The best Char-Broil grill

Chicago Tribune

23-05-2025

Char-Broil is one of the best-known names in grilling, smoking and barbecuing. They have a terrific model range that provides solutions for every outdoor cook — from those who love camping, to those who like feeding the whole neighborhood. Our buying guide takes a close look at the benefits Char-Broil offers and makes several model recommendations. Our favorite, the Char-Broil Gas2Coal Three-Burner Hybrid Grill, offers plenty of grilling and serving space and gives you the option of cooking with either charcoal or gas.
The two most important decisions when looking at Char-Broil grills are grill size and preferred cooking method or fuel type. We'll also look at heat output, durability and a few other features.
Grill size
As a rough guide, experts suggest you look for around 70 to 80 square inches of cooking space per person. That's about the size of a dinner plate. We're not suggesting you're going to grill each person a big plate full of food, but you need a bit of space around your burgers, ribs, and steaks so they cook properly. It also makes the food easier to manage.
Fuel source
As for fuel source, charcoal cooking has been around probably since the Stone Age, and for some it's the only way to cook outdoors. It does impart a unique flavor, but the downsides are that it can be difficult to light, tricky to regulate, and messy to clean up.
Propane gas, on the other hand, ignites at the press of a button, it's more controllable than charcoal, and there's no ash to clean up after. However, purists would argue that the food's flavor quality isn't as high.
Char-Broil actually offers several best-of-both-worlds solutions — hybrid grills that can be switched from one fuel source to the other, whenever you like.
Electric grills aren't common, but since some places don't allow cooking with an open flame, Char-Broil offers this solution. Infrared is the most recent development in grilling. It can use electricity but is mostly found on gas models. Basically, it adds convection heating, meaning it heats the air, not just the food, so it cooks faster and helps retain more of the food's juices.
Natural gas is an option for those who have a gas plumbing line supplied to their homes. It cooks very similarly to propane, but without the hassle of constantly replacing tanks. However, natural gas is not widespread.
BTU
British thermal units are a measure of heat performance that applies to gas grills. Figures can look impressive — a modest grill can easily top 10,000 BTU — but BTU really just means the grill will cook more or less quickly.
Material
Exteriors are painted, which provides reasonable protection, but a cover is a sensible investment. High-quality grates are cast iron with a ceramic coating, which is good at retaining heat and easy to clean, but heavy, and the ceramic can chip. Stainless steel is a cheaper alternative, still easy to clean, and shouldn't rust.
Additional features
Instant ignition is very useful. On Char-Broil gas grills, it's Piezo-electric, which is a self-contained unit that doesn't need batteries or a power supply. Many Char-Broil grills have a temperature gauge built into the lid, which is an important feature. Finally, removable side tables are another bonus, providing extra preparation and serving space.
The cheapest Char-Broil models are tabletop charcoal grills at around $25. There's a propane version for another $10. Larger charcoal grills run from $130 to almost $300 (Char-Broil's electric grill is about $200), and gas/charcoal hybrids run from $250-$550. Gas grills go anywhere from $90-$500, with infrared starting at $300 and topping out about $750.
Q. Do I need to preheat my Chair-Broil grill?
A. It is recommended for two reasons. First, a 10- to 15-minute preheat ensures you've got an even cooking temperature right across the grill. Second, you'll get enough heat built up for a proper sear. If it's cool out, you might want to give it another five minutes.
Q. Can I use wood chips on a gas or infrared grill?
A. Absolutely. A number of Char-Broil grills have that option built in. Even if yours doesn't, you can wrap some water-soaked wood chips in foil, put the packet on the grill, and poke a few holes to let the smoke out.
Top Char-Broil grill
Char-Broil Gas2Coal Three-Burner Hybrid Grill
What you need to know: The large, split-surface grill lets you cook with charcoal or gas.
What you'll love: It's great to have choice of grilling style. It has lots of space, an easy ignition and control and quality finishes. It has a 420-square-inch main cooking area at 40,000 BTU, 120-square-inch side burner at 12,000 BTU.
What you should consider: The charcoal is too close to the racks for some, making control difficult. It also has poor assembly instructions.
Top Char-Broil grill for the money
Char-Broil Classic 280 Gas Grill
What you need to know: This high-quality, family-size grill offers every convenience.
What you'll love: The stainless-steel burners offer good control. The porcelain coating resists rust. It has a 280-square-inch cooking area at 20,000 BTU. It has useful shelves, and the wheels provide easy mobility.
What you should consider: The instructions aren't very clear.
Worth checking out
Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 Portable Infrared Gas Grill
What you need to know: This go-anywhere gas grill is perfect for couples or young families.
What you'll love: The cast aluminum keeps the weight under 20 pounds. The TRU-infrared ensures even grilling. It has a 200-square-inch cooking area at 9,500 BTU and a stainless-steel grate.
What you should consider: There's no heat control, so you can only cook with it open, making the temperature gauge pointless.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.