Char-Broil Performance 650 6-Burner Cabinet Liquid Propane Gas Grill Review
For many consumers, propane grills are prized for their convenience and ease of use. The Char-Broil Performance 650 6-Burner Cabinet Liquid Propane gas grill meets these points while also being versatile as well as durable and visually appealing.
It has six independent stainless steel burners, one of which is a high heat capacity sizzle or sear burner on the far right of the primary grill grate. The left-hand shelf also includes a side burner that is carefully hidden under a flip top surface. This allows you to grill meats and vegetables while also preparing a side dish, such as boiling a small pot of corn, beans, or quartered red potatoes. It also had an electric igniter system which spares you the hassle of fiddling with matches or a stick lighter.
One thing to note about the Char-Broil Performance 650 is that it is not dual-fuel capable. This means it can only burn propane and Char-Broil does not offer a specific natural gas conversion kit. Even if you have a municipally provided natural gas line, you will still need to attach the grill to a liquid propane tank.
The 650-square inch cast iron primary grill grates have been specially coated with a non-stick porcelain material. Not only does this help prevent grilled foods from sticking to the grates, but it also provides superior long-term rust resistance as well as easy cleaning. Under the hood, you will also find a 280 square inch warming rack.
The ability to control each propane element separately and the massive amount of grilling space means you can create different heating zones. This is especially helpful if you want to hybrid grill bone-in cuts of chicken or other meats that do better with a slow-and-low temperature cooking method. Once it is cooked through, succulent, and tender, you can then move them directly over the high heat of the sear burner to mark the exterior.
The Char-Broil Performance 650 was also designed with a porcelain coated grease pan that is easy to pull out and clean. This greatly reduces mess and speeds the cleanup process. The porcelain coating also has non-stick properties to save you the tediousness of having to scrub away at things like caramelized marinade or stubborn pools of cooled fat.
It’s also worth noting that this is a cabinet style grill, which allows you to conveniently store equipment and tools out of sight. The stainless steel look and copious storage further adds to the visual appeal of the Char-Broil Performance 650.
Construction & Ease of Assembly
Largely made from stainless steel and porcelain coated cast iron the Char-Broil Performance 650 6-Burner is very durable and shows remarkable value for its price point. The porcelain coated drippings pan is a hallmark of this quality.
It is also relatively easy to assemble. However, it is so large that it might be difficult to do on your own, simply because you need another person to hold things in place on one end while you tighten the other. With two people you should be able to fully assemble it in one to one and a half hours.
Grilling Performance
The Char-Broil Performance 650’s 6 burners are rated to produce 60,000 BTU’s of heat. The carefully disguised side burner offers another 10,000 BTU’s for cooking side dishes. The large size of the primary grill grates and the big warming rack can also allow you to do some slow-and-low grilling to prepare things like succulent ribs and chicken. If you wanted to add a smoked component to a slow grilling session, you could easily wrap some wet wood chips in a heavy-duty aluminum foil pouch and place it on the grate above one of the burner.
This grill isn’t specifically designed to accommodate a rotisserie, which is a missed opportunity, considering that it is big enough for it and it comes with a large porcelain coated drippings pan. Still, Char-Broil does offer a general-purpose rotisserie accessory that with some finagling could be installed.
Grilling Areas
The primary grill grate offers a massive 650 square inches of grill gates that have been specially coated in a semi non-stick porcelain material. This is more than enough cooking space to grill for a large number of diners. You could also try to mimic classic barbecue with this much space by lighting a burner element or two on one side of the grill and placing a wood chip packet in heavy duty foil over the element. You could then place a pork shoulder, rack of ribs or even a small brisket on the other side of the grill.
It’s also worth noting that the 280 square inch warming rack is also very large and should be able to hold over a large amount of food that finishes early. In a pinch, you might also be able to use the rack to do something like glaze a Kansas City style barbecue sauce onto a rack of spare ribs.
Special Features
The electric igniter is especially helpful for lighting the propane burners without needing to turn to tricky lighter or matches.
The porcelain coated dripping pan is also very nice for cleanup. Not only is it large and easy to access, but the porcelain coating is also non-stick which makes it easier to remove sticky material like caramelized marinade.
The side burner is nice for preparing side dishes while you grill. If you don’t want to use it, simply keep the lid closed. The Char-Broil Performance 650 6-Burner also comes with a sizzle burner on the grate to help do things like sear steaks and mark chicken skin.
Ease to Clean
The cast iron grill grates are coated in a special non-stick porcelain material which helps prevent stuck on material. If something does remain after a grilling session, you should be able to easily brush it away with a nylon or wire grill brush. In a situation where there’s some stubborn debris stuck on the grates, you can easily remove them for a nice soak in warm, soapy water.
The Char-Broil Performance 650 was also designed with a large pull out drippings tray. It has a non-stick porcelain coating which helps prevent hot or dried drippings from sticking.
Warranty
The stainless steel burners, firebox, and lid all come with a 5-year warranty, which is good for normal use. It primarily relates to perforations, manufacturing, and materials defects only. All other parts come with a 1-year warranty.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a large grill that combines versatility and capability with high capacity, then it’s hard to look past the Char-Broil Performance 650. With its porcelain coated cast iron grill grates and dripping tray, it is easy to clean and maintain. The cabinet style design and stainless steel also add to its visual appeal on your deck.
