Char-Broil has consistently produced affordable propane grills for barbecue and grilling newcomers, with their Performance series standing as their best one yet. What makes this gas grill so popular? Find out with our Char-Broil Performance review.
The Char-Broil Performance series has brought easy gas grilling to the masses with its easy-to-use 4-burner grill series. Armed with side burners, grease pan, cast iron grates, and a huge cooking area, there is plenty here to love.
We’ve put in hours of use with this propane grill to make sure that we’ve covered every square inch of detail, to bring you the best review possible.
Let’s take a deeper look.
- GAS GRILL: Powered by liquid propane gas, this grill runs on a 20-pound tank, not included. It...
- COOKING AREA: Grill up to 24 burgers, 20 chicken breasts or 12 steaks on 575 square inches of...
- SIDE BURNER: A 10,000 BTU side burner lets you keep your sides and sauces warm while you grill....
A lot of conventional wisdom around gas vs charcoal cooking says that propane grills can’t match the same BBQ experience as charcoals. This unit is proof that this isn’t always the case.
The Char-Broil Performance is a great grill that is really powerful considering its price, and offers a generous 660 square inches of cooking space. The 4-burner unit offers great value for money while still offering decent power and excellent heat retention. It’s a great grill for anyone wanting to cook up a feast quickly, and without fuss.
Size
One of my key considerations when comparing grills is size. Power and usability are both important, but when it comes to outdoor cooking I like to be able to get a lot of food on the go at once. Perhaps it’s the inner caterer in me, but I like to feel like I’m able to get a spread on quickly.
Luckily, this grill from Char-Broil comes with 500 square inches of space, which is more than enough to cater for most of your grilling. When combined its neighboring side burner and drying rack, the total cooking area of it comes to 660 square inches.
Power & Heat
Now onto the meaty stuff. Heat output for gas grills is measured in BTUs which is. broadly speaking, a measure of its heat efficiency. The best gas grills will have about 80-100 BTUs per square inch of cooking space.
So where does that put this Char-Broil grill? Well it’s good news, as at 36,000 BTUs over 500 square inches of cooking space, that puts this grill firmly in that bracket.
The Performance isn’t just all about power though. It’s also extremely fuel-efficient. I’ve always been a fan of grills with porcelain-coated grates as this coating helps distribute heat evenly across its cooking surface. I’ve found this particularly useful for longer forms of cooking (i.e. not just searing), as it helps reduce uneven hot and cold spots across your grill.
It also has a nice side burner on it, which I use for searing food once it’s been cooked on the main grate. This has about 10,000 BTUs, which is pretty powerful for a side burner. What I like about this is that it helps give you a fuller grilling experience, so you can cook at steady temperatures on the main grill, and then round things off with a quick sear on the side burner.
Part of the appeal in gas grills is their convenience, so they also need to be easy and quick to start up. I’m pleased to say that the Char-Broil Performance has an electronic ignition system which has never failed me. Every time I’ve used it, it only takes a few seconds to get going – even in wind and rain!
Features
The primary cooking area of the Performance is 475 square inches, which compares well to other similar models, like the Weber Performer Deluxe. Char-Broil claim this is enough for 20 burger patties. I’m a little skeptical of that, and would put that at closer to 10-15 (I like to put ample space between meat).
When taking the side burner into account, that cooking area quickly improves, totaling 660 square inches.
The four burners are made out of stainless steel, and are covered by porcelain enamel coated grates. The combination of these two ensures excellent durability and heat retention. You’d forgiven for thinking that the relatively low price point of the Performance might mean poor heat usage, but this isn’t the case at all here.
The Char-Broil Performance does away with the pain of flame ignition by providing a one-touch system that gets the grill started with just a push of a button.
These types of systems are sometimes more unreliable than they might seem, but in the case of the Performance I didn’t experience any such issues. Not only that, but even in windy or rainy conditions it got the job done without a hitch.
The hidden casters of Char-Broil Performance provide additional style and mobility to the grill. While mobility might be an important feature for a lot of people, if you value the chance to put your grill away or place it where you want on your patio then it’s definitely something you need to pay attention to.
An ample storage space is provided through the fully enclosed cabinet. The silver colored finish adds more glamour to it and it will definitely provide you with a fascinating grilling experience. The dimensions measure 56″L x 21″W x 44.4″H, which is great when compared with the competitive grills on the market. The weight of this grill is just under 108 pounds.
People can use this gas grill for a wide range of applications. For example, it is great for outdoor grilling and almost all the types of cooking activities throughout the entire year. You can take it out of your home to the outdoor living space and enjoy cooking with your friends or family members. You can even celebrate outdoor parties while preparing mouthwatering food from it. If you want to cook a large amount of food within a short period of time, this is one of the best options that are available to you. That is the main reason why people use it at barbecues.
Post-grilling clean-ups are pretty much the bane of my barbecuing existence. Grills are famously prone to run-off from meat, which in turn can lead to crusted on fat worked in to the inside of your grill. It’s disgusting and also a pain to get rid of.
Thankfully, drip trays to help catch this run-off are becoming more and more widely used, and this grill also boasts one. Not only this, but the tray is removable which means you can take it out the grill and clean it separately.
Performance
This stainless steel Char-Broil Performance 4 Burner makes the perfect addition to your patio, lawn or outdoor living space. Equipped with a 40,000 BTU cooking system that delivers powerful heat and performance, this grill includes a 10,000 BTU side burner that provides you with a convenient method for cooking an entire meal outside.
The Char-Broil is designed with porcelain-coated, cast-iron cooking grates designed to give you juicy burgers and meaty ribs. It’s made with heavy-duty caster wheels, so you can easily move and reposition the grill on your patio. For weekend cookouts, parties and special meals with friends and family, it’s a great grill to have around.
Final Verdict
The Char-Broil Performance 475 4-Burner offers a considerable amount of features considering its price. With a powerful 10,000 BTU side-burner, powerful heat burners, and a beautiful stainless steel build, there’s a lot here packed into a compact space.
- GAS GRILL: Powered by liquid propane gas, this grill runs on a 20-pound tank, not included. It...
- COOKING AREA: Grill up to 24 burgers, 20 chicken breasts or 12 steaks on 575 square inches of...
- SIDE BURNER: A 10,000 BTU side burner lets you keep your sides and sauces warm while you grill....
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
