Technical > Home Improvement > First BBQ purchase - Help a meat-eating-man out

First BBQ purchase - Help a meat-eating-man out

reply to alkizmo
I have this:

»www.lowes.com/pd_5050-49769-5050···cetInfo=

Charcoal on one side (with the option for a side firebox for slow and low cooking of said ribs) and gas on the other.

$300, and usually they have one assembled in the store, just requiring a few turns of a phillips screwdriver to tighten things up when you get it home.

TD

reply to alkizmo
I have used several gas grills and fell in love with this one. »www.lowes.com/pd_94772-82210-463···cetInfo=

The Infared cooking allows you to sear the meat keeping in the juices but yet fully cook it. I could not cook a good steak or chicken on the grill till I got this one.

reply to alkizmo

thermometer accessory
veggies

reply to alkizmo
I second the Weber.

Bought mine in 1996.
It has done 8 years in eastern MA, followed by 7 more in FL.
I've replaced wood slats (they use plastic now), "flavorizer" bars (much superior to lava chunks), and tank & regulator when the OPD crap came in.

It has NEVER failed to light on the first push of the ignitor.
I can cook my food medium-well, and still give my wife the extra rare she wants, with no problems.

Plus, we use it about 3-4 times a week, for just the 2 of us.
Cleanup, with the cast iron grill, is a nothing: heat it up, then hit it with the brush and start cooking.

reply to alkizmo
First grill I got was a stainless steel one, that used propane. It cost about 2k and lasted 10 years. It needs a lot of fixing up, so I thought it'd be cheaper to buy another grill. I purchased a charcoal grill last year. It only cost 80 bucks, and I like it. It's smaller then the gas grill, but it adds a layer of flavour to the food.
I use hickory wood chunks with my hickory charcoal.
--
Is a person a failure for doing nothing? Or is he a failure for trying, and not succeeding at what he is attempting to do? What did you fail at today?.

reply to Spensergig
I am at home depot right now and the only webers I see are small round top BBQ. Is that what you guys had in mind? Not that I disagree. They look solid. But no side burners, as someone suggested.

For the size they are pricey though comparatively to broil-mates.

reply to alkizmo
Nevermind, found the big ones, starting at 600$ and going to 2000$ haha okay I gotta make sure I really want this

reply to Snakeoil

reply to Snakeoil

reply to alkizmo
The Weber is big enough for smoking several racks of ribs, a turkey, chinese ducks and Greek "beer can" chicken.

A disposable drip pan under the ribs makes cleanup easier.

Also buy chunks of mesquite and hickory for the ribs and turkey, apple or cherry for the duck. I smoked a pork tenderloin two days ago, turned out great.

Then invite me over and drink some Quebec beers.

reply to Fronkman

reply to alkizmo
I paid about $550 for mine back in 1996, at HD.
If I recall, it was a Genesis.
Cast Aluminum body (no rust), cross-over push button ignition.

It has 3 burners, but no side burners.
Most of my cooking is done using the "indirect heat" method, with the center and rear burners on low and the front on high.

I have no hot spots. Flareups aren't a problem.

I looked at the Lowes and HD sites, and I see some 2-burner models for as low as $399, and a 3-burner version for $499.

When I bought mine, I offered 2 of my kids a new grill at the same time. They chose charbroil or similar. Mine still works - theirs have been gone for almost 10 years.

YMMV - I'll spend a bit more for a (so far) lifetime purchase.

reply to dennismurphy
I bought a Vermont Castings grill in Home Depot years ago. So did 2 friends. All 3 are still going strong. They are built like tanks. HD doesn't carry them anymore, but a quick check of the Vermont Castings web page showed several dealers in your part of Canuckistan
One minor correction, you are interested in purchasing a gas grill, not a BBQ. That's a whole 'nother art form in and of itself.

reply to dennismurphy
Well, the thing is, even if I find out I like grilling, the "Gas grill" I'll have first purchased will need to be replaced.

If I do like grilling, then I will want it year-round. Propane in the winter in Canada is like liquid farts. So I would get a natural gas extension installed and need to change the "Gas grill" with a model that supports it.

Anyhow, I found this very cheap model at home depot that every single review is raving about.

»www.homedepot.ca/product/broil-m···e/909206

For 200$, I couldn't go wrong now could I?

reply to alkizmo
It all depends on money (and your love for grilling/bbq)... I have been eyeing the weber summit series for long time. Specifically the e670. Yep it's around $2k but I use my grill year round and I'm tired of buying $300-$400 grills that fall apart after a year. With that said I have fallen in love with Memphis Grills now. »hearthlandproducts.com/ Basically the same set up at a propane grill but uses compressed wood pellets. It uses an electronic feed system to maintain a set temp. The pro version can go from 200 to around 700 degrees. Perfect for smoking some ribs one night to searing the rib eye the next.

Now if you want to get into BBQ I have to recommend Horizon. »www.horizonbbqsmokersstore.com/ I have the starter model and it cost me around $800 fully set up. Thing is built like a tank. 1/4" cast iron. I finally had to repaint the firebox this year after about 4 years of use. Looks brand new again.

With all that said, you can't go wrong with a weber kettle grill. »www.weber.com/explore/grills/charcoal-series Just make sure you stick to natural lump charcoal and get a charcoal starter (stay away from lighter fluid). With a starter you can be up and cooking within 20-30 mins MAX. Again you can do high temp cooking for steaks or keeps the coals low for some smoking.

Now my last suggestion... If you go with a kettle or smoker, or anything that uses charcoal and want to get some good smoke going:
»www.fruitawoodchunks.com/
By far some of the best smoking woods you can buy. Much cheaper than HD/Lowes and the quality is great.

reply to dennismurphy
Get a charcoal grill. The options are better for grilling and smoking meat and fish. And there's a big difference in flavor as well even when using regular charcoal with no wood chips.

- FM

reply to alkizmo
I have a Kenmore that is made by Char Broil. It is pretty basic but does the job.