Gas Grill Burners

Tube burners, which are essentially steel pipes with holes drilled down the sides or top, come in either a straight or U-shaped configuration. Die-cast stainless steel or cast aluminum burners, meanwhile, are generally in an H-shaped or “bar” arrangement. Cast aluminum is the most desirable material because it never rusts, but it’s still important to clean your gas grill burners no matter which type you own. Burners are positioned so you can take advantage of dual-zone grilling, a technique that’s easier in grills with heat zone separators that divide the firebox into sections containing individual burners.

Gas Grill Flame Tamers

These components usually sit between the burners and cooking grates, evenly dispersing heat across the grilling surface and throughout the grill head so you don’t have to deal with pesky hot or cold spots. In addition to evenly radiating heat, flame tamers catch grease drippings that can clog the gas ports of the burners below. Those drippings are then vaporized and sent back toward your food in the form of flavorful smoke. Flame tamers are generally made from some type of steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, though ceramic briquette units are gaining popularity because of their effectiveness.

Gas Grill Cooking Grates

This is where your food sits within the grill. Don’t overlook the material used in the construction of the cooking grates — their composition goes a long way toward transferring heat to your food and creating beautiful sear marks. Grill grates thicker than 8 millimeters are ideal for bold sear marks, and you’ll get even better results if they’re made of cast iron, which is excellent at absorbing and radiating heat. Thick or cast stainless steel, however, may last longer than cast iron. When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with sturdy cooking grates made from commercial-grade, 304 stainless steel.

Sear Burners for Gas Grills

Rather than creating convection heat that warms the air inside the firebox, sear burners emit huge amounts of radiant heat to cook only the food directly above it. That’s why they’re also referred to as infrared burners, which are usually made using a perforated ceramic plate that’s heated by a gas flame until it becomes red-hot. Sear burners like those on the Victory gas grill efficiently deliver steakhouse-level results and don’t dry out your food like a conventional burner might (how does 35% more moisture retention sound?). Many freestanding grills come with an infrared side burner, giving grillers the benefits of both infrared and convection heating along with additional cooking space.

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Multi-fuel Grilling

These grills make it possible to cook using different types of fuel on the same grill. American Muscle Grills take this concept to the extreme with removable trays designed for charcoal, pellets, wood chunks, and actual wooden logs in addition to the typical gas fuel source. There are also gas/charcoal combo grills, like the Coyote Centaur, that pair two fully realized BBQ grills together in a single cooking machine. If you love the idea of multi-fuel grilling but would prefer something more modest, then look for a standard gas grill from a brand that offers a charcoal tray accessory for the best of both worlds.

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Gas Grill Rotisseries

Often paired with rear infrared burners, rotisseries create mouthwatering dishes and add a wow factor for outdoor entertainers. Food is placed on a spit rod and slowly rotated over the burners, allowing meat to baste in its own juices that continually roll across its surface. The results are tender and flavorful, and a slowly rotating, glistening cut of meat makes for quite the sight. Some Luxury grill brands, like Hestan and Fire Magic, have chain-driven rotisserie motors hidden within the grill body that steadily spin and can support up to 60 pounds of food. Other models are compatible with rotisserie kit accessories.

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