backyard BBQ grills. propane AND charcoal.

[vash]

who's running both types of grills?

i had a Weber Kettle grill. it was literally the last thing i had to stick into the moving van. dirty, ashy, rusty..Spherical!..and the last remaining holes in the van was next to a bunch of relatively clean sofa cushion..and the hole was a cube. in a moment of weakness, an apartment neighbor said, "hey, i can use that grill if you cant get it to fit". let's just say, i took the LAZY route and now i dont own a charcoal grill anymore.

i've been using my stainless weber Genesis successfully. it makes a decent outdoor oven if i dont want to warm up my home by turning on a stove.

now i want another Weber Kettle. inexpensive, effective. fun. i think both types of grill have their pluses. i'm not at the BGE yet. i can list about 15 things i would rather spend that kinda coin on before i even get to the egg.

this is NOT a propane vs charcoal debate thread. this is for those that have BOTH. i need both..right?

[drcoastline]

My grill is propane and charcoal split down the middle. The charcoal side also has a smoker box. As you said both have their place. I prefer the charcoal myself but the gas side is quick easy, clean and consistent. In the future I would buy one of each so I had larger cooking areas. The charcoal grill would be the larger of the two for me.

YES, you need both.

I have a friend that has the big green Egg. I'm not impressed. First it is deep and heavy. So very clumsy to move around. The cooking surface is small so some people eat while others wait. Not that great if you have a large group. Get a stone and it does cook good pizza.

[billybek]

Yep. You sure do.
Have my gas grill for quick cooks and the BGE.
I recently picked up a Broil King Keg off of Kijiji (like craigslist) just because it was so damn cheap.
Planning a big rib cook so it will come in handy.

[javadog]

I use a gas grill when I'm lazy or in a hurry. I use the smoker or charcoal grill when I want something to really taste good and I'm willing to devote the time to fire them up and watch them.

If I had to downsize, I'd probably replace everything with a plain old Weber.

[aschen]

I have the cheapest webber propane (spirit I think) and a BGE. Gotta have both I think. BGE is very much overpriced but it is a good product. Mine is about 10 years old now And I feel like it has been worth the cash.

I use the gas grill 2-3 times per week but the BGE only about once a month or so. If time weren't a constraint Id reverse that ratio

[red-beard]

I bought a "fake grey egg", Charbroil Akorn Kamado Style grill. $299.

The good: Cheap and it will temperature control like the BGE and other Kamado grills. It is metal and will not crack. It came with a cart.

The Bad: It is ceramic coated steel and the bottom rusted out after 3 years.

I've made fantastic smoked meats with this and mesquite lump charcoal. I cannot use my gas grill anymore. The flavor with the mesquite lump charcoal, even for hamburgers, adds so much.

I am buying a Vision Kamado style grill. Sams has the "cheap" version for $499. Home Depot has a better (dial air controls) for $699. It is Ceramic. My neighbor has one of the Sams Club ones and it is a great grill. The controls are similar to the Charboil. I think the dial type controls will be better in the long run.

BTW: I use a leaf blower to get the charcoal going quickly for burgers and steaks.

[drkshdw]

Have both a CharBroil propane and a Weber kettle (charcoal). While I prefer food cooked on charcoal, there are only two people in my household so setting up the briquettes and grill is a PITA and just not worth it to me. Propane is quick and easy and gets the job done. Now if I'm having friends or family over, the Weber is worth it.

I have a Traeger wood pellet grille, which is sort of related to charcoal, I guess. It's fantastic for smoking and a lot of roasting (I use it a ton), but I would like a charcoal grille for applying a sear to the meat. That's one thing the Traeger does not do too well.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

My grill is propane and charcoal split down the middle. The charcoal side also has a smoker box. As you said both have their place. I prefer the charcoal myself but the gas side is quick easy, clean and consistent. In the future I would buy one of each so I had larger cooking areas. The charcoal grill would be the larger of the two for me.

YES, you need both.

I have a friend that has the big green Egg. I'm not impressed. First it is deep and heavy. So very clumsy to move around. The cooking surface is small so some people eat while others wait. Not that great if you have a large group. Get a stone and it does cook good pizza.

This is what I have also, but after two years I still have not purchased a tank for it. I thought I would use it for stuff like roasted onions and what not that need heat for a while but so far it hasn't been worth the bother. I use the grill and smoker a lot though.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

My grill is propane and charcoal split down the middle. The charcoal side also has a smoker box. As you said both have their place. I prefer the charcoal myself but the gas side is quick easy, clean and consistent. In the future I would buy one of each so I had larger cooking areas. The charcoal grill would be the larger of the two for me.

YES, you need both.

I have a friend that has the big green Egg. I'm not impressed. First it is deep and heavy. So very clumsy to move around. The cooking surface is small so some people eat while others wait. Not that great if you have a large group. Get a stone and it does cook good pizza.

Big Green Egg, along with most Kamados, have many different sizes. I was over at an ACE hardware and saw a HUGE BGE. I think it was 30" or more in diameter. They wanted $1200 for the thing, and you have to buy the stand and the other parts separate. I think $1600 by the time you are done. I could do two of the Vision Grills for that.

[vash]

that Weber Kettle Summit looks badass. it's like a heavy-dense weber kettle. closer to a BGE, i think.

its' $1500. which aint gonna happen. i got pretty good with my old weber kettle. it was falling apart, but parts were readily available. i had to change things out a few times. those lower sweeper blade rusted out often. in hindsight, i should have just driven my truck back and picked it up..later.

oh well, a new one is $149..but i want that rotisserie attachment.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Big Green Egg, along with most Kamados, have many different sizes. I was over at an ACE hardware and saw a HUGE BGE. I think it was 30" or more in diameter. They wanted $1200 for the thing, and you have to buy the stand and the other parts separate. I think $1600 by the time you are done. I could do two of the Vision Grills for that.

Cheap SOB...

You only buy the BGE ONCE....and how much have you already blown on stuff you have to replace?

BGE also have good resale

[rfuerst911sc]

I have a Chinese stainless steel LP grill and a Bubba Keg ( BGE type ) charcoal grill . The speed of the LP is nice but the long slow burn of the BK is also nice . It really depends on what I'm cooking and for how many .

[tabs]

Originally Posted by vash

that Weber Kettle Summit looks badass. it's like a heavy-dense weber kettle. closer to a BGE, i think.

its' $1500. which aint gonna happen. i got pretty good with my old weber kettle. it was falling apart, but parts were readily available. i had to change things out a few times. those lower sweeper blade rusted out often. in hindsight, i should have just driven my truck back and picked it up..later.

oh well, a new one is $149..but i want that rotisserie attachment.

I use my propane WOK Burner to light my charcoal....in 5 minutes it is going and in 10 I am BBQing.

I have a Weber Kettle that I bought in early 1982, have the Rotisserie unit for it. Paid $39 plus $110 in the 90's for the Roto. BGE was about $700 in 2004 and for the Klose offset smoker $2k in Oct 2005. About a G of that was for shipping from Houston.

What I would like to get is a Santa Maria Grill for about $1500 where you can use wood...

It is all what you want and how well you want to do it.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by tabs

Cheap SOB...

You only buy the BGE ONCE....and how much have you already blown on stuff you have to replace?

BGE also have good resale

The Large BGE is the same size as the Vision. The Vision Pro has better controls. And the vision comes fully equipped for $699 for Pro, Classic Vision is $499.

BGE



Vision Pro



Vision Classic

[cabmandone]

I have a Weber summit with a smoking tray and rotisserie , a charcoal grill and a Weber Smokey Mountain. I'm thinking I have all my bases covered. Love using each for different things.

BTW Vash, you need a kettle and a Smokey Mountain to round out the "collection". It's imperative that you refer to it as a collection!!

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Big Green Egg, along with most Kamados, have many different sizes. I was over at an ACE hardware and saw a HUGE BGE. I think it was 30" or more in diameter. They wanted $1200 for the thing, and you have to buy the stand and the other parts separate. I think $1600 by the time you are done. I could do two of the Vision Grills for that.

It doesn't seem to me that his is 30" in diameter but it is pretty big with very little cooking area. But the $1,200.00 price tag sounds about right. I agree I could buy multiple good grills for that kind of money.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by drkshdw

Have both a CharBroil propane and a Weber kettle (charcoal). While I prefer food cooked on charcoal, there are only two people in my household so setting up the briquettes and grill is a PITA and just not worth it to me. Propane is quick and easy and gets the job done. Now if I'm having friends or family over, the Weber is worth it.

just so

Use the propane grill often, charcoal not so much.

[vash]

i think that charcoal chimney starter is the coolest thing.

20 minutes. from wadding up some newspaper to pouring in the briquettes. 20 minutes and i have perfect coals.

20 minutes. from me bending over and opening the valve on my propane tank and lighting that first row of burners..then slowly firing up the remaining two other rows. (there is a happy feeling of hearing that soft..PHoom! of the row lighting up..you propane guys know that sound)..20 minutes to heat my big Genesis up to cook.

i've timed it. 20 minutes on both units. it's a wash.

i'm usually chopping some veggie or salting a steak..prepping during that 20 minutes.

[vash]

i put a grate on top of the chimney to roast chili pods. its a great tool.
now i put that same grate on top of my wok burner. it is even better. it flat out scorches them.