Grill died. Need help and/or advice

I have a Large BGE, for about 3 years now.

There are a couple things that you can do with one that you almost cannot do with a gas grill.

You can get up to 800 degrees+ Fahrenheit in about 15 minutes for searing and cooking steaks, and yes, it makes a huge difference.

The other thing is smoking......it works amazingly well, as in I produced an absolutely kickass 12 hours smoked brisket the second time I used the thing.....2 out of the 3 briskets I made were pro bbq quality, the middle one, I had to braise in Coke because I let it get too hot, the bark was 1/4" thick.:o

I did smoked shrimp and blue fin tuna last weekend with 15 minutes of prep(cleaning the grill out, laying in new charcoal, and firing it up) and an hour smoke over alder....just absolutely sublime flavor.

I also have a gas grill that I use to cook steaks on when I don't want to take the time and effort required to do it up right.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
My brother has a gas grill and a Weber charcoal grill. When he's grilling up a bunch of meat for large get togethers, he'll use the gas grill since it has a larger cooking surface. When he's cooking for six or less, he'll use the Weber. I asked why, and he said food on the Weber just tasted better. I agree.

I also remember attending some parties hosted by a couple who ended up opening their own restaurant. For large gatherings the host ended up cooking with four Weber charcoal grills (his own plus others borrwed from neighbors) all in a row. Worked out quite well, actually.
 
Kohai999 said:
I have a Large BGE, for about 3 years now.

There are a couple things that you can do with one that you almost cannot do with a gas grill.

You can get up to 800 degrees+ Fahrenheit in about 15 minutes for searing and cooking steaks, and yes, it makes a huge difference.

The other thing is smoking......
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800 to sear a steak? This is where gas excells. 800? I'll see your 800 and raise you 400 more... and I'll get there in ten minutes.... perfect for steak.

Then, in less than ten minutes, I'll fall down to -- and hold -- 350 so that I can fast-sear the outside of a roast and then finish it perfectly. Gas is best for steak.... and burgers too. Also good for fish and for veggies... heck, I even grill the salad.

But, for smoking, gas is not so good. I have a little metal box which you can put dampened wood chips into and then out it under the grill and it will give you some nice smoke, but it is hardly the results which BGE and other more purpose-built devices can achive.

The king of smoke is the Traeger Grill. They use wood pellets with a motorized feed system for slow cooking.
 
The Brinksman smoker line of charcoal smokers/grills start as low as <$30.00 for the round, black water smoker. The advantage here is that you can use either charcoal or hardwood chunks.

Cheap round version will hold a whole pork tender loin, cut into 3 pieces, a package of sausage and two chickens at one time.
 
Mongo, 1 more vote for the Weber gas grills.
- The newer ones with the electric start is almost like using a gas stove. My wife wouldn’t touch the charbroil I had that gave itself the same Viking send off yours did. She does however love the Weber.
- My mother is still using the Weber Genesis I tried to kill in high school almost 20 years ago
- If you want wood flavor use a smoker box.
- Also yes get the porcelain coated cast iron grates the stock stamped steel ones suck.
If you want to smoke buy a smoker.
- If you have the money for it, I don’t, buy the BGE. Those things ROCK! Or buy both.
 
weber - I have a 10 year old gas with cast iron grates - still works like new. I have put a lot of miles on it. Also have kettle for char/smoking. Seen the BGE. Real Nice - Real Heavy - Real $$$.
 
Weber (propane) They last along time. Buy the cheaper ones and the burners rust in one year IME. Cooks even also JME
 
Weber one touch gold 26.75. Nice big cooking area and is built really well.
 
Great thread for me, we're having an extension to our patio built and I'm in need of a gas grill. We had a Char Broil, I think, before we moved and it was really more than adequate. I went and got a Weber Charcoal Kettle and it's been just OK.

I'm looking at Napoleons based on a recommendation. A bit expensive but apparently very well made. I had gas run to the patio for the grill and a fire pit. I'd love a BGE but probably wouldn't put it to good use.

I'm not retiring the Weber.

Thanks for all the good reading!!

Win
 
I have a Weber Summit which I got about five years ago when I build my deck. I replaced the burners last year after one had a flame problem resulting from total lack of maintenance. Now I know to wire-brush the burners off each spring. Replacing the burners required getting all the way down into the thing and what I found is that everything else about it is still in near-prefect condition. I expect six to ten more years out of it and couldn't be happier about that. I was smart and had the gas line run to it, so now I don't have to fumble with propane tanks. This thing really is nice.

I have a neighbor who often ribs me a bit about how much less he paid for his grill than I did for mine, but he buys a new cheapie every year or two while I've had mine for six and expect six to ten more years. This same guy is constantly complaining about his grill and, I have noticed, his food isn't very good because he never learns his grill since it's always changing.

The joy of low price is quickly forgotten amidst the disappointments and frustrations of low quality.
 
I will say I've gotten at least 5 years of good service out of the cheap $20.00 walmart grills. And you can kinda throw them away. I could probably get about 30 years of grilling and only spend about $120.00 that way. But they don't cook as well as the webber with it's ceramic coating. The only thing that cooks evenly that is better than the webber in my experience has been the Big Green Egg. My brother has one, it's wonderful. But it's expensive to run and you have to know what you're doing or you can take all day to cook a steak or burn up some ribs in about 10 minutes with it. For hot dogs and hamburgers the 20 buck special is really all you need. If you wanna cook som serious grilled goods I'd go with the webber.
 
Mongo said:
Basically my grill, a Coleman which is probably close to 12-13 yrs old, finally rusted out the burners.
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Mongo, have you called up any grill shops to see if you can get replacement parts? I just resurrected a 10 year old Weber Silver Genesis that someone was tossing to the street with $70 worth of parts. That thing is sweet!

Gas is great for convenience and steaks, but I love my Weber kettle. It's great as a smoker, too, just more labor intensive than a dedicated smoker.

Also, make sure you check out craigslist!
 
Update: thanks to the generosity and fortunate timing of a fellow BF-'er, I now have a basically new Weber 22.6" charcoal grill with the ash collector thingy on the bottom. I haven't yet looked into replacement parts for the Coleman, but it is the burners that have rusted out. Installing the burners was a MAJOR bitch, and I'm not sure I have the instructions on how to do so anyways. I'd hate to buy a replacement if they are even available, and not be able to install it. I'll look into it, but likely will set it out to the curb.
 
Infi-del said:
My brother has one, it's wonderful. But it's expensive to run and you have to know what you're doing or you can take all day to cook a steak or burn up some ribs in about 10 minutes with it.
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If there is a Whole Foods Market nearby, a 6 lb bad of hardwood lump charcoal can be had for about $6.00. This is enough to run the BGE for slow cook from Friday afternoon to Sunday night, constantly, and still have some left over. Chunk smoking wood is inexpensive, and readily available.

Learning to operate the BGE is actually fairly simple BUT when you are setting the temperature, you have to pay attention(it's a mix of air intake and exhaust, controlled by two adjustable ports).

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Charcoal!!!!! The HastyBake I inherited from my grandfather is slowly rusting out, but it by far and away is the best grill I have ever cooked on. I need to purchase another, but the prices are astronomical - I am going to have to find something else. I really loved this grill. You can really control the heat, it works great for smoking, comes with a really good rottisire(sp?), and are really well built. Unfortunately, as noted, they are very expensive. oh well.
 
I am in the same boat; it is time for a new Grill. I have been looking at the Weber Q300 and Q320 because I have a small deck and big grills just don't fit. Anyone have any feedback, good or bad on the Weber Q's?
 
Ira, I've never owned a Q series but my neighbor has one and likes it a lot. I can testify that it cooks burgers, dogs and brats to a T.

Win
 
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