Grill died. Need help and/or advice

Mongo

Mongo

Joined
Nov 5, 2001
Messages
8,969
Howdy Corkies,
Well, my propane grill caught fire last fall. It was a particularly windy day and I thought that may have had something to do with it. Well, got brave and decided to see if she would work tonight. Caught fire again. Dammit. Looks like I'm in the market for a new grill.

Mrs. Mongo seems to want another propane grill, and we do have roughly three tanks of propane on hand... maybe as much as 2&1/2 of them are full, or as little as 1/2. Will have to check. Problem is, Mrs. Mongo hasn't EVER touched or cooked anything on the grill. That is MY piece of equipment. I have been known to grill year 'round too.

I ain't doing all that great financially, but am willing to spend several hundred dollars for a new grill. I can go charcoal if necessary. Would LOVE to have a Big Green Egg, but do know it's expensive and requires special charcoal and all the necessary extras are, well, extra and probably expensive. I still want one. Who wants to buy Mongo a Big Green Egg? I'll love you long time, and make you some kick ass brisket too.

So, Propane? Charcoal? Got any preferences? Where to buy? Any hope for a "thrifty" person, such as myself?

Looking forward to your opinions and replies,
Mongo
 
I just got the Char-broil Infrared Urban grill for my birthday. Its a propane grill and has great so far. I have had it about a month and can already tell its probably more grill than I will ever need. Seems to be fairly easy on the propane too. Heres a picture of the grill and the specs.


PIC


Specs
Commercial Series™ Infrared Urban Grill
Product Number: 463246910
# All the features of a full-sized grill in a reduced footprint
# Quantum® Infrared Cooking System
# 340 sq. inch stainless steel Quantum® cooking grates
# 125 sq. inch porcelain secondary cooking surface
# 21,000 BTU stainless steel burners
# Stainless steel lid, control panel, door and handles
# Convenient folding side shelves for easy storage
# Grate-level temperature gauge above each control knob
# Custom fit grill cover included
# Surefire™ electronic ignition
# 4 Casters/2 locking

Good luck with your search
 
I just bought a Weber Genesis yesterday. By far the most expensive single grill I've ever had. I bought it after realizing that I've spent over $1000 in cheaper grills that keep rusting out / crapping out after just a couple of years. 3 other grills (and one rebuilt hand me down) to be exact, one of which was a $500 supposedly nice stainless steel grill that the burners rusted out in six months. I've found that most big box store grills, regardless of the brand, are made by just a couple of crappy overseas manufacturers. The biggest is Nexgrill which is notoriously horrible on customer service. It's basically non-existant. There are thousands of complaints you can find online.

I grill about ten months out of the year in Iowa and wanted something good that would last. I have to say that this Weber takes things to a whole new level. It heats up faster than anything I've ever seen, has very even heat and is much better built.

My suggestion would be to get the Weber Spirit. It's a little cheaper but a highly rated grill. Webers never go on sale but my local sears gave me a 15% deal that lasts through the 4th. I don't think that they were supposed to but I asked and they did it. It saved me about a $100

This is actually an interesting read

Grill Link
 
Definately charcoal.

Big green egg might be a litle much to start with, and it's not particularly better at smoking than a (much) cheaper bullet smoker.

The perfect 1-2-3 cmbo for me for the last 20 years, including numerous barbecue competitions, is as follows:

Weber bullet smoker, can be used for grilling but I don't, smokes several racks of ribs or 2 big briskets (since you mentioned that cut).

Weber Professional grill, for grilling, can be also used for indirect smoking.

Small round portable Weber, can't remember the name, get the gold/platinum model cause you can lock the lid down for travel. Put in charcoal and take it with you on boat, etc., with no worries about it flying off.

Two reasons I recommend Weber: Finish doesn't rust, (and I'm talking 20 years here) and you can buy replacement parts easily, except for the small rectangular grill, which is why I didn't recommend it.

Also, use hardwood charcoal, not briquettes. Hardwood light faster, gets hot faster, and isn't filled with who knows what (some of the briquettes from China had stuff in em you wouldn't want to cook over).

Have fun.
 
I'm gotta agree w/ TLR.
I've had a Weber Genesis for the last 10 yrs and its still working like the day I bought it.
I know up here in the NE Home Depot offers them with cast iron grills. Once they are seasoned they are as non-stick as grandma's old cast iron skillets ;)
 
any idea why it lit on fire?
was it because of grease lining the interior or a fault in the burner?
If the majority of the body of the grill is still good, replacement burners can often be found at hardware stores for less than $30.
replacement ceramic "fire spreaders" are about the same.
could be a cheap way to resurrect your grill in time for Easter - and all the $$ you save not buying a new grill can be spidered away as a start towards your big green egg.

another thought - a "UDS" - or Ugly Drum Smoker.
cheap to build out of a 30 or 55 gallon barrel (unlined)
http://www.cbbqa.org/wiki/index.php?title=Ugly_Drum_Smoker
 
I am a big fan of charcoal. That being said, I have a nice Genesis Silver that is great. About the only thing I don't like about it is that the front cooks hotter than the rear. Since I think the burners on this one run front to back I don't understand it.

Whether you buy charcoal or propane I would suggest Weber.

Chad
 
Hi,

Charcoal is the only way to go. I use a Char-Griller barrel type with a side fire box. Here Cost is about $130.

With this setup you can grill burgers and dogs, steaks, and indirect cooking of roasts, chickens and turkeys is a snap in the big cooker. Add the side box and slow smoked ribs are only 6 hours away. It's very easy to hold proper temps in the 150 to 180F while using the side box. A grill like this will add a whole new dimension to your grilling.

dalee
 
Every spring, there is a spat of gas grills errupting. The problem is that over the winter the tiny holes through which the gas comes out rust shut and then the gas essentially back-fires and comes out the hole where the air is supposed to go in.

To prevent this, take the grates off every spring and use a wire brush to clean the holes on the burners. Visually inspect them to be sure they're all open. If you see any problems, burners are cheap and easy to replace.

Me? I love my Webber Summit.
 
OK, I swore I'd never admit to this, but I can't let another forum member go astray, knowing what I know now.

eleven years ago I met the current Mrs and one of our first disagreements ( I should have seen the writing on the wall then!) was the grill to invest in. I mean, a grill is a man's toy and her place is in the kitchen, not grillin' in the yard. she kept insisting on charcoal, but come on, nothing beats a beautiful stainless gas grill. there's something about chrome on a motorcycle and stainless on a grill that gets your pulse racing! Okay, we go shopping and you know what's drawing my eye. she's still pushing charcoal, I'm telling her she's outta her mind.:eek:

fast forward. I cave and let her have her charcoal. worse yet, she drops a grand on a Big Green Egg. You see where this is going?? well, I was embarassed to have that ugly thing in the yard. But here's the deal. You will NEVER eat better barbecue than what comes outta that egg. I don't care what anyone tells you to the contrary, they are just flat out wrong. Now if you tell her I said this, I'll deny every word of it.

so here's the thing. replace the burner or whatever caught fire for the cheap on your existing unit and start socking your cash away. even if the Egg is a couple years down the road, don't drop real cash into a stainless unit. Just trust me on this ( I have NO affiliation with Big Green Egg). What this woman can do with that egg should be illegal. our unit is now eleven years old, came with a lifetime guarantee (they replaced a cracked firebox liner, no questions asked), and oh yeah, she wears the barbecue apron in the family:o. But my belly is full and couldn't be happier.

end of story.
 
scriverdog,
I cracked up reading your post and could have duplicated it if I had the descriptive, writing skills you do. My wife, now gone for eight years, was the same way---'No, no damned butane, we need charcoal!' Well, she was a Texas gal and learned the art of barbeque from her mom and dad a long time ago. Like you, I ate huge qualtities of the very best barbeque for a lot of years till I lost her to the big C, eight years ago yesterday, and after 43 wonderful years. Thanks for your post.
 
The Weber Performer is the BEST grill I've ever owned. Period.

It's basically a webert kettle charcoal grill with a work table built around it. It accepts a small propanen bottle which is used to heat the charcoals to cooking temp. No need for one of those charcoal chimney things and no lighter fluid. Lighter fluid is doodoo, IMO. It's got a container underneath to store your charcoal as well.

I've had this grill for about 4 years now and everything on it is still operational. The table top is a GREAT feature.

This an awesome way to use charcoal with less fuss associated with heating coals and transferring them.

http://weber.com/grills/default.aspx?glid=4&mid=25
 
Charcoal is best for many things (chicken, especially), but gas is very close in terms of results and it's so easy. Turn the knob, push the button, and ten minutes later you are ready to grill. Oh, and gas is what you want for perfect steaks. Gas is also nice to get a constant temperature for things like roasts that cook for a long time. A gas grill can sear the outside of a prime rib and then slow-roast it the rest of the way perfectly.

Those green eggs are great too. But, again, it's a lot of work to get it ready and despite their size, the grilling area is actually small. If you like to have a bunch of friends over, the egg is gonna be a bottleneck.

One of the best $150 I ever spent was having the natural gas pipe run out to the deck. No messing with propane bottles for me.
 
Why not get both? I have a propane grill that my neighbor was throwing out. I put a new burner in it, painted it with high temp paint, put some lava rocks in it, and added a mount for a rotisserie. I also have a Weber charcoal grill. Thirdly I made a smoker similar to this one. I figure why not get the best of all worlds.
 
I agree with Gollnick. Charcoal IS better flavor, BUT if convenience (time to wait for charcoal to get hot) is important....go with gas.

Also as said, replacement burners can be had for under $30. Just bought one at Walmart for just over $20 a couple weeks ago. Fairly easy installation.

Taking it a step further....wood beats charcoal for taste. The best food has tasted cooked over a fire for me, is a good campfire with a deep bed of coals after burning mucho wood! Used to cook a lot of chicken and steak aside from occasional hot dogs.

Peter
 
You guys are out of my league.

Thrifty griller:
1. 22' Weber kettle--$90 at Walmart-------I hardly ever use this anymore since I got my Smokie Joe---its just me and takes forever to get a whole bed of coals going.

2.Weber Smokie Joe--$30 at Walmart--quick, easy since you only need to get a few coals going---works like a champ and I'm kinda kicking myself for buying the large kettle.

3. Weber Go Anywhere gas grill---$55 off of Amazon--just got it yesterday so can't give any reviews---will be changing that come this weekend.
 
Thanks all for your replies thus far. I saw one this morning on a sprint run to Home Depot for some fluorescent bulbs. Had a propane burner on one half and a charcoal grill on the other side. Can't remember the brand name, but it cost $300. Will certainly go back and get more info and do some research.

Basically my grill, a Coleman which is probably close to 12-13 yrs old, finally rusted out the burners. I think a jet of flame was directed right at a hole in the side of the grill where a rotisserie thingy went. Catches the plastic stuff on fire, also happens to be the side where the gas line and cylinder is!:eek: I "fondly" remember putting this grill together... (in fact, my wife STILL reminds me of all the loud and prolonged creative cursing I did), so I have no desire to see if a replacement burner is available. I seem to remember installing the burners as the major cuss word inducer of the whole process.

Will see if I can find a local source for lump charcoal... if so, will probably go charcoal grill.
 
Well, update on preliminary shopping trip and a little bit of www/googlin' time... looks like Weber continues to be the winner. Am looking at the Weber Genesis E-310, best price at Home Depot for $500. Also looking long and hard at charcoal grills... Weber 22.5" Performer and the One-Touch Platinum. These range from $330 for the former to $250 for the latter.

The combo propane/charcoal grill was a Brinkman, available at Home Depot. Not the best of reviews for Brinkman on the gas parts.

Am leaning towards one of the Weber charcoal grills, using lump charcoal instead of those nasty briquettes. Wife still strangely opposed to charcoal... complete silence when I replied to her that she had NEVER used the gas grill in the entire time we had it. Women. Pffff. Maybe, just maybe... I'll get a Weber gas AND a Weber charcoal. Damn... cuts into my knife money.:grumpy:
 
charcoal all the way. No Hank Hill grills for me.

I rock a LODGE cast iron sportsmans grill with lump charcoal and mesquite. I plan to buy the large BIG GREEN EGG once i'm trucking again!
 
Unfortunately for me... got to see/fondle/drool over an XL BIG GREEN EGG this afternoon. With the stand with wheels thingy... cost $1200! :eek::eek::eek: Still, if I win big in the lottery, will be buying one.

for those not in the know... www.biggreenegg.com
 
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