Two of the heaviest hitters in the high-end kitchen appliance world also offer some of the best outdoor grills. They are available with carts (separately priced) or as built in models. Prices, sizes and options vary and will be explained in detail below. We also added some video, so this will be a great post if you are considering either.
Viking
Viking began manufacturing outdoor grilling product back in 1997 and quickly became one of the industry leaders in outdoor cooking products. The 100 and 300 series grills are available in 30” or 36” only. They have very high BTU output at 25,000 per burner on the 100 and 300 series grills. The 100 series has porcelain enamel grates, while the 300 series has stainless steel grates. Burners are made of high grade stainless steel that helps reduce high heat corrosion.
The 500 series grills are available in 30”, 42” or 54” and have 29,000 BTU burners, which is the most powerful burner available. All grills equipped with a rotisserie have an independent 15,000 BTU burner located at the back wall of the grill, which help provide added heat for more even cooking. 42” and 54” grills also have a convenient smoker box, which allows you to add your favorite wood chips (mesquite, apple, hickory, etc) to get that rich, smokey restaurant quality taste in all your grilled items. All grills have ceramic briquettes, which allow for a more even heat distribution beneath the cooking surface. They trap all the drippings which produce a rich smoke and help minimize flare-ups. They are available in LP gas (tank) and natural gas and need to be ordered specifically.
Viking VQBQ13002NSS: 30”, 2 burners, 50,000 BTU’s, porcelain grates $1,999.00
Viking VGBQ33603RENSS: 36”, 3 burners, 75,000 BTU’s, rotisserie with infrared burner $3,299.00
Viking VGIQ54203RENSS: 42”, 2 burners, 60,000 BTU’s, (1) 30,000 BTU sear burner, rotisserie with infrared burner $5,399.00
Wolf
Wolf, strongly considered the top of the line residential cooking product, has been marketing outdoor grilling products for roughly 10 years now. I said marketed. Wolf is actually manufactured by Twin Lakes in Sub-Zero's home state of Wisconsin.
They offer a more streamlined selection of grills. Available in 30”, 36”, 42”, or 54”, all grills have a factory equipped rotisserie. The infrared burners for the rotisserie are rated at 14,000 BTU for the 30” and 36”, 16,000 on the 42”, and (2) 14,000 on the 54”. All cooking burners are rated at 25,000 BTU and the 36”, 42”, and 54” come equipped with a sear burner which helps lock in the juices and flavors without cooking the food. After the initial sear is done, simply move the food to a normal cooking burner to achieve your desired finish. Like its competition, these models use ceramic briquettes and heavy duty stainless steel cooking grates. They are available in LP gas (tank) or natural gas and need to be ordered specifically.
There are plenty of accessories for each grill including covers, side burners, access doors, outdoor refrigeration and ice makers, and even ventilation hoods to give you the ultimate cooking experience without all the smoke.
Wolf OG30: 30”, 2 burners, 50,000 BTU’s, stainless steel grates, rotisserie with infrared burner $3,999.00
Wolf OG36: 36”, 3 burners, 75,000 BTU’s, stainless steel grates, rotisserie with infrared burner $4,999.00
Wolf OG42: 42”, 3 burners, 75,000 BTU’s, stainless steel grates, rotisserie with infrared burner, 25,000 BTU sear burner, smoker box $5,499.00
Wolf vs Viking BBQ Grills
First this is a good comparison. I like them both. The Viking 500 is the most powerful burner on the market. In my opinion, however, the construction, features, and overall performance of these grills make these pieces standout a tad beyond the Viking. I like the full stainless steel welds, seams, and screws show for durability. High outputs of each burner, combined with the sheer power of the infrared rotisserie burner, prove its performance.
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