Specifications
- Eight 22,000 BTU stainless steel tubular burners
- 1092 square inches of primary grilling space
- 176,000 BTU maximum output from the main burners
- Stainless steel construction
- Hybrid cooking system can use hardwood or charcoal
- Cast stainless steel cooking grates
- On knob piezoelectric single spark ignition
- Stainless steel barrier
- Convertible between propane and natural gas with additional equipment
- Made in the United States by the Summerset Professional Grills
Full Review – American Made Grill 54-Inch 8-Burner Dual Fuel Grill
PROS
- Full Hybrid Grill
- Very Powerful
- Solid Stainless Construction
- Massive
CONS
- Burners could be better
- Bigger than most needs
- Expensive
Typically in the highest-end gas grills, the marketer focuses on quality and refinement. These grills are typically sold for outdoor kitchens and there has always been a certain wine and cheese lifestyle in the image. You don’t get that with the American Made Grill, particularly the giant 8-burner model. This is a monster of a grill. It’s eight feet across and weighs around 1,000 pounds. But it isn’t the size that makes the American Made Grill 54-Inch 8-Burner Dual Fuel Grill stand out.
While built as a gas grill, this model can burn practically anything. Below the cooking grates and above the burners are stainless steel trays. These can be loaded with charcoal or hardwood. The burners are used to get the fire started, but once it is going, they can be turned off and the cooking is done without gas. This is a hybrid grill. It can be charcoal, hardwood, or gas.
Burning gas, this is a powerhouse of a grill. The nearly 1,100 square inches of cast stainless cooking grates are hit by up to 176,000 BTUs from the eight main burners. These numbers make this one of the most powerful gas grills on the market. Add in the hybrid system and you have a level of versatility with this grill seen in a few other models. Of course, at nearly $14,000, this isn’t a cheap grill. It simply can’t be. To handle this kind of power and also burn charcoal or hardwood, this grill has to be built solidly. Which it is. Like a tank.
At 1,000 pounds, this grill is heavy metal. The only competition comes from the Kalamazoo hybrid grill and while that grill is vastly superior to this one, the Kalamazoo sells for around $25,000. So, in a way, buying this grill is going to save you money.
If you are into smoking, you can light hardwood in this grill and cook indirectly. It will smoke, low and slow if you build the fire right. All in all, this grill can do almost anything.
The Bottom Line
First of all, let me say that burning charcoal or hardwood in a gas grill body takes a toll on the grill. This model uses tubular stainless steel burners. They are durable and heavy, but considering the punishment they might encounter, cast stainless or brass would have been a better choice. Then there is the issue of keeping this grill clean and running. Ash is going to collect in the grill. It can be cleaned out via the removable drip pan, but issues of blocked gas ports are real. This grill simply requires more maintenance if used with charcoal or hardwood frequently.
On the other hand, this is a well-made grill. It is designed to take punishment and if it is maintained, it will last many years. If you are looking for this kind of versatility and power, then the American Made Grill is an excellent choice. I strongly suggest you consider it.
Too Big?
This grill is really big and it has a lot of burners. More than I like to see on a grill. There are just too many knobs to turn. If you are looking for this grill in a smaller size take a look at the American Made Grill 36-Inch.
