Little help with Grills

[Tom Andry]

Nope, not speaker grills, gas grills. Need a new one. I've posted at BBQNews forum and gotten some suggestions but I wondered if any of you might have some. This is what I THINK I need:

Gas Grill:

• Just need a good, solid semi-large cooking area (usually cook for 2 but occasionally for 10). I'm thinking 3 burners is more than enough.
• Not interested in rotisseries or side burners or any of that. I'll never use them.
• My last (on sale) grill flared up from day 1 and no amount of cleaning ever stopped it. So I'm looking for something that is tested and works. My last grill could NEVER be turned up past the lowest setting or I'd end up with a black lump of carbon where my chicken once was. I live in Florida and this grill will live outside (though I'll keep it covered). Weather should be a factor in recommendations (I would think).

Other grill:
On weekends and special occasions I'd like to be able to either smoke something or use charcoal. Preferably have the ability to do both. I haven't done much smoking in the past (at least not successfully) but I'd like to add it to my repertoire. That means that the dedicated offset smoker is probably not for me. I've looked into BGE's (Big Green Eggs) and others but can't make up my mind.

Now budget - thinking around 7 bones for both. Preferably less, possibly more. I'll take suggestions for purchases as well as alternate places to solicit ideas.

 

[MDS]

Weber grills are generally considered the best in any grill comparison you read. They are a tad more expensive than the number two brand, which is CharBroil.

I bought a Weber Genesis Silver B for $500 and I think it was a good purchase. It is built pretty solidly and was relatively easy to assemble, although their estimate of 30 minutes to do so is way off.

I also had no desire for side burners or extra junk, which is why I bought the B instead of the C. It has 3 burners and a large enough cooking surface for the occasional get together. You light the front burner and the others light from it as soon as you turn them on. The automatic ignition switch was defective on mine right from the start but I just called and they immediately sent me a new one.

It has some convenience touches that although simplistic are actually pretty nice - like a hole in the front that you can use to light the grill with a match. That worked great for me as I waited for the new igniter. It also has a mount for the propane tank on the side that shows you the level of propane in the tank (it's a scale based on the weight of the hanging cylinder). If you light all three burners, this grill gets up to 550 degrees in about 5 minutes!

I've had it for about 8 months now and so far I think the extra cost over the CharBroil was well worth it.

 

[stratman]

My brother in law bought a really nice stainless gas grill in Costco about 3 years ago, I remember he didn't pay that much for it, it's made in China, all "real" stainless, 3 burners, rotisserie and side burner, it laso has 2 stainless side shelves that are very handy, he built a bar around it with extra prep space, it looks quite nice and he's very happy with quality and performance, I know you don't want/need rotisserie but it came with it. I personally like the green egg, you can smoke or grill and it keeps temperature fairly even. I currently own a charcoal powered Webber, it's blue, has a built in table/cart, ash catcher underneath and I swear by it. I sometimes order lump coal (maple) to cook with, I guess I'm a coal fan. We do lot's of grilling year 'round. Where I live we have natural gas so one of my summer projects is to build a wood fired oven (with gas starter) incorporate my Webber into my "grilling/smoking" island, maybe add small refrigirator, sink and bar area.

 

[no. 5]

My extreme apologies for thread diversion , but consarnet! every time I see this thread in 'new posts' I keep thinking it reads "little help with girls", and every time I think to myself "why is that there.... oh, grills. right".

just though I would share that.

 

[stratman]

I was just going to say that, darn you No.5!

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Boy meets Grill...

Hi Tom,

I love my Webber gas grill. It's built well and cooks even better. I'm no grill master or anything even close but I've owned a few grills and the Webber is by far the best I've used. What does it for me is temp control. Three burners is best IMO. Turn on all three to heat up quickly. Then turn off the middle burner with the meat placed directly over it. There will still be plenty of cooking power from the other two burners and the food won't be over "direct heat". I,m saving the best for last Tom..."but wait there's more"...You can buy replacement parts for a Webber!

The last grill I had was a stainless steel Thermos (Charbroil is the same company with the same grills just badged differently) and you can't get many replacement parts.

I don't know much about smoking, looks like fun just haven't gave it a go yet. Alton Brown did a Good Eats episode where he made a smoker out of a cardboard box! Maybe thats a discussion for the DIY area...

Almost forgot about flame-up... My Webber does a very good job of controling this but you'll need to keep a bottle of water around for the fatty foods on any grill.

I like mine medium,
SBF1

 

[warhummer]

I swear by my Weber Performer Charcoal Grill. It has a kettle grill (22 1/2 in cooking surface) attached to a Thermoset work surface. A chimney starter gets the coals going in less than 20 minutes. The best features are the upper and lower movable vents and flip-up grates inside that allow for dropping in new coals during cooking without having to take off your food and pull up the whole grate.

 

[stratman]

WH,

That's the one I have, I swear by that thing.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I was just going to say that, darn you No.5!

Yes, if you would have had your moniker as No. 2 or No. 1, I bet he would not have beaten you to the punch

 

[stratman]

Inescapable wisdom and logic from Mr. M. To be fair, I'm just a simple caveman.

 

[Nestor]

Been very satisfied with my Napoleon grill.

 

[Tom Andry]

Looks like my local Ace Hardware is having a sale on Ducane's and Webers. The last of last year's models. They put them together and are selling them at 20%+ off. I may have to pick up one and perhaps a BGE (Big Green Egg) at the same time. I've heard a couple of votes for Webers - anyone with any experience with Ducane? I understand they are owned by Weber as well.

 

[Audioholics]

Mine's the best so buy the one I bought.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

I am through with gas grills. They just do not heat evenly, nor do they get hot enough to sear steaks correctly. I spent $375 on this nice grill at Walmart last year, cast iron burners, side burner etc. It was the biggest disappointment. Hot and cold spots, flare ups, it sucks. I am going back to charcoal this summer. Sams Club has a real nice charcoal grill for $199.00 that I am going to pick up in a few weeks. The gas grill is going.

 

[zildjian]

I had a Ducane for 15+ years, it was a great grill! It served me well, I only had to replace the burner once after 10 years (I kept it outside on my porch with a cover over it, no other grill burner ever lasted that long for me!). I just replaced it last summer with a stainless steel 3 burner Char-broil grill, which is what I felt offered the best stainless steel grill at the price point I was willing to spend ($500). I just wanted stainless b/c I have lots of stainless things in my bar and wanted a stainless grill too. Ducane's grills I'd be glad to have another one, but I just got a little more grill for the money I thought with the char-broil at $500 vs the ducane's at a little more, but if I was looking to spend around $700, the Ducane's at that price point would be super.

Weber makes good grills too, but I haven't ever had one of their gas ones, so I can't comment, I've only had their grills that use charcoal, but I'm a gas fan now since it's easier and healthier (less carcinogens).

Let us know what you get and how you like it!
Brad

 

[mazersteven]

Looks like my local Ace Hardware is having a sale on Ducane's and Webers. The last of last year's models. They put them together and are selling them at 20%+ off. I may have to pick up one and perhaps a BGE (Big Green Egg) at the same time. I've heard a couple of votes for Webers - anyone with any experience with Ducane? I understand they are owned by Weber as well.

JMO But you don't want a Weber Grill.

You said you live in Florida and so do I. You want a total Stainless Steel Grill. Unless you want to replace it ever 2-3 years. How do you like rust with your Steaks? Purchase anything else, and thats what you will have. `

Ceramic racks will rust also, so don't waste your time with them.

 

[mazersteven]

For a "Big Dalai Lama" like yourself you should have this grill anyway.

 

[mazersteven]

Or if you need something portable. Hope you like Hemi's

 

[MDS]

I grew up in South FL (28+ years) but have been in Texas for the last 10 years. Don't fall for the notion that stainless steel is impervious to the elements - it is not! It will turn to crap in no time just like any other material.

I've only ever owned CharBroil and my current Weber and I am convinced that the Weber is the worth the slight premium in cost. For what it's worth the weather in Texas is even more brutal than S. FL - it's twice as hot in the summer and twice as cold in the winter.

 

[stratman]

Yup, the address numbers in my home are stainless and I'm forced to take them down every so often to flitz and polished them , after 5-6 months they look like crap and their stainless.