The Brand Behind Costco's Kirkland Gas Grills Isn't Weber Or Traeger
Costco shoppers know the store sells a lot of stuff, but they may not know that it also sells its own grills. The website features two gleaming, stainless steel gas grills under the Kirkland Signature brand, which debuted in 2023. As with other Kirkland products, it's natural to wonder who actually made these. In this case, it appears to be Nexgrill.
The consensus among Reddit users is that Nexgrill makes the latest Kirkland Signature grills. This common rumor is substantiated by earlier reporting that a previous iteration of Kirkland gas grills were in fact made by Nexgrill, as well as older message board posts suggesting a mid-2000s generation of Kirkland grills were also secretly Nexgrill.
Nexgrill has a less-than-stellar reputation among some grilling enthusiasts. They often complain that Nexgrills don't work as well or last as long, especially compared to only somewhat more expensive brands like Weber. But each of these Kirkland grills has hundreds of reviews, averaging at least 4 stars. So what is the truth?
Is Costco's Nexgrill worth it?
The truth is that Nexgrills can be perfectly fine cooking machines. For affordable gas grills under $250, a basic 4-burner propane Nexgrill has everything the casual griller needs. 40,000 BTUs of power, two shelves for organizing tools and food, and an electric igniter to easily get cooking. On Home Depot's website, this model has over 16,000 reviews averaging 4.5 stars.
While there are stories of Nexgrill owners whose grills have survived years of abuse, it's best to treat a budget grill like these Kirkland Signature cookers gently to get the best life out of them. In that respect, it's similar to Costco's popular Le Creuset Dutch oven dupe. The Tramontina pot isn't quite as well made as the prestige brand, but it looks and cooks the part at a fraction of the price. And if you take good care of it, it might last a while too.
But perhaps the most reassuring part of Costco's Kirkland gas grills is Costco's legendarily expansive return policy. Since Costco doesn't consider them electronics or major appliances, these gas grills are covered by the store's satisfaction guarantee, meaning they can be returned at any time for a refund.