Stainless steel is an excellent grill material due to its rust, and corrosion resistant and ease of maintenance.
While looks are subjective, a sleek stainless steel grill looks great in any outdoor kitchen.
From all our testing we think the Monument Grills Mesa is the best value stainless steel grill thanks to its 304 stainless steel construction. Stepping up in the budget, you have the Grilla Grills Primate, which gives you better build quality and the option to swap the grill grates out and convert to a full-sized griddle.
There are lots of other good options, so keep reading to find the best buys at every price point.
The best stainless steel grills
We’ve bought and tested dozens of gas grills, and below are our picks for the best stainless steel grills across a few different budgets.
We’ll also go through the pros and cons of stainless steel for grills as well as some tips on how to properly maintain your stainless steel grill.
If you’re not totally sold on stainless you might also want to check out our picks for the best gas grills, and the best gas grills under $500.
1. Best Overall – Monument Grills Mesa 415BZ
It isn’t often that our top overall pick could also be considered a budget pick, but that’s the case with the Mesa 415BZ. This grill took the top spot in our guide to the best budget gas grills.
With four main burners, an extra sear burner and a side burner, you have an extremely capable grill that does an excellent job searing steak, or grilling burgers.
There’s even a Rotisserie kit you can add on.
To give you some perspective, a stainless steel Weber like the Genesis S-435 with comparable features would cost you triple the price. That’s with a few extra bells and whistles and better build quality, but it’s a huge price jump.
In our burnt toast test we found minimum temperature variance across the grill surface, although the back right corner ran a touch cooler.
The burnt toast test on the Monument shows a mostly even heat output.
A sear zone is a feature I always look for on a grill. If you do a lot of steaks it’s something you really want included.
On the Monument they call it the broil zone, and it’s activated by an additional burner. See how it works, as well as all my thoughts on the Mesa in our review video below.
You get two good sized side shelves with three hooks on each for hanging your grill accessories out of the way.
2. Best Mid-Range – Grilla Grills Primate Gas Grill & Griddle
If you haven’t heard of Grilla, they are an online only grill company based in Missouri that got their start selling pellet grills.
They since expanded into outdoor kitchens, gas grills with the Primate.
If the Primate were just a regular gas grill, we would have still included it because of its premium double-insulated stainless steel construction.
What really set it apart for me is the option to swap out the grill grates and convert it into a full-sized griddle.
During my tests, I was impressed with the build quality and overall design of the grill. The stainless-steel construction with double-wall insulation feels heavy duty.
While other grills sell griddle add-ons, I like the fact that the griddle comes bundled and I found I was regularly swapping back and forward.
You get plenty of side shelves with hanging hooks for tools and a closed cabinet with room for some tools or grill grates.
I love the design of this grill. You get a quality stainless steel grill that doubles as a full-sized griddle without sacrificing any of the quality and features of either style.
The Priamte also comes in a built-in cabinet, which is perfect if you want to integrate it into an outdoor kitchen.
3. Best Splurge – Weber Genesis S-435 Propane Grill
You might not know that Weber‘s middle of the range Genesis grills can be optioned in stainless steel.
While most Weber grills include some stainless steel in the construction, this grill includes stainless steel cooking grates and a majority stainless steel construction for the grill top and stainless steel doors.
The Weber Genesis S-435 comes with four primary burners, an additional sear burner and a side burner for warming up sauces or cooking side dishes.
All Genesis grills are now compatible with the Weber CRAFTED system, which includes the option to swap out various grill accessories, including sear grates and a pizza stone.
You also get the grill locker included with this model. This sits next to the main cabinet, and is large enough to store some of the bulkier CRAFTED accessories.
Solidly made, as most Weber grills are, this one comes with a 10-year warranty on all parts of the grill.
You can spend a bit more for SPX with the Weber Connected system which adds the built in digital temperature screen you can see in the photos above and WiFi app compatibility so you can connect your phone and get grilling notifications. Personally I don’t think the extra cost is worth it compared with the standard S-435.
If you don’t need the space, you can drop down to the otherwise identical 3 burner model. You can also opt for plumbed natural gas or LPG.
4. Best 3 Burner Stainless – Victory Propane Grill With Infrared Side Burner
Read our full Victory Propane Grill review.
The Victory 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill sits between the Monument and the Grilla in price, despite only coming with 3 main burners.
BBQ Guys launched the Victory series of grills a few years ago as their more affordable house brand, but they’ve gone on to discontinue most of those models.
At the time of writing, the Victory is still for sale, and is almost always discounted.
There is a large cooking surface with 464 square inches of space on the main grill itself plus an additonal 162 from the top rack. You also get an infrared side burner which can be used for searing or to quickly warm a sauce.
Everything about this grill feels high end from its neat fit and finish right down to the heavy-duty removable catch pan that slides out easily after you’ve finished cooking.
It’s one of those features that go overlooked but makes a huge difference when trying to clear out what could have been hours’ worth of messy cleaning.
The grill heats up quickly and dispenses heat evenly with minimal hot and cold zones.
The Victory has porcelain-coated grease pan and grill grates, which is great for overall maintenance.
Overall, the Victory 3 is a great option if you want a solidly built, stainless steel grill with some high-end features like the infrared side burner without spending as much as you would on a comparable Weber.
5. Best built-in – Blaze Premium 32-Inch 4-Burner Built-In Propane Gas Grill
The Blaze Premium LTE 32-Inch 4-Burner comes with a sleek design, stainless steel construction, and all of the features you need to have a perfect grilling experience.
What we liked best about this grill is that it offers an excellent set of features at a very reasonable price point. You get four burners – each with 14,500 BTU power output for fast cooking times – plus enough space on the primary work area for six large hamburgers or other meats/vegetables if you’re feeding a crowd.
The Blaze also comes standard with several extras as well, such as a side burner, warming rack, and more storage options than most comparable grills in its class.
Overall, the Blaze Premium LTE 32-Inch 4-Burner Gas Grill is an excellent choice for a stainless steel grill. It has a lot of features, it’s well-made, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Why is stainless steel a good material for grills?
Stainless steel is an excellent material for constructing grills from, in large part due to it’s durability.
Grills with stainless steel construction will resist rust and corrosion, meaning that you can count on them to last for a long time with proper care.
Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion because it is an alloy, often containing chromium. The best stainless steel grill options will be at least 18/10 which means that they contain 18% chromium and 10% nickel, given the steel extra hardness and rust resistance.
Finally, stainless steel is a good conductor of heat, so your food will cook evenly on the grill.
Are stainless steel grills better?
As with all types of material, stainless steel has certain benefits and certain drawbacks.
The best stainless steel grill options will be at least 18/10 (18% chromium and 10% nickel) and made of high-quality 304-grade stainless steel.
- 304 stainless steel is the best type of steel to use for a grill, as it has the highest chromium and nickel content. This will make it highly resistant to corrosion and rusting.
- 430 stainless steel is still considered “stainless,” but it has a lower chromium and nickel content, so it’s not quite as durable or corrosion-resistant.
- 300 series grades are made with even less chromium and nickel and are more prone to rusting.
Stainless steel can be hugely durable, corrosion-resistant, and a good conductor of heat, but that doesn’t mean that all stainless steel is.
Stainless steel vs cast iron grill grates?
We’ve talked about the benefits of going for a full stainless steel grill body, but what about the grill grates?
The other most common material used in grill grates is cast iron. Standard cast iron is porous and prone to rusting, so it’s often covered with a porcelain coating, which protects it from moisture and grease.
Cast iron has its own list of pros and cons in comparison to stainless steel, including:
| Cast Iron Pros | Stainless Steel Pros |
| Retains heat wellTransfer heat directlyDurable and long-lasting (as long as it’s looked after well | Highly corrosion resistantHeats up quicklyEasy to maintainLightweightNon-stick |
| Cast Iron Cons | Stainless Steel Cons |
| Requires extra effort to properly maintainHeats up slowlyHeavyThe porcelain coating is comparatively fragile | Doesn’t retain heat wellLow-priced, low-quality stainless steel is less corrosion-resistant and less durableWill lose its non-stick over time as it roughs up
|
When it comes right down to it, stainless steel heats up faster and is much easier to maintain than cast iron, which will make it more attractive to some grillmasters, while others will prefer the heat retention and transfer of cast iron.
How to prevent stainless steel grill from rusting
Depending on the composition of your steel, you may still need to take steps to stop it from rusting.
To prevent your stainless steel grill from corroding or rusting, you can take some simple steps:
- Keep it clean: Stainless steel is easy to clean if you keep up on maintenance. Make sure to clean your grill after each use to prevent any build-up of dirt, grease, or food particles.
- Apply a sealant: Applying a sealant to your stainless steel grill can help keep out moisture and protect it from the elements. Look for a sealant that is specifically designed for stainless steel cooking devices.
- Store it in a dry place: Make sure your grill is stored in a dry place when not in use. Excess moisture can cause rusting and corrosion.
- Don’t use harsh detergents: Use a mild detergent to clean your grill. Harsh chemicals can cause corrosion, so be careful when choosing the right cleaner for stainless steel grills.
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