Learn all about what you can expect from the Evo Affinity 30G Built-In Grill Cooktop using a propane gas tank.
If you are looking for a grill with a ton of surface area, look no further than this beauty. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it is grilling luxury at it's finest.
Over an extended family vacation, we had an opportunity to use this super high end $6,000 cooktop and I wanted to share with you our review of it. We used it for half of our meals during our vacation, and it was able to quickly cook food for our family of 15 during our trip without having to do a bunch of batches of the same food.
To save you the trouble of reading all the way through to see if they are well worth the money, I would say if you have the money to spend, it is VERY WELL worth the investment. This is coming from a family of mechanical engineers, avid cookers, and native Kansas Citians that know how to grill and barbeque. Read further to learn more about this grill below, including the not so good stuff.
Table of Contents
Overview of the Evo Grill
Evo Grill is definitely a luxury expense. The grill is a beautiful and looks incredible in person. It's probably one of the reasons why we booked our VRBO. The ability to have a large surface area to grill was nothing short of amazing.
Types of Evo Grill Models for Drop-In, Cart, and Tabletop
For large outdoor kitchens, the Evo Affinity 30G grill is the best if you want to have a built-in outdoor kitchen.
For smaller outdoor kitchens, the Evo Affinity 25G grill is the best if you have a smaller area.
If you want a portable grill for moving around your space, the Evo Professional Cart Grill is a perfect solution for portability.
If you are on the road and need more mobility, the Evo Professional Tabletop Grill is great for road trips.
Heat Ranges of Evo Grill
Evo Grills can be heated between 225°F to 700°F with an even temperature throughout.
What to Cook on an Evo Grill
You can cook just about anything on an Evo Grill. When we went on our extended family vacation, we cooked vegetables fajita style, ribeye meat, bratwurst, and fried rice all in a matter of minutes.
The sound of the sizzle on the seasoned blacktop was amazing. It kept the flavor while you can also just skim off any remnants into the circular pan funnel around it (similar to a moat).
Why are Evo Round Flat Top Grills So Expensive?
Evo Grills are an extremely expensive grill due because it is high quality and made in the US. It is definitely targeted towards households with extremely disposable income. As you can see, at the lower end, you are looking at spending a little under $5,000.
The grill has even heat control without hotspots that you would get on a regular grill. Sure, it seems like a big griddle, but the ability to control the temperature at such a fine grain in the large amount of space that it does it is what you are paying for.
With it's 30" cooktop for the 30G series, you can cook food on it quickly especially if you plan on hosting and entertaining for large groups of family and friends. The cooktop size is seriously large. Like, huge.
Below is a picture of 10 large juicy ribeyes with more room for additional ones. It is so crazy! (P.S. You NEED this charcoal seasoning. It is hands down the best rub I've ever tasted.)
Quality of Evo Grill
The Evo grill is a haus. This thing is a beast. It is built to stand the harsh midwest weather in the winter. It is professional quality grade, the cooking surface provides even heat, it has a non-stock surface, it has different builds depending on your use case, and it looks aesthetically pleasing.
I mean, I literally saw this in a mansion, so if the folks living the high life are buying it, I would think there was some thought around buying an expensive cooktop like this.
Affordable Alternatives to the Evo Grill
Below is a comparison chart of some options that are more affordable to the Evo Grill that will get you the surface space without the price tag.
For example, the Cuisinart Flat Top Cooking Station gives you the shape as well as the same size flat top, but it probably won't be as heavy duty. The blackstone table top griddle has edges, but won't allow you to scrape like you can on the Evo Grill.
What Type of Energy Source does an Evo Grill need?
With the four models for the round cooktop, all of them have the option of using a regular 20 gallon propane tank. For the drop-in/built-in models, you have the option of using natural gas.
About the Seasoned Cook Top
It's seasoned cook top with a 3/16 inch oil-seasoned non-stick steel coating surface. It is not ceramic coated while it does look like it is.
It goes between 225 and 700 degrees with a control system that includes edge-to-edge variable heat.
It's nearly smokeless and cleanup was such a breeze.
This was the exact model of the one that we were able to use on vacation. You guys, this thing was absolutely beautiful and stunning.
- Evo built in griddle
- Built in flat top grill
Shipping of the Evo Grill
The Evo Grills are heavy duty. The built-in 30G series weighs around 163 pounds for shipping, which is the size of an adult human!
How to Operate Evo Grill
Below are general directions on how to turn on the Evo grill.
- Turn on both knobs to "light" and push the button right underneath the left side of the grill under the "Evo" brand label. It will click, but you won't necessarily hear an ignite button. However, you'll feel it heat up.
- Next, turn to Medium High.
- Once it's hot, add oil (avocado oil, sesame, sunflower, or vegetable oil is recommended) and start grilling.
How to Clean the Evo Grill
Here's the best method for cleaning the Evo Grill to ensure the cooktop stays seasoned.
- You'll want to clean right after cooking to ensure there's a warm cook surface.
- Using a flat scraper, gently scrape and remove food particles and debris.
- Add liberal amount of cooking oil on the surface and a cleaning pad (like a Scotchbrite pad). Using the cleaning pad , scour the cook surface in a circular motion, paying attention to areas with carbon.
- Use more oil for lubrication as necessary.
- Wipe clean with a paper towel. Repeat if necessary.
- The cooktop should be black and glossy.
- Finish by wiping the entire cook surface with lightly oiled paper towel to season.
Important Tips for Using an Evo Grill
These are really important tips to consider when using an Evo flat top grill.
- Never cook on a dry surface and always apply oil for every cooking session.
- Always clean cook surface while it's moderately hot.
- Do not use water, club soda, salt, soap, degreasers, steel wool, or abrasive product on cook surface.
- The drip pans under the oval cutouts need to be cleaned after every use.
Additional Information
Owners manual can be found here if you wanted to take a peak at it.
Evo Flat Top Seasoned Cooktop 30G Drop-In Grill
This grill was a dream to cook on. For our large family, it was super easy to cook and clean up, allowing us to spend time with our family on vacation. I can only imagine how much time it would save our family if we were to install it in our backyard (which is what I'm trying to convince my husband to do).
Evo Flat Top Grill Summary
The Evo Flat Top Grill is made in America and is made from high quality material. With its versatility in cooking just about anything and different models you can purchase depending on your cooking and space needs, Evo provides you a ton of options.
Whether you are cooking for yourself or for your extended family like we did, the real estate that the Evo Grill provides you allows you to have even temperature edge to edge with immense control, allowing you to cook your food evenly and to the degree you need it to be.
If you have the money, go ahead and take the splurge. You won't regret it.
More Outdoor Dining and Grilling Tips
- Summer Grilling Tips and Tricks
- How to Grill Ribs Fast (and Easy)
- Evo Round Table Top Grill - Honest Review
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