Just when you thought entry-level imported grills and smokers couldn’t get any cheaper, along came Expert Grill. Manufactured by Nexgrill, the Expert brand was created exclusively for Walmart with the primary goal of reaching frugal backyard cooks. In fact, the price tags on many Expert Grill products are so low it’s scary!
The 17.5″ Expert Square Steel Grill is a good example. The list price is only $24.97 and at the time of this writing, it was on sale for $19.97. This porcelain-coated steel grill measures 32.48” H x 22.2” W x 17.9” L and weighs just under 14 pounds fully assembled. It sits on four legs with a small steel wire shelf at the bottom and two large plastic wheels. It has porcelain coated steel charcoal, and cooking grates and says it provides 302 square inches of cook surface.
Meanwhile, adjustable dampers are located at the front of the bottom by the charcoal grate and on top of the lid to help control the grill’s temperature. More oxygen = hot; less oxygen = moderate or low heat. Air control is the Achilles heel of many cheap charcoal burners. Good charcoal grills have solid construction that effectively controls the amount of air intake and exhaust enabling grillers to dial in their desired cooking temperatures. Cheap, lightweight charcoal grills generally lack structural integrity. Their rickety lids and dampers allow unregulated air in and out, making your ability to dial in and maintain the temperature a crap shoot. Click here to learn about controlling temperature with vents.
Be that as it may, some grillers won’t be able to pass up the frighteningly low price of the full-size, freestanding 17.5″ Expert Square Steel Grill. The short, one-year limited warranty should provide a gauge for consumer expectations.
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