What's this? This is based on performance, features, and convenience. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.
Approximate retail price:
$400
Summary:This Ducane has • 395 Sq. In. of cooking area. • 3 main burners • A Natural gas version or Conversion kit available • Electronic ignitor • Stainless Steel grates • No Infrared burner
The Ducane Affinity 3100 is part of the gas grill
test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, gas grill
models like the Affinity 3100 are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.
Low temp performance:
Combines the evenness of heating over the grill's surface at the low setting (using thermocouples) and the models ability to cook chicken and fish on the gril at that setting without burning the food.
High temp evenness:
Evenness of heating over the grill's surface at the high setting, using thermocouples.
Indirect cooking:
This indicates how well the grill will slow cook foods when only some of the burners are on and the food isn't placed directly over the flame.
About This Brand
This brand, known for its durability and dependability, went through an entire line and design change in 2007. Weber is known for its quality products in the midpriced to high-priced categories, and grills that feature coated cast-iron and stainless-steel-rod cooking grates and long-warranty stainless-steel burners. (The company offers a natural-gas version for most of its grills.) Weber recently introduced an infrared-searing station on some of its grills, updated its Q line of portable grills, and added colors to its entire lineup. Weber grills are available at many retailers nationwide. Grills range in price from $130 to $3,000. Note that Weber acquired Ducane about four years ago.
Features & Specs - Ducane Affinity 3100
Stainless-steel grates Primary cooking grates made of stainless-steel are generally sturdier than those made of coated steel and resist rust even without a porcelain coating.
Stainless-steel grates
Yes
Coated-cast-iron grates The grill's primary cooking grates may be made of porcelain coated cast-iron, which generally sears meats better and keeps grilling temperatures more consistent than grates made of porcelain coated steel. The porcelain coating usually makes such grates easier to clean than other surfaces, and the grates should resist rust as long as their porcelain coating isn't chipped.
Coated-cast-iron grates
No
All or mostly stainless Includes more than just a panel or other trim. Based on our limited tests, nonmagnetic stainless is less likely to corrode.
All or mostly stainless
No
Long-warranty burners While burners remain the grill's most-replaced part, most are warranted for only 3 to 5 years. Better burners are covered for 10 years or more.
Long-warranty burners
No
Side burner A side burner, which resembles a gas-stove burner and has its own heat control, is handy if you want to cook vegetables or sauce without leaving the grill.
Side burner
No
Infrared burner Gas burner that uses infrared technology (ceramic burner, plates and screens, or troughs as some examples) for cooking. An indirect flame is used for cooking food. Burner can be located as the main burner, side burner, rotisserie burner, or any combination of burners.
Ducane is owned by Weber. The outside design of this grill is much nicer than the Weber(knobs take up plate space). This is the best buy for a natural gas grill.<br />The heat is a little uneven hotter in the back cooler in the front. The gauge of the grill is heavy and should provide many years of service. Also, you don't have the hassel of getting propane and I'm sure it is cheaper and hotter using natural gas.
How long have you owned it:
More than six months
Bottom Line
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
By
Johney
from
ct
4.0
old faithful
2/19/2012
Pros
Dependable
Easy Assembly
Easy To Cleanup
Easy To Use
Even Heat
Great Design
Short Grill Time
Cons
Best Uses
Small Gatherings
Comment:
My first grill was a cheap sunbeam that took forever to assemble, caught fire at the venturi tubes and rusted out in 3 years. My second grill was a Ducane with stainless steel burner and lasted 15 years till the regulators went. This grill is simple and well built and has been trouble free for the last 4 years.
How long have you owned it:
More than six months
Bottom Line
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
By
Griller
from
Ann Arbor, MI
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
3.0
Great at indirect
5/13/2011
Pros
Easy Assembly
Even Heat
Cons
Flare Ups
Best Uses
Indirect Cooking
Comment:
CR has it right with the excellent rating on indirect cooking. Using the thermometer and the outer two burners, I have had great results cooking chicken slowly down the middle column. Grill heats up quickly as well.<br />When using all three burners for direct grilling, flare ups are an issue. The burner covers are wide, sloped to shallow, and too close to the cooking grate. This causes every grease drop to stop and burn with a flame that touches the food. I am surprised CR did not have flare up issues worth mentioning with the tests.
Got this Ducane grill to replace my aging Weber spirit grill that is 10 years old.Chose this grill over Weber because the Weber cheap model only has two burners and this has three.Other people noted that Weber quality has lessened over the years so i chose Ducane.It is a solidly built unit with four lockable wheels.It cooks evenly and quite fast.It seems to me it will last a long time if covered when not in use.I paid $300 for this grill locally and they assembled and delivered it for free.Can't beat that deal.........
5 people have reviewed this model.
Stainless-steel grates
