Outdoor grilling is part of an American tradition. And when it comes to the best grill, there are so many choices. Selecting the best grill can be daunting. One of the two most prominent names in the grill manufacturing industry are Broil King and Weber. They are also two of the oldest brands in the US.
Because both companies cater to all kinds of grillers, the question that always lingers is, which one is better in the Broil King vs. Weber debate? It is tough to answer that because both have grills that cater to all kinds of grillers.
This article aims to clear the air and settle the debate.
Here we made a comparison between Broil King vs. Weber and highlighted their pros and cons to make the decision-making process more manageable. We have also rounded up the three best models in our lists to help you make an educated choice.
Overview
Broil King
The Broil King company that had been in the business since 1906 and the oldest gill brand there is. Due to these many years of operation, it is safe to assume that they know their way around grills and have spent years improving its design and performance.
While the company might not be as famous as Weber, grill enthusiasts know this brand and have several die-hard followers who will not use any other grill brands unless it’s Broil King.
And there is a reason why it is so. It’s because it has a wide range of grill types that can cater to different segments of the market. The company offers smaller and more inexpensive grills to the larger and more sophisticated ones.
Weber
You probably have heard of Weber grills as they are one of the most popular brands of grills. Being popular, it is always on customers’ top of mind when shopping for a new grill.
This company has been manufacturing and selling barbecue grills beginning the 1950s. Their brand name is synonymous with high-quality and reliability and has a wide variety of styles and sizes.
There are two famous lines under the Weber brand: Spirit and Genesis. Each of these models has different features and designs. Compared to the grills by the Broil King, their grills have larger wheels and provide easy mobility.
The Weber grills often have larger cooking space when compared side by side with the Broil King. They also offer more color choices, like what other brands have.
The Difference
In settling the Broil King vs. Weber debate, we need to compare their features side by side. It is hard to make a blanket comparison because they have different features on their models. For the sake of comparison, we are taking two of their popular grills: the Broil King’s Baron 320 and Weber’s Spirit E-310.
Cooking Area
When it comes to the cooking area, Weber grills are known for giving grillers as much space as possible for convenience. When compared side by side with Broiler King, the latter have more cooking space than Weber’s. In addition to the cooking space, both have a warming rack to keep your cooked food.
Maximum Heat Output
In terms of maximum heat output, Weber is far superior to Broil King and other grill brands available in the market. Their burners also make more BTUs per hour for faster and more efficient cooking.
Although Weber produces more heat, there is a slight wrinkle on this. Since Weber has a larger cooking area, the heat output that you will have per square inch will be lesser than what you get in the Broil King because it has a smaller cooking area.
Burners
The burners are an essential part of the grill as they do all the heating. The number of grills is the same when you compare the two brands side by side. However, the difference lies in what and how they are made.
In the Broil King grills, the burners are made from dual stainless steel, which is more efficient compared with what the burners in Weber Grills are made of. The dual-tube has a larger diameter than that of the regular burners. This and its unique design deliver dual rows of flames instead of one and, therefore, more heat distributed on the grill.
Broil has another advantage on its burner; it offers cooking versatility in cooking with a powerful rotisserie burner that has a heat output of 15,000 BTUs.
The Material of the Grate
The grates in the grill are equally crucial to your cooking. It determines the efficiency of the grill, aside from supporting the food. It also ensures the efficient transfer of heat from the burner to the food being cooked.
In Broil King vs. Weber comparison, both have done well with their grates as both are made from cast-iron grates. In Weber, they used porcelain-enameled, which adds heat retention capabilities and prevents rusting. It is also easy to clean because of its porcelain coating.
The grates in the Broil King are made from cast-iron that, as you well know, delivers excellent heat retention and searing. It also incorporated pointed marks so that you will have great grill marks.
The Side Shelves
Grillers need extra space when grilling, and both brands understand their necessity. It provides the extra space to prepare the food and keep the grilling essentials like tongs. These two grills have side shelves made of stainless steel that are durable and easy to set up.
Prices
There is a difference in the price between the two in this Broil King vs. Weber debate. Broil King has a relatively lower price even if it has an almost identical feature as Weber’s. The extra money you are paying is for the larger cooking area and has a slightly significantly higher output.
Broil King vs. Weber: Pros & Cons
Broil King
Pros
- It has a more efficient burner design
- It is more affordable
- Equipped with heavy-duty pure cast-iron grates
- The design of the side shelf is more convenient
Cons
- The cooking area is relatively small
Weber Grills
Pros
- It has larger wheels for greater mobility
- With large cooking areas
- Have higher heat output than its competition
Cons
- It is a little expensive
Top 3 Best Broil King Grill
1. Broil King 958344 Regal S590 Pro 5-Burner Gas Grill
If you want to go all out on your grill, then you better get this Broil King Regal S590 Pro 5-Burner Gas Grill. What more can you ask for? It has the patented stainless-steel Dual-Tube burners, the stainless- steel cooking system that gives off consistent heat on the cooking surface and the innovative Flav-R-Wave.
This Broil king model has the stainless-steel cooking grids that are 56% heavier than other grids, this allows for better heat retention and bold sear marks that many grill connoisseurs love. Another advantage of having this material is it doesn’t rust and is easy to clean.
Broil King Regal S590 Pro 5-Burner Gas Grill offers excellent versatility when it comes to cooking. It has higher heat output and has a unique rotisserie burner at its rear. The cool LED-lit control knobs add a stylish touch to the grill.
2. Broil King 922584 Baron S490 Stainless Steel 4-Burner Gas Grill
This is a midsize four burner gas grill is another quality product from Broil King that can rival the best brands when it comes to the best grill in the market. It has a stainless-steel firebox plus a stainless-steel hood and aluminum end caps. The four burners have a heat output of 10,000 BTUs each for a different cooking experience.
Another exciting feature is the Flav-R-Wave heat tents that cover the bottom of the heat box. It helps control flare-ups, sizzle the drippings, and radiates heat. With a high hood and deep cook box, it can be a perfect grill for cooking large items like turkey and roast.
The shelves are made from stainless steel and can conveniently store the grilling tools and other items. This grill is easy to move because it has four casters on its feet.
3. Broil King 986457 Signet 320B Natural Gas Grill
For those who are looking for an natural gas grill from Broil King, this model is a perfect choice.
It is a 3-burner grill packed with lots of features. This model is known as the Signet, and one of its appealing features is it heats up fast and can achieve a high searing temperature like those of the more expensive version of other brands. However, don’t get your hopes too high because the burners when on low can only reach up to 490 degrees.
But this is not a significant issue because you can do zone cooking with this grill. There are steel inserts that serve as dividers between each burner so you can simultaneously cook different foods at different temperatures. The signature Dual-Tube burners that Broil King is known for is present here to distribute the heat equally from front to back. Its Flav-R-Wave heat tents in this model is another feature geared for even heat distribution.
The stainless-steel grates do the same, but our only complaint is the small grease tray. Other than that, this Broil King Signet 320 Natural Gas Grill is great for people with limited space.
See also:
Top 3 Best Weber Grill
1. Weber 46110001 Spirit E-210 LP Gas Grill
This is Weber’s entry-level for the Spirit line, which was redesigned in 2013. It is a basic Spirit grill with two burners rendered in stainless steel and has a total output of 26,500 BTUs. The cooking area is small at 360 square inches as its primary cooking space and an additional 90 square inches for warming rack. The model is ideal for small spaces like apartments or townhouses.
The changes in the design of this Weber Spirit E-210 LP Gas Grill are evident in the layout of its burners. Instead of being connected from side to side with the control knobs on the side, it is now linked from front to back with the knobs at the front. This made the grill better performing in 2-zone cooking and freed the space for a side shelf.
It has the characteristic Weber features like the enameled grates, the Flavorizer bar, and the single door enclosure in stainless steel. It offers mobility, too, with the four caster wheels. This is a basic, serviceable, and well- made grill to have.
2. Weber 47510001 Spirit E310 Natural Gas Grill
One of the most popular gas grills today is the Weber Spirit E310 Natural Gas Grill. Some of the critical features of this model include the cast iron and porcelain-enameled cooking grates that give great sear and color to the grilled food.
As you can see, it has two of the best with the cast iron and porcelain enamel. Another feature is the Flavorizer bar that gives the smoky flavor to the grilling process. It is strategically placed to collect the drippings and create sizzle and smoke to impart additional flavor.
The built-in thermometer is essential when cooking and this model has it centrally mounted so that you can easily see the temperature of the grill. Its body is sturdy as it is made from porcelain-enameled steel; it makes it stylish and sleek. The design of this grill also includes hooks and provisions for additional accessories. The stainless-steel tables are added for extra space for preparations.
This model has a decent cooking capacity of 424 square inches as the primary cooking area and an additional 105 square inches for warming the food. The even heat distribution at the cooking surface is due to the three burners all made from stainless steel.
3. Weber 61022001 Genesis II E-330 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill
The Weber Genesis II E-330 3-Burner LP Grill comes on both natural gas and liquid propane has the same configuration. Like most of the Genesis grills, it has three burners and a side burner to simmer your barbecue sauce. It also has a sear station that can sear meat by just intensive heating of this burner.
It is a top of the line grill with a powerful Gs4 technology that is common to the Genesis family. It offers an unmatched grilling quality when you compare it with other grilling tools. This is made possible by the cast-iron grates that give off intense heat. Adding to that is its porcelain enamel cover adds more reliability to the grill.
This grill is designed with an open cart where the essential items can be easily accessed while you are cooking. There is also a warming rack on top of the grates to warm food or store them. For added convenience, you can monitor the temperature through the iGrill app or on the thermometer display on top.
Broil King vs. Weber: Which to Buy?
It is hard to say which between the Broil king vs. Weber is the clear winner. Both of them have exceptional characteristics. There are differences here and there, by reading our comparison, it is up to you to choose the one that meets up all your requirements.
Broil King is highly recommended if you are looking for a grill that is more budget-friendly but can still do the job efficiently. The Broil King Regal S590 Pro 5-Burner Gas Grill is the most advanced of the series and can do commercial or backyard cooking well.
For Weber, the perfect choice would be Weber Genesis II E-330 3-Burner LP Grill. It may cost a little, but the high heat and the larger cooking area can do the grilling well.
Recommended Read: 4 Best Broil King Grill Reviews of 2020