Freestanding stainless steel grills are on frames with wheels. When combined with their light weight, it is easy to see how stainless steel freestanding grills are easy to tote around.
When you look at the descriptions and specs for different types of stainless steel grills, keep an eye on the type of steel used for the grill’s construction and grate. There are several different grades of stainless steel, with 304, 316, and 201 being the most commonly used in higher-end grills. Lower quality stainless steel grills use grade 430, which is not nearly as durable and does not stand up against corrosion.
Stainless steel of 304 grade is the most resistant to corrosion and is used in most high-end grills and is used in most luxury outdoor grills, such as Wolf. Some professional grills, like those from Lynx, are made with marine grade 316 steel, which is best for prolonged outdoor exposure. The 201 steel is less resistant to corrosion but more durable than 304 but is used in cheaper stainless steel grills from Wolf.
Our Top 5 Stainless Steel Grills
There are a lot of stainless steel grills out there to choose from. To narrow your selection, we’ve provided you with the five best grills from our catalog.
Best for small outdoor kitchens: Wolf Built-In Stainless Steel Grill
Wolf Stainless Steel Grill Reviews
Choosing the right built in stainless steel grill is an important part of your outdoor kitchen design. You may not have a lot of leeway in size or functionality if you are working with limited space and resources. The Wolf built-in stainless steel grill is the perfect solution for outdoor kitchens with small patios.
The best thing about this stainless steel grill from Wolf is that you can put it on a wheeled utility cart rather than installing it onto a counter. This allows you to have the grill as part of your outdoor kitchen or as a portable grill, giving you ultimate versatility.
Best grill for afternoon picnics: Lynx Professional 30” Freestanding Gri
Lynx Stainless Steel Grill Reviews
Grilling on stainless steel is a great way to have an affordable, sensible, quick lunch.
This 30” Lynx Professional freestanding grill is lightweight and portable, offering standard 2 burner cooking surface with professional features and lighting. This is a great all-around grill for couples and small families.
Best grill for larger families: Lynx Professional 36” stainless steel freestanding grill
Lynx Stainless Steel Grill Reviews
This stainless steel grill from Lynx’s Professional line offers the same great features of the 30” freestanding grill with more cooking surface and more advanced features. These include an infrared zone that sears in flavor and juices as you grill.
With the halogen and LED lights, this larger Lynx Professional freestanding stainless steel grill is great for camping trips, not just the average afternoon at the park.
Best built-in grill for families: Lynx Professional 42” Built-In Grill
Lynx Stainless Steel Grill Reviews
If you have the space for a larger outdoor kitchen, the Lynx Professional 42” built-in grill is the best option for larger families. When you hold a lot of cookouts or have several kids running around, having a large grill in your outdoor kitchen gives you a lot more options.
You’ll be able to grill more food at a faster pace so that you can kick back and relax before the end of the night.
Best grill for neighborhood block parties: Lynx Professional 42” Stainless Steel Freestanding Grill
This is the biggest of the freestanding grills from the Lynx Professional stainless steel grill product line.
With a 42” grill on wheels, you can be the grilling hero of the day by just moving your grill from your backyard to the cul de sac. You can also haul this portable grill with a standard truck for campouts, reunions, and more.
FAQs
Q. Should I cover my stainless steel grill?
A. Yes, you should cover your stainless steel grill. Even if you have a grill made of 304 stainless steel, it could still corrode if left to the elements.
Q. What is the difference between natural gas and propane?
A. Propane is sold in tanks as a liquid that is dispersed as gas when you open the release valve. Natural gas is used for many indoor kitchen appliances and can also be sold compressed in canisters for use with freestanding natural gas grills.
Q. What fuel burns cleanest?
Of the three fuels used for stainless steel grills, propane burns the cleanest. Natural gas grills have few emissions, but there is some minimal impact. Charcoal releases soot into the atmosphere, making it the least eco-friendly.
Why Trust Aztec Appliance?
Since 1972, Aztec Appliance has been offering quality sales and service for name-brand appliances. Our mission is to not only help you achieve all your appliance dreams, but we also want to bring value to your home beyond materialistic amenities. Our team is an authentic group of people dedicated to our work, and we share the same undeniable passion for people and serving them the best we can. Suffice it to say, we know appliances.
Whether it’s a first birthday, a backyard wedding, or a retirement celebration, our hope is to give you the opportunity to enjoy life’s little moments. After all, memories are not consigned to the big moments — they exist within the little ones. And you can rest assured our inventory of top-performing kitchen, laundry, and outdoor appliances will help you spend less time keeping the home and more time with the people who make it home.
Shop Stainless Steel Grills at Aztec
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today, and shop grills online for the guaranteed lowest price at Aztec. Check out Aztec Appliance reviews, and if you have questions, our friendly product experts are always happy to help you start grilling on stainless steel — whether you call us at 858-987-5777 or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by our Aztec Appliance San Diego showroom located at the heart of downtown. Visit us today!
Learn More: Sensible and Stylish: Outdoor Kitchen Design Guide