Debating on buying a new grill

[chilepepper]

I'll go with a basic Weber kettle.  While gas is great for convenience I find hot spots, cooler areas and flare ups to be more problematic. 

[Valleygolfer]

3 hours ago, boogielicious said:

I like charcoal too, but never have the time. When I retire, I'll get a smoker or maybe a Green Egg, which can do both. 

I keep hearing this but I use a chimney and just stick the amount of coals I need in it and it's ready in as much time as warming up a grill or getting food prepared.

[NJpatbee]

I have had a 2 burner propane Weber Grill for over 14 years and for my needs it has worked great.  I doubt the model is still made but it has held up outdoors all this while.  I have used natural gas years ago (when I had access to it) and of course charcoal.  IMO the meat drippings and accumulated "stuff"  give the meat a great flavor on the gas grill.  The convenience is also hard to beat.  I do like charcoal but would not go back.  

[nevets88]

The instructions that come w/a Weber are well written, very handy for newbies.

[billchao]

17 hours ago, Valleygolfer said:

Charcoal doesn't take that much longer but is messy. I prefer the flavor of charcoal but if you just want cooked food with out having to deal with coal,  gas is the ticket. I will roll with coal....

I'm a charcoal guy, too. I like being able to control where and how I set up my hot and cold zones, direct and indirect heating areas, etc. It really doesn't take much time and it just becomes part of the cooking process for me (read: extra time to drink a beer). I'm firing up a chimney as I'm typing this.

Last month I was at my cousin's house for a cookout and her gas pressure regulator decided to fail on us. Emergency trip to Home Depot saved the day, but it's still not a problem I ever have at home. I have nothing against gas, but I prefer charcoal (kind of how I feel about automatic vs manual transmission). Both can get the job done at the end of the day.

[Valleygolfer]

1 hour ago, billchao said:

I'm a charcoal guy, too. I like being able to control where and how I set up my hot and cold zones, direct and indirect heating areas, etc. It really doesn't take much time and it just becomes part of the cooking process for me (read: extra time to drink a beer). I'm firing up a chimney as I'm typing this.

Last month I was at my cousin's house for a cookout and her gas pressure regulator decided to fail on us. Emergency trip to Home Depot saved the day, but it's still not a problem I ever have at home. I have nothing against gas, but I prefer charcoal (kind of how I feel about automatic vs manual transmission). Both can get the job done at the end of the day.

I think I am going to have a good time golfing with you... 

[kpaulhus]

I'm surprised the thread has this many posts without mentioning a big green egg. I love mine. i get the convienance of gas, but the egg can do it all and more. You're cooking in 15 mins tops while you prep your food and set the table. In my experience it's the right amount of time for 2 cold beers. I use my egg 4-6x a week. Muffins, BBQ, steaks, pizza, it does it all. 

[roamin]

On 7/3/2017 at 3:49 PM, TN94z said:

because you don't have the smokey charcoal flavor

Then what's the point of grilling?? 

8 hours ago, billchao said:

I'm a charcoal guy, too. I like being able to control where and how I set up my hot and cold zones, direct and indirect heating areas, etc. It really doesn't take much time and it just becomes part of the cooking process for me (read: extra time to drink a beer).

All of this, plus I like using real wood, either mixed in or by itself. I can cook quick with it too, but it's about the experience... ice cold beverages, kids playing in the yard, me pitching plastic golf balls over their heads to my "green" (outdoor carpet with pvc flagstick and a solo cup in the ground ), and a soft plume of sweet smelling smoke in the background, filling the neighborhood and prompting passersby to ask, "What time is dinner?!" The longer that lasts, the better. 

[TN94z]

8 hours ago, kpaulhus said:

I'm surprised the thread has this many posts without mentioning a big green egg. I love mine. i get the convienance of gas, but the egg can do it all and more. You're cooking in 15 mins tops while you prep your food and set the table. In my experience it's the right amount of time for 2 cold beers. I use my egg 4-6x a week. Muffins, BBQ, steaks, pizza, it does it all. 

I have looked into those but, man, they are pricey! I may end up holding out for one, though, based off the opinions of my friends that have them. They tell me they wouldn't have anything else. I had one buddy that was doing some ribs and his stayed at temp for hours! My charcoal grill was losing temp yesterday after one round of chicken wings and that's probably what aggravates me the most. 

Edited July 5, 2017 by TN94z

[kpaulhus]

8 hours ago, TN94z said:

I have looked into those but, man, they are pricey! I may end up holding out for one, though, based off the opinions of my friends that have them. They tell me they wouldn't have anything else. I had one buddy that was doing some ribs and his stayed at temp for hours! My charcoal grill was losing temp yesterday after one round of chicken wings and that's probably what aggravates me the most. 

I can cook for 26 hours without losing temp before I have to add more charcoal. Lifetime warranty. They are expensive at first, but imagine how many $250 grills you will buy in your lifetime versus $900 for a Large BGE.

[TN94z]

28 minutes ago, kpaulhus said:

I can cook for 26 hours without losing temp before I have to add more charcoal. Lifetime warranty. They are expensive at first, but imagine how many $250 grills you will buy in your lifetime versus $900 for a Large BGE.

Wow! 26 hours really? I have a friend that works at a place that sells them. They are 646.00 for the egg only.

[kpaulhus]

$646 for a Large Egg is a great deal. All you really need is a stand and the plate setter, so if you can be out the door under $900 that is a huge deal. I got mine with a bunch of eggsessories for $1100 and paid cash so they cut uncle sam out of the deal. 

[TN94z]

2 hours ago, kpaulhus said:

$646 for a Large Egg is a great deal. All you really need is a stand and the plate setter, so if you can be out the door under $900 that is a huge deal. I got mine with a bunch of eggsessories for $1100 and paid cash so they cut uncle sam out of the deal. 

These are the prices. I don't know what parts are what but it is the stand, shelf, and stand mover. 

[kpaulhus]

2 hours ago, TN94z said:

These are the prices. I don't know what parts are what but it is the stand, shelf, and stand mover. 

Buy that right now! 

[Ernest Jones]

23 hours ago, kpaulhus said:

I'm surprised the thread has this many posts without mentioning a big green egg. I love mine. i get the convienance of gas, but the egg can do it all and more. You're cooking in 15 mins tops while you prep your food and set the table. In my experience it's the right amount of time for 2 cold beers. I use my egg 4-6x a week. Muffins, BBQ, steaks, pizza, it does it all. 

Boogie and I brought up the Egg in previous posts. My sister has one, temp control is unbelievable!

[TN94z]

On 7/5/2017 at 9:41 PM, kpaulhus said:

Buy that right now! 

The 646 price is for the grill and a bag of charcoal only...still a good deal?

[Shooting29]

I guess I am the only cheap ass on this board. I used a $30 charcoal kettle grill I won at Home Depot from 2008 until 2015. When we moved into our new house I bought a 2 burner Char Broil natural gas grill. The money I save in charcoal has paid for the grill multiple times. I like the taste off this grill better than my old charcoal kettle. 

pic of my grill and some cowboy beans I made a couple days ago start to finish on the grill. 

[TN94z]

Okay, so I have talked him down even more. Now I can get the large egg, stand, and the two composite shelves for 760.00.  I think that has made my mind up. I'll most likely end up building a table for it, but the stand will work for now.