If you’re hunting for a new grill this summer, have you considered exploring the best natural gas grills?
Choosing a grill is an intensely personal decision. For many BBQ lovers, there is simply no substitute for a charcoal grill or a wood pellet grill. In terms of taste, no other grills can touch these, but they are awkward to use and involve a reasonably steep learning curve.
At the other end of the spectrum, you have plenty of electric smokers offering raw convenience at the expense of taste.
Somewhere in between, you’ll find propane gas grills and natural gas grills. While propane can deliver twice the heat of natural gas per cubic foot – 2500 BTU vs 1000 BTU – you’ll also always need a tank or two of propane in reserve. A natural gas grill, by contrast, will always have gas coming in from the hook-up.
With a natural gas grill, you’ll enjoy that unbeatable BBQ taste, but you’ll also get a grill that’s super-simple to use, even for complete beginners.
Now, while these grills are reasonably simple in execution and broadly similar in terms of performance, you should consider the following pointers when you’re comparing the best natural gas grills:
OK, with that framework in place, you should now be perfectly placed to explore our reviews of the best natural gas grills out there. Enjoy!
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The 8 Best Natural Gas Grills
1. Our Pick Weber Spirit II Natural Gas Grill
Features
As you’ll see from today’s collection of the best natural gas grills, Weber is a brand with a stranglehold on this vertical. How does the Spirit II shape up?
Well, this is a 3-burner grill offering you a reasonably spacious total cooking area of 529 square inches, ideal for small families or cookout with a couple of guests.
The open cart design allows you to keep all your grilling accessories close at hand on the 6 tool hooks provided.
This unit features the GS4 grilling system boasting uprated infinity ignition for seamless startup every time.
There is a thermometer baked into the lid so you can monitor the temperature at a glance without needing any third-party kit.
The Flavorizer bars on this model are coated with porcelain enamel to minimize the amount of food debris that gets stuck on.
This model is the E-310, and it’s more powerful than the smaller E-210, with burners rated at 30,000 BTU.
The cooking grates are made from cast iron. These are reversible, allowing you to use the thin side for grilling delicate foods and the thick side to impart that trademark sear on your steak.
The side tables offer you the space for food prep, and these fold down if you need to use the grill in more limited spaces.
Aside from a handful of complaints about the difficulty of setting this grill up, most user reviews are predominantly positive, and the Weber Spirit II gets our vote for the best natural grill.
2. Weber Genesis Natural Gas Grill
Features
Next up is another great natural gas powered grill from Weber in the form of the Genesis. How does this model stand and fall, then?
There are 3 powerful burners on this grill rates at 39,000 BTU in total. This should give you all the firepower you need to cook a wide cross-section of your favorite grilled foods.
The cooking grates are made from cast iron coated with porcelain, so your food shouldn’t get splattered and stuck all over. You also get 6 hooks for hanging all the tools and accessories you need for your cookout close at hand.
With a total cooking area of 669 square inches, the Genesis makes a great grill for large families or anyone who frequently entertains for large numbers of guests. To put this into perspective, you can cook up to 20 burgers on the grates in one session.
The iGrill3 thermometer is compatible with this grill. This is sold separately and allows you to monitor and manipulate the temperature in-app on your smartphone.
The cabinet itself offers plenty of onboard storage.
Any drippings that are not evaporated by the flavorizer bars are channeled away from the burners by the highly effective grease management system.
Extendable side tables give you plenty of room for food prep. You can also keep your food warm before serving on this grill to complete a winning package from an industry specialist.
Easy to use, just as easy to keep clean, and igniting first time every time, this is one of the best natural gas grills out there, so why not give it a try?
3. Weber Spirit E3 Natural Gas Grill
Features
Next in line comes another Weber natural gas grill, this time the Spirit E3. What do you get for your money with this spacious grill, then?
This model comes with 3 burners kicking out a total output rated at 32,000 BTU. As with all natural gas grills, you’ll need to ensure you have a supply of this gas plumbed out to your decking or patio.
The cook box and lid are made from porcelain enamel while the cooking grates are cast iron and treated with a non-stick coating. These grates should be washed after every use, and that’s about the extent of the maintenance you’ll require with this grill.
The grease management system helps to channel food debris and grease away from the burners.
Controlling this grill couldn’t be much easier, and this is one of the primary benefits of cooking with natural gas. The ignition ensures the grill starts first time every time, and the infinite control burners allow you to grill like a pitmaster even if you’re a complete beginner.
While most users praise the performance of this grill, we found a number of complaints about the build quality and lifespan. If you grill daily, you may want to consider a more heavyweight option. If you only use your natural gas grill for occasional cookouts, this should be a non-issue.
4. Weber Genesis II Natural Gas Grill
Features
The Weber Genesis is a powerful and expansive natural gas grill ideal for large families or anyone entertaining for sizeable gatherings at home.
The 4 powerful burners deliver a combined total of 69,000 BTU of output. The side burner and sear station complement the main burners and give you a highly flexible grilling environment.
The total cooking area is generous at almost 850 square inches. You’ll have room for almost 30 burgers in one session, perfect for bigger cookouts.
Under the hood is the GS4 grilling system, giving you everything you need and nothing you don’t. The electronic ignition gives you first-time startup every time. The flavorizer bars and grease management system work wonderfully with the powerful burners to give you a robust grilling experience whether you’re an amateur or a pitmaster.
Despite universally positive user reviews, we unearthed some complaints about the preponderance of cheap plastic parts. This gripe aside, you’ll find a great deal of praise for this natural gas grill, both in terms of performance and overall build.
As with all Weber grills, you can invest in the iGrill 3 if you like the idea of controlling your Weber grill remotely using an app on your smart device.
Backed by a class-leading 10-year warranty, buy with total confidence knowing that Weber has your back with a decade of assistance if anything goes amiss. You can’t ask for much more than that in one of the best natural gas grills out there.
5. Weber Summit Natural Gas Grill
Features
If you’re looking for a cheap natural gas grill, the Weber Summit is not for you. If you need a compact grill for small spaces, this behemoth won’t make a good fit either. If, however, you have deep pockets and demanding tastes in grills, you can’t go wrong with this supersized natural gas grill from an industry expert.
Made from stainless steel throughout, the Genesis isn’t cheap, but it represents superb value given the lengthy lifespan you can expect.
There are a total of 6 burners on this beast, rated at 60,000 BTU overall output. You’ll have no shortage of power on tap when you’re grilling with this thing.
The substantial primary cooking area measures up at 693 square inches, while the 145-square inch warming rack bumps up the total cooking area to an impressive 838 square inches.
As well as the main burners, you also benefit from a side burner, smoker burner, sear burner, and tuck-away rotisserie motor covering all main bases and delivering exceptional versatility.
If you’re new to grilling and stuck for inspiration, you’ll appreciate the cookbook thrown in with the Weber Genesis. For anyone shopping based primarily on the bottom line or a space-saving form factor, the Genesis is not for you. All those looking for an outstanding natural gas grill built to last a lifetime are in luck with this range-topping Weber.
6. Weber Summit Stainless Steel Natural Gas Grill
Features
Next we have yet another entry from the inimitable Weber with another iteration of the enduringly popular Summit grill.
This large and commanding stainless steel unit should return plenty of faithful service. In return, you’ll need to dig pretty deep.
A natural gas unit, you’ll need to ensure you have gas plumbed out to your decking area or patio before you think about buying this grill. Assuming you have that in place, how does this grill stand and fall?
Well, there are 4 stainless steel burners, a sear burner, smoker burner, and rear-mounted rotisserie burner covering all main bases and giving you huge scope for a BBQ feast. These burners are all individually controlled, allowing you to create the cooking environment of your dreams.
Like all the best natural gas grills, this one gives you a user-friendly experience regardless of your grilling ability. You can also expect first-class results when it comes to the taste and consistency of the cooking.
There is a thermometer onboard allowing you to keep close tabs on temperature as you’re cooking.
With the hose you need thrown in, all you’ll need is a supply of natural gas and you have all you need to grill like a pro this summer. The only real drawback is the aggressive price tag, but when you consider the likely lifespan, it suddenly seems like a great investment rather than an expense.
7. Napoleon Prestige Natural Gas Grill
Features
Napoleon make some highly effective grills in a number of sizes and styles to suit. This model measures up at 500 square inches of cooking area and comes with an infrared side and rear burner. You can also find a smaller grill and a model that runs on propane gas. How, then, does the natural gas variant fare?
There are 4 stainless steel burners onboard, capable of generating 48,000 BTU of heat. Sear plates give you extra latitude for impart that trademark finish on your steaks and burgers. While you can’t quite achieve the results you would expect from a charcoal grill, you’ll be getting a close approximation without all the hassle and mess.
The Jetfire ignition system means this grill is up and running instantly every time with no need for matches or a lighter.
Use the bundled rotisserie kit in tandem with the rear burner to whip up some delicious roast chicken that’s tender yet wonderfully charred at the same time.
As with many beefier grills, assembling this unit takes some time and a modicum of DIY expertise. If you struggle with setting appliances up, it’s worth calling for some assistance or considering a model that’s simpler to install.
Beyond this, as long as you have natural gas plumbed out to your grill, you have all you need to create lip-smacking barbecued food all summer long. Let us know what you think if you roll with the Napoleon Prestige natural gas grill.
8. Dyna-Glo Natural Gas Grill
Features
Last but by no means least, we have a grill from Dyna-Glo to compete with the welter of Webers on our shortlist. How does this model stack up?
Well, if you’re hunting for a space-saving grill delivering a compact form without totally stiffing you, this model fits the bill perfectly.
With 2 burners and a total cooking area of 445 square inches, you can rustle up over a dozen burgers, ideal for smaller families or a handful of guests. The primary cooking area measures up at 319 square inches.
Heat distribution is efficient and remarkably even. This is achieved thanks to the pioneering EquiHeat technology baked in.
As with all the best natural gas grills, the cooking grates on the Dyna-Glo are made from cast iron treated with porcelain enamel. This ensures you get a sleek non-stick surface with minimal food stuck on. You should remove and wash these grates after every cookout. All you’ll need is some hot soapy water.
Foldable side tables are ideal for food prep or serving.
You’ll need natural gas plumbed to your deck or patio to power this grill, and you get a 10-foot length of hose included with the package.
The majority of reviews of this grill praise the ease of use as well as cooking results, but we found some isolated complaints concerning leaks from the supplied hose. Overall, though, you’re getting an excellent alternative to the many Weber grills glutting this vertical, and you should be delighted with your investment.
FAQs
1) What are the benefits of using a natural gas grill?
You may find that a natural gas grill requires more by the way of initial costs, especially if you need a main extended to your house. That said, running one of these grills will save you money over time. For every BTU (British thermal unit), natural gas costs one-third less than liquid propane. You’ll also save a lot of time and money by avoiding those trips to the store for replacement LP tanks. Of all fuels used for grilling, natural gas emits the least exhaust. One of the obvious selling points of a natural gas grill is that you will always have a supply of gas, and you’ll have an unlimited supply of fuel to keep up with even the heaviest grilling requirements. Natural gas grills are also incredibly eco-friendly. These grills have the smallest carob footprint of all the options at your disposal. Natural gas grills always call for some kind of installation, as you’ll be connecting them to the main at home. The difficulty of installation varies from model to model, and we’ve drawn your attention to any natural gas grills on our shortlist that present a challenge when it comes to set-up.
2) Is it possible to use propane in a natural gas grill?
Propane burns with more than double the heat generation of natural gas. There is also a different pressure required for LP and NG and there is also a different ratio of oxygen to gas required. For these reasons, natural gas grills and liquid propane grills are not easily interchangeable. You would need to convert all attachment hoses, orifices, and regulators, too. As such, don’t consider using propane gas with a natural gas grill.
3) Are natural gas grills safe to use?
Absolutely! As long as you use a natural gas grill outdoors, you should run into no issues whatsoever.
4) Is a natural gas grill cheaper to run than a propane grill?
Even though you might need to pay a little more upfront, natural gas grills are undoubtedly cheaper to run than propane grills. Liquid propane gas is more expensive than natural gas. You’ll also need to factor in the cost and hassle of refilling your tanks. With a natural gas grill, by contrast, you’ll only have the monthly gas bill to consider. Overall, a natural gas grill is a cost-effective option.
5) How often should I clean my natural gas grill?
How often you need to clean a grill will depend to a large extent on how often you use it. As best practice, you should first burn off any food debris that’s stuck to the grids. Use a stainless steel bristle brush to scrub away any remnants. Always empty the drip tray after each cookout and wash this in some warm soapy water. Every month or so, you should give your natural gas grill a deep clean. Adjust the frequency if you use your grill heavily. First, use a wire brush and remove all residual food waste. Next, remove all the cooking grates, warming racks, and flavorizer bars. These should be washed using some warm soapy water. Rinse and dry these accessories and then return them to the grill. If you stick to this cleaning routine of little and often, you’ll never need to deal with any serious mess, and running your natural gas grill will be stress-free.
Conclusion
If you pitched up here today at Royal Tavern uncertain about which type of grill makes the best fit, you may now be considering one of the best natural gas grills as you preferred option.
The combination of performance, taste, and convenience of these grills is unbeatable. While you may not get quite the same taste sensation as cooking with charcoal, it’s a reasonable close-run thing. That said, if you feel charcoal is the only viable option for a BBQ, we’re not here to try changing your mind.
