Though both are relatively clean-burning fuels, propane emits fewer greenhouse pollutants than natural gas—though the difference is negligible. However, propane is more efficient because it burns hotter than natural gas. Additionally, propane tanks are inexpensive, reusable, and available at most hardware and big-box stores. The gas weber gas grill tank mounts externally (see the top photo in this section), instead of in a cabinet underneath the grill, as is typical (such as on the previous-generation Spirit). That makes it much easier to install a new tank and unhook an old one, because you’re not scrabbling around a small, dark enclosure to find the hoses and brackets.
The Weber Q 1400 is a great choice if you live in a condo or other small space where the use of gas and charcoal grills may be restricted or if you want an easy-to-use unit that only needs to be plugged in. In 2021, Weber introduced a line of smart grills that we chose not to test. The app also has recipes and a step-by-step feature that sends alerts to your phone when it’s time to tend to your food.
On the other hand, gas is more convenient once you have it—you simply turn a knob to start the fire, and there’s no need to wait for coals to burn down before you begin cooking. But you’ll need a special hook-up for natural gas, or to run to the store for liquid propane. Gas-cooked foods also can lack a certain charred grilling taste preferred by some. There are two side tables so you can prep on the go, and they fold up easily when it’s time to pack up. Our expert found it easy to assemble and attach to a 1-pound gas canister. The grill was able to achieve high temperatures as well as larger models, and when her boyfriend brought it to work for lunchtime cookout, it was incredibly easy to transport in the back of a truck.
If you grill regularly or you enjoy grilling on weeknights, when time is at a premium, you should invest in a gas grill. That’s more than twice the price of a quality charcoal grill, but if you prioritize speed and convenience, the higher price is worth it. A grill that is both durable and easy to repair creates much less waste weber portable grill than a cheapo grill that ends up in the garbage. We chose grills with fireboxes made of cast aluminum because the firebox is a major part of the grill, it’s difficult to replace, and aluminum is resistant to rust and corrosion. Cheaper grills have thin enameled steel fireboxes that are prone to damage and holes from rust.
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance commerce writer and product tester specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her 6+ years of experience as a product tester, she’s reviewed hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as The Spruce, Homes & Gardens, and more. For this article, she consulted tested insights and interviewed Chef Dale Talde, chef and owner at Goosefeather and host of Tastemade’s All Up In My Grill.
Salvaggio has found that cleaning hot grates more easily damages the porcelain coating on cast iron, allowing rust to form. And though stainless steel grates are more rust-resistant than cast-iron ones, it’s still a good idea to follow this cleaning advice to keep them in tip-top shape. In terms of size, performance, and value, it’s hard to beat the Monument Grills 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill. This attractive grill has a sleek stainless steel exterior, and it features four burners across its 513-square-inch main cooking area. It has porcelain-coated cast iron grates, and it even includes a 12,000-BTU side burner and a rotisserie kit. Despite all these features, it’s still extremely reasonably priced, costing hundreds less than many other models we tested.