So what are you using for grills this summer?

[Lux Luthor]

After a grueling month long search, I finally found another apartment, which is basically a whole house. So for the first time in 5 years, I can actually do some backyard grilling. It's a very welcome change from the cubicle of an apartment I've been living in.

So anyway, what should I get for a grill? Any recommendations? Any other advice on grilling, comments, etc.?

 

[PhotonRanger]

I enjoy grilling on the Weber three burner gas grill that my girlfriend has. I like the way the burner units are arranged, and hers has be trouble free for years.

When I went to get the same model at Home Depot, it had cast iron grill surfaces rather than the ceramic coated steel. The label called the cast iron grill surface "A Home Depot Exclusive". Is this a bug or feature? The grill was right as $500, so I want to make sure it's what I want.

 

[Saaby]

I would consider it a feature...some of the finest cookware is cast iron. I have heard good things about Webber grills but all we have is a 10 year old Char-Broil with the handle for the lid broke off

If I have any say in it though...our next grill will be a Webber.

Hey, have you ever seen those halogen lights you can clip to your grill? Why not get one of those and convert it to led! Perfect...

 

[txwest]

From what I hear, the Weber is about the best. It'll be the next one I buy. As far as the cast iron grill over the enamal, go with the CI. After time, the heat will crack the enamal & it'll start rusting. If you "season" the CI, it will make it pretty well nonstick & rust proof. If it does rust, just take a wire brush to it & reseason it. Should last much longer than the grill. TX

 

[mindcrime]

I love my Weber Genesis. For $500 I would hope so. Its the Surefire of grills. You can probably do just fine at half the price, but you will lose some bragging rights.

 

[BuddTX]

Another topic close to my heart!

Check out these sites:

This is one of the best ones! http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/bbq/

BBQ newsgroup: http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=alt.food.barbecue
http://www.bbqguys.com/
http://www.smokergrills.com/
http://www.bbqbooks.com/
http://www.bbqrepair.com/
http://www.grandhall.com/home.html

I have lots more sites, let me know if you want more!

In all honesty, the best is cooking over raw heat, be it wood, or charcoal.

However, that does get old after a while. I have an Oklohma Joe Charcoal grill, and I love it. On a saturday, you marinate whatever meat you want to cook, maybe for a day or two, then you get some misquete briquettes, and maybe some hardwood, a good charcoal chimney, and in about a half hour, you have a great fire, and ready to grill!

BUT, it's tuesday, you just came home from work, have to walk the dog, and all you want is to grill some chicken and some vegetables, or maybe a potato. This is where gas grills come in.

I think the best value in a gas grill is the Sam's Club Members Mark (formally Grand Hall Bakers and Chef's) 599.00 grill. It is stainless steel, and is beautiful.

Here it is:
http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?coe=0&oidPath=0%3a-15242%3a-19327%3a654025&mt=a&n=0&BV_SessionID=_SC_0910624661.1024714713_CS_&BV_EngineID=ccdfadcfhhkgiigcfkfcfkjdg oodflh.0

AND, there is this great wood chip that produces great smoked flavor, and doesn't make a mess, and lasts a long time, and is true smoke flavor:

This is the most awsome stuff:
http://www.bbqrsdelight.com/

OK, good luck and good grilling! (I got to get my frozen dinner out of the microwave now!)

 

[mindcrime]

I have to agree about the wood. I have just recently started placing tin foil enclosed packets of hickory chips under my grates. I can really taste a big difference. Ease of gas, taste of wood. Pretty good compromise.

 

[DonL]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mindcrime:
I have to agree about the wood. I have just recently started placing tin foil enclosed packets of hickory chips under my grates. I can really taste a big difference. Ease of gas, taste of wood. Pretty good compromise.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've do that as well, as do some others that I know. It's all a compromise.

My brother-in-law has been talking about a grill that uses gas to stoke charcoal up in no time flat. Charcoal taste with a start-up in about 1/3 of the time for it to come to a good cooking glow.

Be damned if I can remember what the name or brand of it was now...

 

[Saaby]

Weber makes a charcol grill too

there are nice grills at Costco too, and then there's the professoinal grills they sell in frontgate...

Frontgate

 

[Lux Luthor]

Hey, thanks for all the responses, but you guys are outta my league. I wouldn't even spend $500 on a flashlight. A got the little Coleman party grill for $40 at Lowes. It's portable, so I can take it camping and to the beach. I'm gonna get a hose/adaptor for $20 and hook it to a 20# tank, then use 1# ones when I take it somewhere.

In fact, I just got back from Lake George, where I nuked my first 2 burgers and some onion rings. Now I finally feel like an American again.

 

[Saaby]

Darell oughta tell us what he's grilling on

yea yea it's from another post but...

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>From the now rediculously long Arc LS thread:
...Anyway. That's what ol' Darell is thinking tonight after a fine BBQ...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[Alaric Darconville]

My brother in law is trickling down his old Char-Broil Commercial Series grill-- he just bought a new one with the infrared technology. We did look at the Weber Genesis, and it was a fine piece of work but he decided to stick with Char-Broil.

Now, my brother in law is a dedicated griller-- even his old Char-Broil got rejetted to natural gas-- and then he had a gas line plumbed in so it could be hooked up year 'round (there's a shutoff valve on the permanent pipe and all that). He's using an LED grill light that I got him (and moved it to the new one, guess I gotta buy my own) and he absolutely loves it. He can (and has) grilled in power failures, like the winter of '07 which knocked out power in OKC. He was cooking up a storm while most of the people with their all-electric appliances had to eat cold canned beans or whatever.

I hope to be able to duplicate his steaks-- I've assisted quite a few times, and know his secret marinade, and more importantly, the timing. His steaks never go lower than "fine restaurant quality", and sometimes they get to the "pinky finger tender" point (seriously, his steaks are ridiculously tender. It's an art.).

So, soon I'll be grilling on a Char Broil; my old square $19.99 Wal-Mart special charcoal grill may end up getting trickled down to... I dunno who'd want it.

Having tasted the steaks and chicken and rack of lamb that my brother in law does on a gas grill, I'm no longer convinced a charcoal grill really produces that much of a better flavor. It's all in the rubs and marinades and the foil packet of grilling wood.

I'll agree -- Weber makes a very fine charcoal grill, the "One Touch".

I have a friend that insists we're all wrong, and the Big Green Egg is the way to go. Too expensive for me!

 

[Kestrel]

Wow, 8-year necro bump! :huh:

Definitely looking forward to doing some outdoor grilling once this darn rain stops...

 

[LukeA]

...even his old Char-Broil got rejetted to natural gas-- and then he had a gas line plumbed in so it could be hooked up year 'round (there's a shutoff valve on the permanent pipe and all that)...

That's the only way to do it.

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

This has got to be a record thread resurrection.

My wife and I have a Weber Genesis for push-button simplicity and portability, but we also have a built-in brick BBQ for use with wood or charcoal. Steaks, ribs, chicken, and the odd leg of lamb and Roulade will be prepared.

I've heard good things and eaten good things off of Big Green Eggs. However, the best BBQ(yes, actual BBQ, not grilled) I have ever eaten came off of an $80 Weber, tended by a true master of the art. To me, this means that BBQ nirvana comes from the chef, not the hardware.

 

[DIY Lumens]

I have a cast iron Lodge hibachi like this: https://secure.lodgemfg.com/storefront/product1_new.asp?menu=prologic&idProduct=3975
I have used it for several years for steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. I also have a smoker I built out of an old water heater tank, which I use for chicken and pork barbeque.
BTW, Lodge is about 30 miles from where I live. I have lots of their skillets , Dutch ovens, etc.

 

[Chauncey Gardner]

I have to agree about the wood. I have just recently started placing tin foil enclosed packets of hickory chips under my grates. I can really taste a big difference. Ease of gas, taste of wood. Pretty good compromise.

I do the same thing with chips from my smoker. Just soak them for 15-20 minutes in warm water, fire up the grill with the foil in place between the burners, throw the chips on when it's ready. Simple & easy with much better control over your heat with the gas.

We have one of the large Stainless Costco grills & love it.

Prior to that I'd always used a Weber kettle & natural hickory or mesquite.

 

[mudman cj]

(8 years after the question was posed) - I'm using a hand me down Weber charcoal grill that I grew up watching my father use. It's older than me (34) and still making delicious barbecue. Sure, I've had to replace the bottom grill after it disintegrated and the airflow adjustment disk rusted off years ago, but it has become a matter of pride to keep it going...:grin2:

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

I'm using a Weber E-310 that I got last year at Home Depot for $199 (deal of the century!).

I really like how it cooks, but I would change a few things on it if I could. For starters I wished the cook racks were vertical instead of being horizontal, and I also wish the controls were on the front of the grill so that both sides could be used to place things. The controls are located on the right side, so it only leaves you with one side to place things (food,tools,whatever).

 

[bthrel]

I received a large Big Green Egg last summer as a surprise birthday present from my Wife... Expensive? yes, Worth every penny? ABSOLUTELY!

I've had various charcoal and gas, as well as assorted other smokers and such. When I did the math I found that over the past 15 years I had spent well over the cost of the egg on grills that were now sitting in some landfill.

Dont get me wrong, I'm far from a Egg Head, but I do fully expect this grill to last for at least 15+ years, plus its made in the USA over in Georgia and has a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser.

Its by far the best grill I have ever used, I;ve smoked butts on it, did a whole turkey, pizza, Christmas roast beast, etc...

No matter what you have or get, grilling in the summer is the best..

Cheers

Brian