Gas Grillers: Weapon of Choice?

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Good to know. I bought a Genesis 2 years ago. I like cooking with it, but the gas system is more touchy than my old grill. I have to bleed (or reset or whatever they call it) the safety flow restricter in the gas system about every other time I use it.

Where is the restricter? Is it in the regulator, or is it part of the gas tank? Weber sent me another regulator and it didn't make any difference. Anyone have any tips on making the gas flow every time?

The dumbass safety flow restrictor is in the tank, not the grill. When one gets stuck I disconnect it, invert it and give it a good shake. Fixed.

More safety devices to protect us from ourselves that don't work properly.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

Thanks for the info so far all!

Funny Weber Genesis came up multiple times, thats the series I was looking at the most amongst others.

Sean

Here's the last thing outstanding to me...

Where did you buy them?

I have reservations about buying at Lowe's/Home-Cheapo in knowing damn well the John Deere mower you get at a Deere Dealer is dramatically different...

Think the grills are the same?

In reading all of their descriptions sounds like materials etc are same.

I got my Weber Genesis at Home Dep on sale for $399 back in 2005. We grill 3-4 times/wk year round. Last year I replaced the flavor bars and top grills for around $80. This is as close to a bulletproof BBQ as I have ever owned.

Blazing hot in 5 minutes, sears beef right now, cooks very evenly or indirectly, low and slow for chicken or roast is no problem. We do Italian sausage, steaks, tri tip, rib roast, pork chops, ribs, chicken breasts and thighs, and even whole turkeys. A little planning and a meat thermometer and everything comes out great.

We even did a double blind test early-on with some die hard charcoal fans (Tri tip over gas vs tri tip over charcoal). They could not tell the difference in flavor. I call that a win!

[jyl]

I got a Ducane at Home Depot in 2007 for $800. It is 100% non-magnetic stainless steel (300 series) and has zero rust after living outdoors for 5 Portland winters. I do cover it for the worst months, but the water gets inside the cover, come spring I find happy slugs and the stainless steel grill tools are rusty, but the grill is spotless. So bring a magnet and make sure your grill is non-magnetic stainless steel. I think today many are the cheaper but more rust-prone 400 series steel.

[Ned, NYNA11]

We got a Lynx about 20 years ago, with a rotisserie, just great. I had to use my floor jack to rig it off the pallet it came on.

That said, roast chicken done on the rotisery is just the best.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

Thanks for the info so far all!

Funny Weber Genesis came up multiple times, thats the series I was looking at the most amongst others.

Sean

Here's the last thing outstanding to me...

Where did you buy them?

I have reservations about buying at Lowe's/Home-Cheapo in knowing damn well the John Deere mower you get at a Deere Dealer is dramatically different...

Think the grills are the same?

In reading all of their descriptions sounds like materials etc are same.

I did a lot of research before buying mine at Home Depot and couldn't find any differences, because I had the same concern.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I did a lot of research before buying mine at Home Depot and couldn't find any differences, because I had the same concern.

RIGHT!?...

These big box stores do have other things...powertools, power equipment, sinks...well just about everything is manufactured to a different standard than if you bought from a mfg dealer.

Great info from all thank you guys.

[911SauCy]

This is the unit we'll be replacing. From the little info I have on it, pretty sure its about/older than 25...inherited from Grandmother-in-law.

I already replaced some cancerous metal, cut/stained/replaced all the wood, and its been a good ride but ready for the new one.

Thinking of tossing it on CraigsList for a $mall amount just because its so damn heavy.

[KevinTodd]

I have a Weber Genesis for bigger meals. It's over 10 years old, lives outside under a cover when not in use--and still looks nearly new. I have replaced only the flavor bars and nothing else (well except the cover).

I also have a Weber Baby Q for quick meals--it works like a champ, too, and has been very durable. It is sitting right next to my Weber kettle charcoal grill and my Big Green Egg--which I can't begin to explain how much I love.

[R K T]

....After building our pool, we went to BBQs Galore and bought a last years display model off the floor. Fire Magic built in an island and hooked up to NG line. $1700 for the whole deal including crane to bring it in. BEST grill i've ever had....

[911SauCy]

Now theres an entrance!

[5String43]

I bought a Weber Genesis about three years ago and have not looked back. It has been absolutely trouble-free and does a great job on every cut of meat I've tried.

Bought it from Amazon. It came in a big, heavy box. Took me a couple of hours to assemble it, but it was no big deal, and I saved a little money. Not a lot, mind you, but a little.

[FLYGEEZER]

My second wifes grandfather was from the "old country" Had him over for a BBQ along with family & friends for a party. My old house had a big deck,24x48' Lotsa people, lotsa beer & good food. It was his first visit to our home and he comes up to me & ask ; "where is bathroom"? I directed him to the nearest one, just inside the patio door turn left & it's right before the laundry room. He's back having another beer in a few minutes with a funny smile on his face so I ask him if he found the bathroom OK. He sez: "america is funny place, people cook & eat outside...but schit inside" This has stuck with me for years. I don't fire up the Webber without thinking about his statement. The old man was right....we are a bit FU'd up!

[jpk]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

This is the unit we'll be replacing. From the little info I have on it, pretty sure its about/older than 25...inherited from Grandmother-in-law.

I already replaced some cancerous metal, cut/stained/replaced all the wood, and its been a good ride but ready for the new one.

Thinking of tossing it on CraigsList for a $mall amount just because its so damn heavy.

Just to make sure... you know that's a Weber Genesis, right?

[Shuie]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

This is the unit we'll be replacing. From the little info I have on it, pretty sure its about/older than 25...inherited from Grandmother-in-law.

I already replaced some cancerous metal, cut/stained/replaced all the wood, and its been a good ride but ready for the new one.

Thinking of tossing it on CraigsList for a $mall amount just because its so damn heavy.

The newer Webers are nowhere near as good as that unit, IMHO. I gave one of those to my brother-in-law a few years ago after treating myself to a new one. The old grill made it through 3 moves and saw 10 years of hard use sitting on an uncovered patio. The new grill was still a 3 burner Weber Genesis, but it never heated evenly, I could never cook anything consistently on it, the cart was cheaply made, one of the wheels broke off, etc., it just wasn't that solid. The new Weber wound up on craigslist. Im still pissed at myself. I've tried to buy the old one from the BIL and he wont sell it to me. The old red ones are awesome grills.

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I think the Char Broil Commercial Series is a lot of grill for under 400 bucks. Lifetime burner warranty. I had an older unit that I pulled out of a built-in outdoor kitchen. I used it for several years and it was already pretty used. If today's units are anything like that, they would be a contender.

+1 to the Char-Broil.

The acquisition of it was a bit different to the crane drop super grill (above). Wouldn't you know it, was driving a backroad 20 miles from home and I see a stainless gas grill at the front of a driveway with a 'Free' sign. Surely was worth a quick look but upon closer inspection it was obvious Pig Family owned. It was NEVER CLEANED - yuk! I did have to fabricate new gas pipe manifold to the cast burners and took some serious degreasing from the prior piggy owners yet still made it a bargain score.

I forget the private label name - cast emblem but the back of it has a riveted tag and the Made by Char-Broil. Much heavier than the Home Depot big box Char-Broils. 100% stainless, no plastic anywhere, nice slide outs, off-side burner. It does use three independent cast iron burners, and also an upper rotiserie infrared burner. High BTU output - a must have. Going on 5 years since finding it. Next time around would hope to find another and gladly pay.

We also have a traditional Weber charcoal dome type for slow cooked ribs. Sometimes both grills are in use.

And lastly, we also use a small charcoal original Tool Box grill. Fastest cooking portable charcoal grill. Clever design and compact for take along in the truck or car. Met the owner of the company by chance and told him much we love that little grill. Great guy and gave me a set of matching tools, hat, bib... .

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by Shuie

The newer Webers are nowhere near as good as that unit, IMHO. I gave one of those to my brother-in-law a few years ago after treating myself to a new one. The old grill made it through 3 moves and saw 10 years of hard use sitting on an uncovered patio. The new grill was still a 3 burner Weber Genesis, but it never heated evenly, I could never cook anything consistently on it, the cart was cheaply made, one of the wheels broke off, etc., it just wasn't that solid. The new Weber wound up on craigslist. Im still pissed at myself. I've tried to buy the old one from the BIL and he wont sell it to me. The old red ones are awesome grills.

This thing does a good job but it literally needs to be restored, like a frame-off job.

Being uncovered for years and years has caused serious cancer spots all over the frame (cant see in the picture) and in looking up all the parts I would need to properly rebuild I'm already over half the cost of a new one.

Its for sale...

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by jpk

Just to make sure... you know that's a Weber Genesis, right?

Uhh, no. Crucify me now but there is no "name" other than Weber and the dang thing is older than me.

[cairns]

Cooks magazine picked Weber as the best in charcoal grills and compared it with Brinkman, Charbroil et. al.

Read for yourself: https://www.cooksillustrated.com/equipment/overview.asp?docid=42276

I use a Tec, which I love; it's a gas grill and it's pricey. But it will outlive me.

Discover the Taste of TEC Our Moist, Tender, Juicy Charbroiled Flavor

[F150 FX4]

I sunk a bunch of money into a Vermont Castings gas grill after my divorce among other needless things. And during this time my friends were buying Big Green Eggs largely I think because they were a status symbol around here like owning a Rolex. I missed the taste of a charcoal cooked steak so in addition I bought a Weber Gold grill. I gave away the huge Vermont Castings grill and never regretted it. And I do not think anything cooked on the Green Egg is any better than a cook that knows what he is doing on a Weber. I just upgraded to a Weber Performer with the gas starter. Hooked on Weber, will always have one.

[Shuie]

Originally Posted by F150 FX4

And I do not think anything cooked on the Green Egg is any better than a cook that knows what he is doing on a Weber.

Comparing a ceramic cooker to a gas grill is like comparing hammers and screwdrivers. Why light the egg to cook a couple of burgers or try to use the gas grill to smoke a brisket on indirect heat for +20hrs. You must have both

911SauCY, if I could drive over there I would buy the red Weber from you. I really just want the shell to set in some kind of counter top with my smoker as a start to an outdoor kitchen project. I'll troll the local neighborhoods and pull one out of someones curbside garbage pickup someday