Finding a reliable grill that can handle everything from quick weeknight burgers to larger weekend cookouts is a challenge many home cooks face. I know I struggled for years, dealing with uneven heat, flare-ups that ruined dinner, and flimsy construction that seemed destined to rust away after a single season. Without a dependable grill, outdoor cooking becomes frustrating, leading to disappointing meals and wasted time, making solving this problem essential for anyone who loves to cook outside. A solid grill would have saved me so much hassle back then.
Before you jump into buying just any outdoor cooker, it’s wise to consider what kind of grilling you’ll actually be doing and who you are as a potential grill master. Gas grills are fantastic for convenience – they heat up fast and offer precise temperature control, making them perfect for busy families or anyone who wants to grill on a whim. An ideal customer for a multi-burner gas grill like this one is someone who regularly cooks for a family or group, enjoys hosting backyard BBQs, and values the ease of propane over charcoal. They likely need enough space for multiple items at once and appreciate features that add versatility, like a side burner.
However, if you’re grilling only occasionally for one or two people, a smaller, simpler model might be more suitable and budget-friendly. Die-hard charcoal aficionados seeking that unique smoky flavor might find a gas grill doesn’t fully meet their needs, though some models offer options for adding wood chips. Those with very limited outdoor space, like a small apartment balcony, might need to consider electric grills or compact portable models instead of a full-size cabinet grill.
When shopping for a gas grill, think about:
* Size of the cooking area: How many people do you typically cook for?
* Number of burners: More burners often mean more cooking zones and higher overall heat output.
* BTU rating: Indicates the maximum heat output, though design also plays a crucial role in performance.
* Material and construction: Stainless steel offers durability, but check the gauge and overall build quality.
* Grates: Cast iron holds heat well and produces good sear marks; porcelain coating helps with cleaning.
* Extra features: Side burners, warming racks, cabinets, and lights can add convenience and versatility.
* Assembly: Some grills are notoriously difficult to put together.
- GAS GRILL: Powered by liquid propane gas, this grill runs on a 20-pound tank, not included. It reaches cooking temperatures quickly, delivers high temps and maintains even heat.
- COOKING AREA: Grill up to 24 burgers, 20 chicken breasts or 12 steaks on 435-square-inches of primary cooking space. Cook meats and larger items on the primary grates and use the 130-square inch...
- TRAY TOPPER: The stainless-steel Chef’s Delite tray shields more delicate foods from the heat and prevents small items from falling through the grates. Small holes on the bottom of the tray allow...
Meet the Charbroil Performance Series Grill
Enter the Charbroil Performance Series Convective 4-Burner with Side Burner Cabinet Propane Gas Grill, Stainless Steel – 463354021. This grill is designed to be a workhorse for the average backyard griller, promising quick heating, even temperatures, and enough space and features to handle a variety of tasks. When you purchase it, you get a substantial propane gas grill featuring four main burners, a side burner, a decent amount of cooking space, and a cabinet base for storage, all wrapped in a stainless steel finish.
Compared to entry-level grills, the Charbroil Performance Series grill offers more burners and a cabinet, providing better control and storage. While it might not reach the scorching high temperatures or boast the heavy-duty construction of premium market leaders like Weber, it positions itself as a solid mid-range option offering good value and key features for its price point. It’s clearly aimed at families and individuals who grill regularly and want a feature-rich experience without breaking the bank. It might not be the best fit for someone seeking professional-grade searing power or heirloom build quality, but for everyday grilling needs, it aims to deliver.
Here’s a quick rundown of its pros and cons based on experience and common feedback:
Pros:
* Good amount of primary cooking space and warming rack.
* Useful side burner adds versatility.
* Cabinet base offers convenient storage.
* LED-illuminated knobs add a nice touch, especially for evening grilling.
* Porcelain-coated cast iron grates are effective and relatively easy to clean.
Cons:
* Some user reports indicate uneven heat, particularly on outer burners.
* Assembly can be time-consuming and tricky.
* The cabinet’s open back design is a significant drawback for pest control and appearance.
* Customer service experiences can be frustrating for warranty parts.
* Overall build, while stainless steel, may not be as robust as higher-end models, leading to potential rust issues over time if not maintained.
- 【429 SQ. IN. OF GRILL SPACE】Boasting 429 square inches of cooking space, this outdoor propane grill is designed to handle all your BBQ favorites, from meats to vegetables to seafood and more for...
- 3-Burner + Side Burner System ： Features three main burners (8,000 BTU each) and a 10,000 BTU side burner for versatile cooking (searing, simmering, or side dishes). Total 34,000 BTU output ensures...
- Spacious Cooking Space: 738 sq. in. cooking space in total, including 566 sq. in. porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates and 172 sq. in. chrome-plated steel wire warming rack that accommodate...
Diving into the Features
Having spent considerable time with the Charbroil Performance Series Convective 4-Burner with Side Burner Cabinet Propane Gas Grill, Stainless Steel – 463354021, I can speak to how its key features perform in real-world grilling scenarios.
Four Main Burners and BTU Rating
The heart of this gas grill is its four main burners, delivering a total of 37,000 BTUs. Char-Broil states it reaches cooking temperatures quickly and maintains even heat. In practice, I found the heat-up time reasonable – certainly faster than charcoal. It typically gets to usable grilling temperatures within 10-15 minutes. The 37,000 BTUs are adequate for most standard grilling tasks like burgers, chicken, and steaks, but it might struggle a bit to get screaming hot for perfect high-heat searing, especially compared to grills with higher BTU ratings or infrared systems.
The major challenge I’ve encountered, and something echoed in user feedback, is heat distribution. While the center two burners often perform well and provide consistent heat, the outer burners can sometimes feel noticeably weaker. This means you might find yourself rotating food or primarily using the middle section for consistent cooking, which can be frustrating when you’re trying to utilize the full 435 square inches of primary cooking area. It’s not a dealbreaker for everyday use, but it does impact the grill’s ability to cook large batches of food perfectly evenly all at once. This unevenness can be a complication when trying to cook different items simultaneously or needing consistent results across the entire grate.
Generous Cooking Area
One of the significant benefits of this Charbroil grill is the cooking space it provides. You get a primary cooking area of 435 square inches – plenty of room to lay out two dozen burgers, a good number of chicken breasts, or several large steaks. This size is great for families or hosting small gatherings, allowing you to cook the main course for everyone in one go. Above the primary grates, there’s a 130-square-inch warming rack. This rack is invaluable for keeping cooked food warm without overcooking, toasting buns, or cooking delicate items using indirect heat. The combination of the primary and warming rack means you have a total of 565 square inches of space, offering flexibility for managing different foods at different stages of cooking. This capacity directly helps solve the problem of needing to cook a lot of food efficiently when entertaining.
Integrated Side Burner
The 10,000 BTU side burner is a feature I’ve come to rely on heavily. It adds tremendous versatility to the Charbroil Performance Series grill. Instead of running back and forth to the kitchen, you can keep sauces warm, sauté vegetables, boil corn, or even whip up a quick side dish right alongside your main grilling. The stated 10,000 BTUs are usually sufficient for most stovetop tasks, although like the main burners, performance can sometimes feel less robust than an indoor stove. The lid that flips down to create an extra workspace when the burner isn’t in use is a thoughtful touch, providing much-needed prep or plate space right where you need it. This side burner actively prevents the complication of juggling cooking tasks between the grill and the kitchen, streamlining your outdoor cooking experience.
Practical Side Shelf and Gear Trax Ready
In addition to the side burner’s workspace, the Charbroil 4-burner grill includes a large side shelf. This is where you’ll keep your tools, platters, seasonings, and cold drinks. Having ample space right next to the cooking area makes a huge difference in workflow and convenience. There’s nothing worse than needing a tool or ingredient and having nowhere handy to set it down.
A modern touch is the Gear Trax readiness. While the accessories are sold separately, the ability to customize the side shelf and side burner area with hooks for tools, baskets for condiments, or cup holders is a nice potential upgrade for organization. It helps keep your workspace tidy and your essential items within easy reach, further enhancing the efficiency of grilling.
Porcelain-Coated Cast Iron Grates
The cooking grates are a critical component of any grill. This Charbroil gas grill uses porcelain-coated cast iron grates. Cast iron is excellent at retaining and distributing heat, which is key for achieving good sear marks and cooking food evenly. The porcelain coating helps prevent rust and makes the grates significantly easier to clean compared to raw cast iron. While they still require regular brushing after use, food is less likely to stick compared to uncoated metal. Over time, I’ve found the coating holds up reasonably well with proper care, though it’s important to avoid harsh scraping tools that could damage the finish. These grates contribute positively to solving the problem of sticking food and uneven cooking.
Convenient Control Knobs
The control knobs on the Charbroil Performance Series grill allow you to independently adjust the flame on each of the four main burners and the side burner. Turning clockwise increases the heat, and counterclockwise decreases it – standard and intuitive. A nice aesthetic and functional touch is that the knobs are LED-illuminated. This is particularly helpful if you’re grilling as the sun sets or after dark, providing ambient light and making it easy to see and adjust your heat settings without needing an external light source. It’s a small feature, but one that adds to the overall user experience, especially during those extended summer evenings.
Removable Grease Tray
Dealing with grease and drippings is perhaps the least glamorous part of grilling, but essential for maintenance and safety. This Charbroil propane grill includes a removable grease tray located beneath the firebox. It slides out easily, allowing you to dispose of accumulated grease. The ability to insert an aluminum liner into the tray makes cleanup even simpler – just remove and discard the liner when full. This feature is standard on most gas grills, but its ease of access on this model is appreciated, helping to mitigate the complication of messy cleanup and potential grease fires. Regular cleaning of this tray is crucial for maintaining the grill.
Cabinet Design Considerations
The cabinet base provides enclosed storage for your propane tank (though the tank itself is not included) and potentially some grilling tools or accessories. This helps keep the tank neatly tucked away and offers a cleaner look than an open cart design. However, a significant point of contention, and one mentioned by multiple users, is that *this specific model* (463354021) appears to have an open back on the cabinet, despite some pictures or previous versions potentially showing an enclosed design. This open back is a notable disadvantage. It leaves the inside of the cabinet exposed to the elements, dust, and crucially, pests like raccoons, as highlighted in one review. This lack of a full enclosure is a design flaw that complicates keeping the grill area clean and secure, potentially requiring users to fabricate their own solution. It contradicts the expectation of a fully enclosed cabinet for tidy storage and protection.
What Others Are Saying
Looking around online, I found that while many users appreciate this Charbroil Performance Series grill for its value and features, some common points come up. Assembly experiences vary widely; some found it straightforward with clear instructions, while others reported it being complex and time-consuming, sometimes involving missing or broken parts upon arrival. Issues with uneven burner heat and perceived lower BTUs on the outer burners are also mentioned. A recurring concern is the open back of the cabinet, which surprised several buyers expecting a fully enclosed space. Despite some frustrations, particularly with initial customer service interactions regarding parts or design discrepancies, some users noted positive resolutions after escalating their issues, finding the company eventually willing to make things right. Overall, the sentiment seems to be that it’s a decent grill for the price, provided you’re aware of potential assembly hurdles and the open back design.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with an inadequate grill can really put a damper on outdoor cooking plans, leading to burnt food, unevenly cooked meals, and frustrating experiences. The Charbroil Performance Series Convective 4-Burner with Side Burner Cabinet Propane Gas Grill, Stainless Steel – 463354021 offers a compelling package to tackle these problems. It provides a solid amount of cooking space for family meals, the convenience of a side burner, and built-in storage in the cabinet base. While it has some potential drawbacks like the open cabinet back and possible heat inconsistencies, it presents good value for someone seeking a feature-rich gas grill without the premium price tag. If you’re ready to upgrade your outdoor cooking game and think this grill fits your needs, Click here to check the product out and see if it’s the right fit for your backyard.
Last update on 2025-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API