They’re sleek and powerful, but why are built-in grills so expensive? Our guide tells you everything you need to know.
Building an outdoor kitchen is a dream many of us have, and an essential part of it is having a built-in grill that you can build a grill island around .
If you’ve done any research on this, you’ve probably seen some of the costs associated with getting a built-in grill.
And for most of you, these cuties could have raised an eyebrow. Or worse.
But why are built-in grills so expensive?
Many people may be surprised at the cost of many built-in grills, especially when compared to regular charcoal or propane grills . However, this type of comparison is not solely due to the different sizes and construction differences between the two references.
Material costs
An important factor, as with everything, is the cost of materials. Many built-in grills are made of high-grade steel that is far superior in quality to standard $100-$200 propane grills.
This not only means better quality, but also better performance as heat distribution and retention is much better, and also longer lifespan as the materials are designed to last.
Additionally, many built-in grill manufacturers are based in North America or Western Europe, which means labor costs are much higher as companies must comply with US, Canadian, or EU manufacturing laws.
What that costs means a much better grill quality that’s guaranteed to last for years.
If you need to make an initial investment but are guaranteed to last 10 years versus something that expires in 2 years… I know which one I would choose.
Elite performance
It’s not just about longevity, however. The thing has to work well.
When it comes to grill performance, I think there are two factors that take precedence over all: heat retention and performance.
When we talk about gas grilling energy, we often do so in BTUs (British Thermal Units). This is the amount of heat a grill can produce when it is running at full power. This WILL normally show up as your burner’s total output.
For example, if a grill has 4 burners that each produce 12,000 BTU, then the grill has a total capacity of 48,000 BTU.
In general, the higher the wattage the better as this can mean a wider temperature range giving you more flexibility. It also usually means the grill heats up faster, which is important for gas grills. Then one of the reasons why many people choose gas grills is the sea air and the kindling.
Built-in grills are significantly more powerful in terms of BTU rating than smaller or portable propane grills. This is often because they can accommodate more burners and have a large cooking area, but their solid construction also helps set the stage for more gas output through the unit.
But all of that would be useless if the grill wasn’t built to retain heat. Any type of leak will cause air to escape and therefore your grill will lose heat quickly.
Built-in grills are often made from high quality stainless steel to accommodate heat retention. Maintaining a consistent heat is absolutely critical to a good grill, and the stainless steel you typically see on built-in grills is a testament to that.
Bycellane lattice
One of the things that contributes to the excellent performance of many premium built-in grills is the quality of their cooking grates.
These frames are coated with porcelain enamel which helps protect the frames from rust, wear and tear and other effects of high temperature exposure. It also helps retain heat and distributes it evenly across the grilling surface.
Anyone who has had barbecue experience will attest to the importance of this. It means no breakouts or cold spots. Reliable, even heat across the entire cooking surface to give you fully cooked meat that’s safe and delicious to eat.
It has to be said that porcelain enamel grates always feature on standard propane grills , but they don’t always come standard.
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Writer & content creator. BBQ fanatic!
