The Best Professional Outdoor BBQ Grills (2024 Update)
June 2nd, 2023 | 12 min. read
After a tough couple of years, you can buy a professional, high-powered grill from any brand.
Kalamazoo is still the best professional grill without question and the most unique, as you will see. However, the price of their hybrid grills starts at $22,000.
Choosing between DCS, Hestan, and Lynx as the next tier down from Kalamazoo can be a bit confusing.
The decision ultimately depends on your grilling style and preferences.
Although they may look similar, these grills differ greatly in features such as infrared burners, rotisseries, and overall construction.
Keep reading to learn more about the features, differences, and potential problems when selecting a premium grill.
As a bonus, I will show you how to buy a pro-type grill while spending less.
Let's get started.
The Best Professional Outdoor BBQ Grills for 2024
Before we dive into the specifics of each grill, let's talk about what you can expect from a professional grill and what they all have in common.
All the grills listed below are made of high-quality stainless steel, including type 316, 304, or 201. You won't find any plastic or painted metals in these grills, ensuring durability and longevity.
Kalamazoo and Hestan offer Marine-grade type 316 stainless steel, which is highly resistant to rust and ideal for individuals living near bodies of water. Kalamazoo exclusively provides the Marine-grade option, while Hestan offers the flexibility to choose between Marine-grade and other options.
The most widely available type is 304 stainless steel, which all grill brands offer. On the other hand, Lynx manufactures the Sedona grill using type 201 grade stainless steel, which is less expensive but less superior to 304.
The burner output on all three is around 25,000 BTU per burner. We will talk about the different burner compositions a bit later.
Each is available as a built-in to be placed in an outdoor kitchen or stand-alone as a freestanding grill in several sizes.
Lastly, each brand has matching appliances to outfit your outdoor kitchen. If you want to design an outdoor space, click this link for our webinar and step-by-step guide.
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1. Kalamazoo Hybrid Fire Grills
Kalamazoo K500HS
Kalamazoo Hybrid Fire K500HS 73" Stainless Steel Freestanding Grill - $30,925.98
Kalamazoo offers a range of sizes for their grills, available in both built-in and freestanding models, including 28, 37 7/8, and 54 inches.
Kalamazoo is built to order and unique in so many ways. Then again, they were started as a sheet metal shop in Chicago in 1906.
Let me explain why you might want a Kalamazoo grill.
One of my best friends is a professional griller. I've learned professional grill masters are a different breed.
None of them cook with gas. They all have their insanely proprietary blends of wood and charcoal for flavor.
With the Kalamazoo hybrid fire grill, you can cook with the same ease and speed of gas while still enjoying the enhanced flavor and texture of wood and charcoal.
With burners located below and an easy-to-open drawer, lighting up the Kalamazoo grill is especially easy. But what really sets it from the other grills listed below is the added depth of flavor and texture it brings to your cooking.
Kalamazoo Grill Features
Natural Convection
Its deep well construction allows for more air circulation and natural convection, so food is cooked more evenly and flavorful from wood and charcoal.
Searing Capability
Unlike Hestan and Lynx, Kalamazoo has no infrared searing burner. However, when you add charcoal, the grill does reach sear temperatures of 1,200 degrees higher than a traditional sear element of 1,100 degrees.
Burner Output
Kalamazoo is a powerful grill as well. Like Hestan and Lynx, the burners are 25,000 BTUs each, but unlike the others, the cast brass weighs about 14 pounds with the ports placed in the back, so they don't clog over time.
Clean Up
Along with the deep well, clean-up is easy for ash and grease, with a collection system located in the bottom.
Customization
The grill can be customized even to the grates designed for meat, fish, veggies, and even a Pancha or griddle to cook breakfast items.
If you live by the ocean, Kalamazoo is also available in marine-grade metal for a higher price. Marine Grade refers to a better grade of stainless or a taurine finish to resist rusting. "Marine Grade" is more of a marketing term, but Kalamazoo is the only grill designed to last by the ocean.
Each Kalamazoo is handcrafted in Michigan and signed by the people who built it.
Kalamazoo Grill Head 42 and 48 inches
In 2022, Kalamazoo built a grill without the Hybrid Fire Grill for the first time. The grill is better insulated than any grill on the market. It weighs 360 versus 240 for most other brands.
They lowered the grill by 2 inches to still have the natural convection airflow for more even cooking.
The price last year was $12,500. In 2023, they made it marine grade only and doubled the price.
Kalamazoo Problems
The Kalamazoo BBQ Grill stands out with its absence of apparent weaknesses. While the debate regarding the superiority of an infrared burner for precise searing continues, the combination of charcoal and wood ensures exceptional overall performance.
Regarding heat output, the infrared rotisserie burner falls slightly short compared to the Hestan, delivering 18,000 BTU. However, it's important to note that Kalamazoo's uncompromising quality comes with a higher price tag. The marine-grade non-hybrid drop-in grill starts at $19,000, while their hybrid freestanding grills begin at $22,000.
Lastly, it's worth mentioning that acquiring a Kalamazoo grill may require some patience. Due to the high demand and meticulous craftsmanship, getting your hands on one could take over two months.
Read More: Problems with Kalamazoo Grills
2. DCS Series 9 Grills
DCS BE1-48RC-L
DCS Series 9 48” Brushed Stainless Steel Built In Grill - $7,599.98
DCS offers a range of sizes for their grills, both built-in and freestanding, including 30, 36, and 48 inches wide.
DCS used to claim to be an "all sear" grill by using ceramic rods throughout the grill to increase heat and prevent flare-ups.
However, they now have a searing burner output of 24,000 BTU in the series 7 and 9 grills.
Infrared will be faster because it's directed. The gas diffuses and spreads heat more.
You must stay on top of an infrared due to the speed, and you can burn your food more easily with an infrared burner.
Differences between Series 7 and 9 Grills
The Series 9 grill offers several notable enhancements compared to its predecessor, the Series 7. Firstly, it features convenient light-up knobs for enhanced visibility and ease of use.
Additionally, the top workspace on the Series 9 has been redesigned, allowing for a more spacious area to accommodate your grilling needs.
The Series 7 and 9 grills share the same grease management system, which cleverly angles down to the front of the grill and into a tray. While this is a decent design, certain foods, such as hot dogs, may tend to roll slightly. However, on the Series 9, you can lay the grates flat, providing a solution to prevent such rolling.
Furthermore, the Series 9 grill includes a wood and charcoal accessory, which can infuse delectable flavors into your meats, adding an extra dimension to your grilling experience.
Here are the top six differences when stepping up to Series 9:
- Increased Hood Top: The Series 9 grill features a taller hood top, providing additional space for secondary cooking needs.
- Spring-Assisted Lid: Unlike the Series 7, the Series 9 grill has a spring-assisted lid, allowing for effortless fingertip opening and closing.
- Electric Glow Bar Ignition System: The Series 9 grill employs an electric glow bar ignition system, which offers convenience and reliability compared to the battery spark system used in Series 7.
- Infrared Burner for Rotisserie: The Series 9 grill is equipped with an infrared burner located at the back, specifically designed for use with the rotisserie function.
- Halogen Lights: Inside the grill hood of the Series 9, you'll find halogen lights, providing bright visibility in low-light conditions.
- Full Charcoal/Smoker Box: The Series 9 grill includes a full charcoal/smoker box that can be positioned anywhere on the grill, offering the ability to infuse distinct flavors into your meats. This differs from the Series 7, which has a smaller fixed charcoal box.
DCS Problems
DCS does not offer an all-infrared grill like Lynx or the color customization options of Hestan. Additionally, the charcoal performance of DCS may not match that of Kalamazoo, and the DCS range may not have as many size options as Lynx.
3. Lynx Grills
Lynx L42TRF
Lynx Professional 42" Stainless Steel Freestanding Grill - L42TRF-LP
Lynx offers a range of sizes for their grills, both built-in and freestanding, including 27, 30, 36, 42, and 54 inches.
This grill was available in four ways: all gas burners, a combination of gas burners and their Trident infrared burner, and all-infrared burners.
Now, you can buy the Lynx as an all-sear grill, with just one sear burner, or all gas without sear.
Lynx Grill Features
Infrared Burner
Unlike a traditional gas burner like DCS, the infrared trident is direct, intense heat which spreads heat. You can quickly sear the outside of your meat for a grill without overcooking.
The trident burners on the Lynx grill offer a wide range of searing temperatures, from 300 to 1,000 degrees, allowing you to adjust the heat instead of having to move your food around to different burners.
You can put a nice char on more water-soluble foods like veggies and fruit by wilting them.
Ceramic Burner
Unlike the other three, Lynx has a ceramic burner instead of cast brass or metal.
Cast brass is excellent, but ceramic never weathers. They placed the burner ports on the underside to avoid getting clogged with any drippings.
Heat Distribution
Lynx has briquettes for heat distribution to increase heat and reduce flare-ups. You also have a slide-out shelf to catch any drippings.
Lynx Problems
Availability will be better in 2023 after a rough couple of years. Lynx may be more expensive than the Kalamazoo grill head, with longer delivery times and some major price increases.
In addition to limited availability, Lynx's briquettes require hands-on cleaning. You can't flip the briquettes to self-clean like Hestan. Instead, you must empty them into a bucket and clean them by hand. That may not be a huge disadvantage, but it may require more work.
Lastly, I am not a fan of an all-sear grill. The difference between done and burnt is not that much.
Read More: Lynx vs. Hestan BBQ Grills
4. Hestan Grills
Whether you prefer a built-in or freestanding grill, Hestan has a size to fit your needs with options ranging from 30 to 42 inches.
Hestan is the industry's newest grill with a ton of features. Let's start with the grill hood. You can move it with one finger like the others, but the Hestan will stay in place, so you can grill with the hood partially open.
Hestan Grill Features
Grates
Hestan has diamond-cut thick grates at 5/16ths of an inch. It will hold heat and be more even as well.
Heat Distribution
Unlike Lynx, Hestan features reversible briquettes for the evenness of cooking, reducing flare-ups, and easier cleaning.
Trellis Burner
The Trellis burner is a 321-grade metal with ports on all four sides. Typically, metal would rust, but Hestan has done significant saltwater testing to prove its superiority to type 304. Marine-grade stainless steel is considered only 316 stainless steel.
Variable Rotisserie Burner
Their rotisserie infrared burner is the best and is variable between 12,000-18,000 BTU. It's on the top, so you can cook on the utility shelf below.
Customization
Lastly, Hestan is the only grill available in 12 groovy California colors and available freestanding or built-in.
Hestan Problems
This is a great grill like the others, but the burner ports face the food directly and can cause the burners to clog.
Read More: Hestan BBQ Grills
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Affordable Grilling Options
Let's save some money. Each of these brands have a less expensive line of decent pro-type grills.
Lynx L600PSFR-LP
Lynx Sedona 36" Stainless Steel Freestanding Grill - $5,569.98
Aspire by Hestan EABR36-LP
Aspire By Hestan 36" Stainless Steel Built-In Grill - $4,849.98
View Product Info >
DCS BH1-30R-L
DCS Series 7 30" Brushed Stainless Steel Traditional Built In Grill - $3,799.98
Hestan Aspire
Hestan has the "Aspire" line with a tubular burner rated at 23,000 vs. the 25,000 of the regular Hestan line.
The rotisserie burner is not variable at 14,000 BTU, and the grates are stainless, not the thicker diamond cut.
DCS Series 7
Series 7 is another lower-priced option. It has the same output, just not the light-up knobs and cleanability as the series 9.
Lynx Sedona
The Lynx Sedona BBQ Grill is a more affordable option in Lynx's grill lineup. However, the Sedona differs from the other models in its construction and origin. Unlike its counterparts, the Sedona is manufactured in China and utilizes a lower grade of stainless steel, specifically the 201-grade stainless steel.
What Is NOT a Professional Grill
Every video and blog love every grill. Nobody says, "Don't buy this grill." However, be careful when you buy a high-end grill. Many don't have better construction or the BTU output per burner.
True story: Once, our chef placed her hand on a running grill to illustrate the cold spots. So be careful.
We don't carry all the brands but review all the good ones in our BBQ Guide. It's free. You can grab your copy by clicking this link.
Which Professional Grill Is the Best?
First, they all have their merits. All will give better and similar heat output, rotisseries, and sear burners.
Kalamazoo is the best grill with the ability to cook with wood, gas, and charcoal, but $17,000 and up for a grill is steep.
DCS has good power and is now an infrared burner. You may like an FCS.
Lynx also has a good all-around grill. Their sear is another great consideration, but infrared differs from a regular gas burner and must be learned.
Hestan is another excellent grill with the best grates, rotisserie burners, and a choice of color.
Overall, it depends on how you like your grill. The Kalamazoo Hybrid allows you to infuse flavor in an overall better cooking system.
Lynx will allow you to cook and sear faster, while the Hestan is a good-looking alternative with color and excellent grates.
DCS will be popular. Series 9 does everything well now.
FAQs
Answers to the most commonly asked questions about professional outdoor grills
What size grill do I need?
The size of the grill you need depends on the number of people you typically cook for and the amount of food you usually prepare. A small grill might be sufficient for a small family, but larger gatherings or parties may require a larger grill.
Typically, a 36-inch grill should be ideal for most people. Forty-eight inches will handle any size gathering. I always suggest looking before you buy.
What features should I look for in a professional grill?
Some of the features to consider are temperature control, build quality, size of the grilling area, the number of burners and BTU output per burner, and composition of the burner like cast, ceramic, or brass (for gas grills), ash management system (for charcoal grills), and additional features like side burners, rotisseries, or smoker boxes.
What is the difference between a professional grill and a standard grill?
Professional grills typically have higher build quality, more features, better temperature control, and larger cooking areas. They may also use higher-grade materials for the grill grates and the grill's body.
However, the big difference is BTU output allowing you to cook faster and more thoroughly.
How much should I expect to pay for a professional grill?
The price tag for a professional-grade grill can be quite steep, ranging anywhere from $8,000 to $50,000. Of course, the cost will depend on a variety of factors, including the size, materials, and features of the grill. But for those who are serious about their grilling game, the investment may be well worth it in the long run. From precise temperature control to durable construction, a top-of-the-line grill can elevate your outdoor cooking experience to the next level.
What are some reliable brands for professional BBQ grills?
Lynx and DCS are two of the most popular and well-known brands in the market. They offer high-quality grills that are designed to withstand the rigors of frequent use, making them a favorite among professional chefs and backyard enthusiasts alike.
If you're looking for a newer brand that's making waves in the industry, Hestan is a great option. They offer a range of grills that are known for their sleek design and advanced features, including a unique diamond-shaped grilling surface that helps to distribute heat evenly.
However, when it comes to the best of the best, Kalamazoo is the brand that stands out. Their grills are crafted with the highest quality materials and offer unparalleled performance. They are often considered to be the ultimate luxury grills, with a price point to match. But for those who are serious about grilling and want the very best, Kalamazoo is the way to go.
How should I maintain and clean my grill?
Regular cleaning is crucial to ensure that your grill is always in top working condition. This not only enhances its performance but also increases its lifespan. To achieve this, you must clean the grates after each use, clear the ash catcher regularly (for charcoal grills), and clean the burners periodically (for gas grills). Neglecting to clean your grill can lead to a build-up of grease and debris, which can cause flare-ups and affect the flavor of your food.
To clean the burners on your gas grill, turn them on high and let them heat up for a few minutes. Once they are hot enough, use a grill brush to remove any debris or residue. Be sure to clean the entire length of the burner tube, including the ports. You can also use a wire or pipe cleaner to get to hard-to-reach areas. Remember to turn off the burners once you are done cleaning.
In conclusion, keeping your grill clean is a simple yet crucial task that can make a huge difference in the quality of your grilling. By following these tips, you can ensure that your grill is always in top condition and ready to use whenever you need it. Happy grilling!
Is it safe to use a BBQ grill indoors?
Using a BBQ grill indoors is a dangerous practice that should be avoided at all costs. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is particularly high as the grill releases this poisonous gas, which can quickly accumulate in poorly ventilated spaces and cause serious harm or even death. Additionally, using a BBQ grill indoors can pose a significant fire hazard as the flames can easily ignite nearby objects, causing a fire to quickly spread.
That said, if you still want to enjoy grilled food indoors, there are safer options available. Electric grills and stovetop griddles are great alternatives as they don't produce smoke or toxic fumes, making them safe to use indoors. Just make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and safety guidelines when using these appliances to avoid any mishaps. Ultimately, your safety and that of those around you should always be your top priority when using any cooking appliance indoors.
What safety measures should you follow while using a BBQ grill?
One of the most crucial safety tips is to keep the grill away from anything that can easily catch fire, such as trees, bushes, or flammable materials. Additionally, it is imperative that you never leave the grill unattended while it is in use. Even a momentary distraction can lead to a fire or other serious accidents.
To ensure the stability of your grill, make sure it is placed on a level surface and cannot be easily knocked over. This is especially important if you have children or pets running around the yard. Speaking of which, always keep children and pets at a safe distance from the grill. This is not only to prevent accidents but also to avoid any burns or injuries from hot surfaces.
By following these simple yet important safety tips, you can enjoy a worry-free BBQ experience and focus on what really matters - good food and good company.
What is the warranty on professional grills?
The warranty terms for professional grills can vary depending on the manufacturer and model. However, most professional grills typically come with at least a few years of warranty coverage. Before making a purchase, be sure to check the specific warranty details.
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Steve Sheinkopf is the third-generation CEO of Yale Appliance and a lifelong Bostonian. He has over 38 years of experience in the appliance industry, and he is a trusted source of information for consumers on how to buy and repair appliances.
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Despite being the worst goalie in history, Steve is a fan of the Bruins and college hockey, loves to read, and is a Peloton biker. The love of his life is his daughter, Sophie.
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