The Bottom Line
- Mostly 304 stainless steel construction
- Full feature grill with rotisserie burner and side burner
- Service and support from Sears
- A little low on the BTUs for the size
- Rotisserie kit not included (but the burner is?)
- Overall construction is of limited quality for the price
Description
- Four cast iron 11,000 BTU main burners
- 469 square inches of primary cooking space for a total grilling area of 644 square inches
- 44,000 BTU output from the main burners
- One 10,000 BTU rear mounted infrared rotisserie burner. Rotisserie kit not included
- One 12,000 BTU side burner
- Mostly 304 stainless steel construction
- Large cabinet area with pull out LP tank tray
- Full width drip tray
- Electronic ignitors
- Sears support and service
Guide Review - Kenmore Elite 644 Square Inch Gas Grill
This is the smallest of the two Kenmore Elite grills made in China by Grand Hall. It has complete stainless steel construction but only some of the parts are 304 stainless steel so expect to take good care of it or some parts will rust. The overall construction is a little on the weak side and the 44,000 total BTUs from the main burners is low for 470 square inches of primary grilling space. Since, this grill, like many of its type are highly vented and they do not hold in heat.
I think the most interesting thing about this grill is that it is almost always on sale. While it is listed at about $1,500 it tends to actually sell for under $1,100. At $1,100 this isn't as bad of a grill but at $1,500 there are a lot of better units. It just appears that too many shortcuts have been taken on this grill to keep the price down. For instance, this unit comes standard with a rear mounted infrared rotisserie burner, but you have to pay $50 if you want the spit, forks, and motor to go with it. I am also disturbed by the mixture of 304 and 430 stainless steel. The parts you see are 304 and will stay nice and shiny for quite a while. The back area and inside the cabinet are lower quality stainless steel and prone to rusting and discoloring. All in all, this is a grill designed to look better in the catalog than it does on your patio.
