Erin Porteous
When it comes to grilling and outdoor cooking, many will argue that a charcoal grill is the king, considering the flavor it gives your steaks or food. We won’t argue that. Charcoal grills bring out that smoky flavor that we all love and the meat tends to look crispier with a nice brown color touch. But there’s a problem. These grills can’t maintain stable temperatures, and sometimes can’t work during the cold months. We can’t also forget the mess that you have to deal with after you do your grilling. A gas grill solves all these problems. Besides providing you with a clean working surface, these grills allow you to have better control over the temperature, and you can use them all year round. Better yet, lighting them takes a flip of a switch or a push of a button.
Now, what if you want to enjoy the best of both worlds? Do you have to buy both grills and set them up in your backyard? The answer is a resounding no! Manufacturers got an answer to this problem, solving the debate on which one rules. They are now making HYBRID GRILLS! This kind of grill incorporates both fuel options, giving you better convenience over your cooking.
Want to get one for your home already? Good. We saved you hours of research, narrowing down the best hybrid grills to suit your needs. Read on and find out some great options as well as some tips to help you make a more informed buying decision.
Top 8 Hybrid Combo Grills of 2020 Reviewed
1. Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo
[wt_products id=”3213″ template=”5″]2. Dyna-Glo DGB730SNB-D Dual Fuel Grill
[wt_products id=”3214″ template=”5″]3. Pit Boss Memphis Ultimate 4-in-1 LP Gas, Charcoal, Smoke
[wt_products id=”3215″ template=”5″]4. The Blackstone Tailgater
[wt_products id=”3216″ template=”5″]5. Durable Outdoor Barbeque & Burger Gas/charcoal Grill Combo
[wt_products id=”3217″ template=”5″]6. Royal Gourmet ZH3003S
[wt_products id=”3218″ template=”5″]7. Fire Magic Aurora A830i
[wt_products id=”3219″ template=”5″]8. Char-Broil Gas2Coal
[wt_products id=”3220″ template=”5″]How to Choose The Best Hybrid Combo Grill – The Ultimate Buying Guide
A hybrid grill is one of the most versatile appliances you will have in your home. It allows you to grill your meat and food quicker, maintaining that charcoal flavor. You can also do your grilling all year round thanks to the gas burner options, and lithing it up during the cold months will be easy.
Needless to say, buying a hybrid grill is not one of the easiest of tasks, especially if it’s your first time to the art. Even for those who are probably looking into upgrading to something more versatile, looking for the best hybrid combo grill does not come easy. However, it only becomes much easier when you know exactly what to look for, and that’s where we come in!
We have compiled a list of things to look out for, perhaps the most crucial ones that will help you land a worthwhile deal. Remember, though you may not get everything you are looking for in one device, be sure that the device you settle for scores at least 90% of your bucket list of features.
Let’s delve in deep.
Range Of Options Available
Hybrid combo grills are more versatile than the single fuel ones. This appliance gives you a range of options to choose from, with the most common ones being LP gas grill, charcoal grill, electric smoker, and infrared grill al combined into one. The complexity of the appliance determines its price range with those having all these options available in one unit being on the higher end while the ones with either two or three of these options falling back price-wise.
It is important to know what works for you so that you can find the right appliance for yourself. This is a great option for those who feel they want a grill that will offer them a range of options but can’t seem to make up their mind which one to go with.
How Many Burners Does It Come With?
When it comes to Hybrid combo grills, you can expect a range of options to choose from. However, versatility should not compromise on your standards. Most of these grills will come with either two or more gas burners.
The more the burners, again, the higher the price. For example, if you are on a tight budget, you should focus on the primary cooking area with which you can expect two burners +. The side burners come as an added feature, of which, even though they have a key role to play, they are not a priority.
Look For Appliances With Engineered Charcoal Tray
As you may have come across in the review or perhaps as you browsed for some of the features in Hybrid combo grills, most of these appliances come with an engineered charcoal tray. What this specialized feature does is to convert the charcoal into smoke in a matter of minutes, especially when you are using a smoker. This tray also does come with a whole lot of other advantages like heating the cast iron grill pretty quick and so forth.
When you buy this device, be sure to check the kind of charcoal trays that come with it. The earlier you cross some of these features on your to-do list, the better for you it will be when you unbox the combo grill and put it to the test.
Go For Storage; You Will Need it After All
Storage is a key feature to anticipate in the Hybrid combo grill. With many of these appliances coming with an extra set of tools (cooking tools) and the value pack tools you just bought during the summer, you need a grill that will meet all your storage demands. Luckily for you, there’s a whole lot of brands that come with concealable storage spaces for all your grilling needs.
Be it the propane gas tank, the cooking utensils, or even the food being prepared. Some brands even come with side-mounted working shelves. These can be used to prepare food before being grilled. The best thing to do before you check-out your all-new barbeque companion is to anticipate all your storage needs so that, when you shop, you know what exactly you to look for.
Choose An Appliance With A Good Grilling Grate
This is perhaps one of the most crucial features to consider before investing in these cooking systems. The grates come in a variety of combinations, including cast iron grates and also stainless-steel grates. Cast iron grates are by far one of the best grates thanks to their maximized heat transfer as well as retention. However, steel grate is also not far off from being a better option.
They are unmatched when considering ease of cleaning, and they do live up to the task as well. Enameled grates, on the other hand, are great and do serve well; however, they are as good as just a grilling platform. There’s nothing special about them. At this point, the cast iron grates come highly recommended, but should you land the stainless steel; it’s pretty much still a great deal.
How Portable Is The Combo Grill?
When it comes to portability, combo grills come with a variety of features that define their degree of portability. For the bulky cooking systems, you will find some with two sets of wheels, and another set of immobile leg stands for stability.
Others will probably come with four sets of lockable wheels. These wheels aid in relocating the appliance from one point to another. Remember, these appliances carry a lot of weight, and lifting them off the ground is just not an option to consider. The only way to get them across the yard to the patio is by dragging them or pulling them along; should you be alone, or lifting them by their sturdy steel handles with the help of a second party.
Arguably, the countertop combo grills are the most portable of these appliances. They are heavy, yes! But not as heavy as the others, and they also do come with a grip by which you can hold them as you transfer them from one point to another. They are best suited for outdoor camping as well as other outdoor activities.
Durability And Craftsmanship; Make The Right Decision
One of the best and most common constructions in the industry is stainless steel, which is not only durable but also very easy to maintain. Some brands opt for porcelain enameled metal, which is also very good and durable. Stainless steel is often powder coated to enhance its durability, especially now that these bulky appliances are prone to abrasion, especially while being moved to and fro.
Stainless steel is thought to be rust-free, and that’s why most brands opt for the metal while devising these appliances. The rule of thumb here is, the heavier the lid, the higher the quality of the appliance. Of course, there are other DIY skills that you can devise in assessing the quality of the construction.
Combo grills come in several ways. Some come prebuilt and pre-assembled, others come with few parts disintegrated for ease of packaging and protection from damage. These are meant for you to assemble. We normally find it that those appliances that come preassembled assume a more sturdy and robust build as opposed to those which you have to assemble them yourself. They appear a little flimsy.
Customer Relationship Is Key
When choosing a Hybrid combo grill, it is important to consider customer relations. How well does the brand handle issues raised by its customers? It is unlikely that you will always land a perfect deal. Whether you land a five-year warranty or a lifetime warranty, it becomes pointless if you settle for a brand that will turn a blind eye to your concerns. The best way to go about this is by researching the different brands of your interest.
- How well do the brands respond to the customer’s complaints?
- Do the brands respond promptly?
- Are there channels through which the customers can get through to the customer care or the technical team?
You will be making a huge investment, and these cooking systems don’t come cheap either, at least not the flimsy ones.
You Need To Consider The Energy Efficiency Of The Appliance
When purchasing combo grills, energy use is a key factor to consider. The number of burners will determine how much gas you will need to keep the grill on the entire period. Of course, the more the burners, the more the quantity of gas required. Be keen to consider the energy efficiency of the appliance.
This can be done by simply checking the BTU (British Thermal Unit) of the grill. You might find combo grills with very low BTU. As much as this can be mistaken for high energy efficiency, it could also mean that the appliance has a low energy output, which could translate to a poor cooking system.
Energy efficiency translates to the charcoal units as well as the infrared and the smoker. If you settle for an electric smoker, then you may need to consider its energy rating. How much power does the appliance run on? When it comes to charcoal, how much coal is needed to generate sufficient heat for grilling your steak? Consider an appliance that not only looks good and has high performance but one which will save you some energy costs.
Things To Avoid Or Pay Special Attention To
Whenever you are purchasing a combo grill, you should keep in mind the following points.
- Costs: You will get whatever you’ve paid for, so for this reason, it is probably wise to avoid very cheap combo grills as you will be compromising on the quality of this appliance.
- Vents: Should you settle for a combo grill with a charcoal unit, make sure it comes with vents. These vents are a crucial factor in controlling the heat produced by the firebox. One of the ways around this is by going for appliances with charcoal trays whose height is adjustable
- Power Output and Burners: Make sure you pay attention to the burners and their power output in BTUs.
Conclusion
There’s so much to consider when it comes to Combo grills. These complex appliances combine features from several types of grills to bring you a complete, all in one unit. This means that whenever you go shopping, there’s a lot more at stake.
Apart from the huge investment, you also have to consider the circumstances surrounding various eventualities like flare-ups, breakages, failures and so forth. You cannot afford to go wrong while choosing this appliance. So, go ahead and make the right decision. You can never go wrong with these few points.
