I've got a birthday coming up this weekend and me and the dad need to find a new grill for all this meat. I think we're leaning towards a charcoal grill but gas is nice too. It'd be great to smoke a brisket also. Does anybody have a recommendation? We want to spend about $500 and need to find one before the weekend. Please help me quit procrastinating.
I have this one. I got the smoker attachment for it, too, but haven't hooked it up or used it yet. I have been very happy with it overall.
That looks awesome. Is that a is one side gas and the other charcoal? What's the brand and how much did you pay?
Yes, that is a Char-Griller version. The Char-Griller Duo. Got it at Lowe's $299, sometimes at the end of the season they run them for $199. The smoker box attachment is extra, I think I gave $75 or $80 for it.
The sonofabitch gets HOT. I'm serious... the three-burner gas side (on the left) if I light the burners and turn them them the lowest setting, walk into the house and grab my cooking stuff and come back, it will be 500F+. Like in 90 seconds. On high it will peg out the thermometer at 700+ in no time.
The only complaint, only thing I would change is better grates - they get hot and the ceramic coating chips off - I've never heard of a grill that didn't. New grates are cheap. It's a bad-ass grill.
The sonofabitch gets HOT. I'm serious... the three-burner gas side (on the left) if I light the burners and turn them them the lowest setting, walk into the house and grab my cooking stuff and come back, it will be 500F+. Like in 90 seconds. On high it will peg out the thermometer at 700+ in no time.
The only complaint, only thing I would change is better grates - they get hot and the ceramic coating chips off - I've never heard of a grill that didn't. New grates are cheap. It's a bad-ass grill.
One word- Kamado. It will take more than $500, but they will last a lifetime. Overnight I became Supreme Commander of all things meat. I've only had mine for 6 months now, but every time I've cooked the minions have declared "This is the Best Ever!"
There are several to chose from
The original Big Green Egg
The Kamado Joe
And Primo which is what I went with.
There are others in the market now, but these are the 3 primary ones.
They all function the same way, the only difference being size, shape, and amenities. Whichever you chose, you will never regret it. I had a friend who built a patio grill around his and years later when they moved, he took the grill with him instead of buying a new one.
No matter how hard the grill manufacturers try, they can never recreate the charcoal flavor using gas. The downside of charcoal grills has always been managing the charcoal though. But a Kamado can control the air flow (temp), and even be sealed shut, thereby snuffing out the coals and saving them for later use. I can get several grilling sessions on the same charcoal so there is little waste. One common theme among Kamado's is how they keep the meat moist. This is because H2O is a byproduct of burning charcoal (See HowStuffWorks for an in-depth answer.) and the Kamado acts like an oven, trapping the moisture inside the grill. Normal grills can't trap the moisture in.
I promise you, you will thank me later.
There are several to chose from
The original Big Green Egg
The Kamado Joe
And Primo which is what I went with.
There are others in the market now, but these are the 3 primary ones.
They all function the same way, the only difference being size, shape, and amenities. Whichever you chose, you will never regret it. I had a friend who built a patio grill around his and years later when they moved, he took the grill with him instead of buying a new one.
No matter how hard the grill manufacturers try, they can never recreate the charcoal flavor using gas. The downside of charcoal grills has always been managing the charcoal though. But a Kamado can control the air flow (temp), and even be sealed shut, thereby snuffing out the coals and saving them for later use. I can get several grilling sessions on the same charcoal so there is little waste. One common theme among Kamado's is how they keep the meat moist. This is because H2O is a byproduct of burning charcoal (See HowStuffWorks for an in-depth answer.) and the Kamado acts like an oven, trapping the moisture inside the grill. Normal grills can't trap the moisture in.
I promise you, you will thank me later.
+1000... The best steak I've ever had came from 90 seconds on one of those.
I've heard nothing but good about the Big Green Egg, except for price and weight of course, but otherwise very highly regarded. If you were searching for just a grill I would say Weber, hands down, period, done. However, although mine has a smoker box that does do an ok job at smoking food it doesn't work anywhere near a dedicated smoker so I bought a very awesome electric smoker (complete with remote controls for changing and monitoring temps) Master Chef. Makes incredibly good BBQ..
Weber performer in your budget. Charcoal that lights with gas. Its in your budget.
I have a big green egg, a weber smokey mountain, a weber gas, and a weber lil smokey for camping.
Stick with weber unless you can swing a used ceramic cooker.
I have a big green egg, a weber smokey mountain, a weber gas, and a weber lil smokey for camping.
Stick with weber unless you can swing a used ceramic cooker.
Academy has a Chargriller "Akorn" komado style cooker for $500ish, maybe even less. It's not as solid as the Big Green Egg or Primo, but with a few tips and tricks (found on many bbq sites and YouTube), it'll function just fine.
If you can swing just a bit more, check out the Big Steel Keg, it's a stainless steel komado cooker that runs about $800. It gets fantastic reviews. Even comes with a trailer hitch attachment right out of the box.
Sent cleanly from my Mop n Glo bucket.
If you can swing just a bit more, check out the Big Steel Keg, it's a stainless steel komado cooker that runs about $800. It gets fantastic reviews. Even comes with a trailer hitch attachment right out of the box.
Sent cleanly from my Mop n Glo bucket.
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