OT: Grills

[Myrtleknight]

I’ve started charcoal grilling about twice a week during this whole thing. Using a cheap barrel style grill I’ve done low and slow brisket, beer can chickens, ribs, fish. It hasn’t all been perfect but I’ve had a good time.

I am going to upgrade. I’m fascinated by the Traeger’s but am leaning towards a Komado style grill. And leaning towards the Komado Joe Classic II over the BGE.

Any thoughts from the board. Do I need to go the Komado route, is the Traeger really that easy and is it annoying to grill on or should I just get one of the nice Weber charcoal grills and save the money.

 

[RU Mike73]

My BGE is 17 years old. Replaced cooking grill once and this past weekend replaced daisywheel. Otherwise looks brand new. A cooking machine!!! Smoker, baker, pizza oven, high heat grill. Does it all.

PS. Any concern about waiting for lump charcoal fire is unfounded. That 15-20 minutes is also known as “Happy Hour”. Enjoy.

 

[argofax]

I'm about to buy a pellet grill. Looking at all of the brands. I did the kamado and it's great but it's something you need to learn. I'm looking at Traeger, Camp Chef, and Z Grills. Post if you buy something if you don't mind.

 

[RU4Real]

I'm about to buy a pellet grill. Looking at all of the brands. I did the kamado and it's great but it's something you need to learn. I'm looking at Traeger, Camp Chef, and Z Grills. Post if you buy something if you don't mind.

I've been looking at the Pit Boss Pro Series pellet smoker that Lowes sells. The reviews are solid, it's about half the price of a Traeger. For the money, I can temper my expectations.

 

[Plum Street]

I had a char broil half charcoal and half gas . Just wound up using the gas way much more. That grill seen better days. Just bought a new char broil four burner gas grill at Lowe’s for $199. I buy cheap grills and replace every few years. Probably not the system for everyone but it has worked for my family’s needs over the years. I know people swear by Weber’s and I have the Q for tailgates .

 

[knightinaz]

Have had our Traeger for almost 5 years now and we love it.

Ours is a small basic model that I use a Weber bluetooth thermometer with. The new ones now have all the bluetooth bells and whistles built in.

We do everything from briskets and pork butts to smoking salmon fillets.

For anyone looking at a pellet grill/smoker I definitely recommend a Traeger.

 

[HeavenUniv.]

For those interested, lots of places selling Rutgers grill covers, spatulas, grill mats, etc.

 

[newell138]

I had a char broil half charcoal and half gas . Just wound up using the gas way much more. That grill seen better days. Just bought a new char broil four burner gas grill at Lowe’s for $199. I buy cheap grills and replace every few years. Probably not the system for everyone but it has worked for my family’s needs over the years. I know people swear by Weber’s and I have the Q for tailgates .

Char Broils do not last long at all in my experience. I bought a natural gas one and the bottom and insides are rusting out after a few years, going back to Weber.

 

[Southern Gentleman]

Char Broils do not last long at all in my experience. I bought a natural gas one and the bottom and insides are rusting out after a few years, going back to Weber.

I had a natural gas Weber for 27 years. And I used 3 times a week during that period.
You cannot go wrong with a Weber!

 

[Beancounter88]

I had a natural gas Weber for 27 years. And I used 3 times a week during that period.
You cannot go wrong with a Weber!

Webers are the best, period. The one flaw with getting a Weber IMO is that for the money, the grilling surface is pretty small compared to others.

 

[ru109]

I have a Weber grill (8 years old) and a Weber smoker (3 years) and both are great.

 

[newell138]

I had a natural gas Weber for 27 years. And I used 3 times a week during that period.
You cannot go wrong with a Weber!

agreed. My last one was a Weber that lasted me about 15 years and it was still good, just made the switch to natural gas vs propane and tried to save a few bucks on the purchase.

 

[Plum Street]

Char Broils do not last long at all in my experience. I bought a natural gas one and the bottom and insides are rusting out after a few years, going back to Weber.

I think most of the cheaper brands don’t last that long. I think you’re lucky if you get 5 years if leaving out before replacing parts

 

[RUSK97]

Webers are the best, period. The one flaw with getting a Weber IMO is that for the money, the grilling surface is pretty small compared to others.

Weber fully shifted their gas grill (Genesis & Spirit) line to China about 4-5 years ago. IMO, quality suffered greatly. Among the problems were a thin ceramic coating on the lids prone to crazing and chips, plus a lightweight (read cheap) construction that did not hold heat as well and prone to cold spots.

They’ve seemingly fixed some of these early problems, but still not the sturdy as a rock models of yesteryear.

 

[Scarlet Haze]

I have had a BGE for 5 years and the food tastes great on it. Meat comes out moist and tasty, much more so than on my Weber which I previously owned. The thick porcelain casing holds in the heat and moisture very well. Everyone that comes over comments on the better flavor of the meats.

As for the pellet grills, the reviews for the Rec Tec are better than Traeger. I might get one for winter as it would be easier to get going when it is cold outside.

https://www.rectecgrills.com/grills/rt-700

I have gotten my BGE up to 1,000+ degrees, which is maybe too high, but charing the outsides of a steak quickly in the 750-850 range and then lowering the temp works very well to seal in the flavor. I mention this because I believe the pellet grills can only get up to 500 or 550 degrees. That said, the RecTec can be more easily set to hold a temperature. BGE on the other hand can cook pizza etc.

Below is a good write up which highlights some of the pros and cons of pellet grills
https://amazingribs.com/ratings-reviews/grill-smoker-combos/pellet-smokers

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

i recommend.

 

[Myrtleknight]

I have had a BGE for 5 years and the food tastes great on it. Meat comes out moist and tasty, much more so than on my Weber which I previously owned. The thick porcelain casing holds in the heat and moisture very well. Everyone that comes over comments on the better flavor of the meats.

As for the pellet grills, the reviews for the Rec Tec are better than Traeger. I might get one for winter as it would be easier to get going when it is cold outside.

https://www.rectecgrills.com/grills/rt-700

I have gotten my BGE up to 1,000+ degrees, which is maybe too high, but charing the outsides of a steak quickly in the 750-850 range and then lowering the temp works very well to seal in the flavor. I mention this because I believe the pellet grills can only get up to 500 or 550 degrees. That said, the RecTec can be more easily set to hold a temperature. BGE on the other hand can cook pizza etc.

Below is a good write up which highlights some of the pros and cons of pellet grills
https://amazingribs.com/ratings-reviews/grill-smoker-combos/pellet-smokers

The pellet grills look great but don’t get up to hot temperatures very well. Seems to me like if you have a pellet you need to also keep a gas?

 

[Myrtleknight]

That may be one of the best commercials of all time!

 

[RU4Real]

The pellet grills look great but don’t get up to hot temperatures very well. Seems to me like if you have a pellet you need to also keep a gas?

I would say definitely. If I get a pellet, like the Pit Boss I mentioned earlier, it would be almost exclusively for smoking. I still have my Weber Genesis that will run to 700+ if I want to sear.

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

That may be one of the best commercials of all time!

plus - you never know when the vegan goddess might drop in.

 

[RU Golfer]

I have had a stainless steel Kirkland Signature (propane) for the last 20 years and it is still going strong....I have been intrigued with the pellet grills for the last 6 to 9 months and may pull the trigger on one later this summer. If I do pull the trigger I plan on going with a Rec Tec over the Traeger. The over all construction on the Rec Tec is better, they have a bigger hopper than the Traeger, the fire pot is better made as too. Per multiple reviews the Rec Tec can burn hotter than the Traeger.

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

I have had a stainless steel Kirkland Signature (propane) for the last 20 years and it is still going strong....I have been intrigued with the pellet grills for the last 6 to 9 months and may pull the trigger on one later this summer. If I do pull the trigger I plan on going with a Rec Tec over the Traeger. The over all construction on the Rec Tec is better, they have a bigger hopper than the Traeger, the fire pot is better made as too. Per multiple reviews the Rec Tec can burn hotter than the Traeger.

is there a sear box/grill on the Rec Tec?

 

[RU Golfer]

is there a sear box/grill on the Rec Tec?

They have a sear kit that is an additional accessory and varies in price based on the model Rec Tec you have.

 

[Captain Hogleg]

I’ve started charcoal grilling about twice a week during this whole thing. Using a cheap barrel style grill I’ve done low and slow brisket, beer can chickens, ribs, fish. It hasn’t all been perfect but I’ve had a good time.

I am going to upgrade. I’m fascinated by the Traeger’s but am leaning towards a Komado style grill. And leaning towards the Komado Joe Classic II over the BGE.

Any thoughts from the board. Do I need to go the Komado route, is the Traeger really that easy and is it annoying to grill on or should I just get one of the nice Weber charcoal grills and save the money.

Kamado Joe is fantastic. Get their big block lump charcoal as well.

 

[Howie!975]

I’ve started charcoal grilling about twice a week during this whole thing. Using a cheap barrel style grill I’ve done low and slow brisket, beer can chickens, ribs, fish. It hasn’t all been perfect but I’ve had a good time.

I am going to upgrade. I’m fascinated by the Traeger’s but am leaning towards a Komado style grill. And leaning towards the Komado Joe Classic II over the BGE.

Any thoughts from the board. Do I need to go the Komado route, is the Traeger really that easy and is it annoying to grill on or should I just get one of the nice Weber charcoal grills and save the money.

I replaced a

 

[Howie!975]

I replaced a

I replaced a Weber with a Napoleon. It’s been a good choice

 

[Southern Gentleman]

agreed. My last one was a Weber that lasted me about 15 years and it was still good, just made the switch to natural gas vs propane and tried to save a few bucks on the purchase.

Mine was natural gas as well.
With propane, the burners will fail in 3-4 years due to something in propane. Natural gas does not do that.

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

 

[pnbsoup22]

Which charcoal do you prefer? Kingford? Royal oak?

 

[krup]

I have an older version of the Camp Chef he reviewed in the video and just love it.

I didn't get the sear box because I already had a gas grill, but based on what he showed in the video I would totally recommend the complete Camp Chef setup he reviewed (The newer version is definitely better at getting the main smoker to a higher temperature as well. I have never gotten above the low 400's). It is very easy to use, especially the cleaning.

The one feature I noticed in the video that I wish the Camp Chef had, was the second temperature probe the Traeger has.

 

[RU4Real]

Pulled the trigger on the Pit Boss Pro Series pellet smoker this morning. Got the last one that the Marlboro Lowes had in stock. Assembled and tested. Late tomorrow night I'll be firing it up for a low and slow on a 9 lb. pork shoulder and 11 lb. brisket.

 

[RCBeta79]

I have a Fire Magic natural gas, drop-in grill with our outside brick fireplace....22 years going strong.

 

[jreinsdorf]

My old char griller smoker is an eye sore and something i affectionately refer to as a real piece of ****. Missing handles, a shelf and low grade steel makes for heat loss. Yet, i love smoking ribs on it because getting the vents and coals right is the fun challenge for me. I love putting out better ribs than my buddy who uses his thermometer synced to his phone and has four different smokers in his yard lol. But i admit there would be far too much babysitting if i had to smoke a brisket or shoulder.

 

[RU Golfer]

Pulled the trigger on the Pit Boss Pro Series pellet smoker this morning. Got the last one that the Marlboro Lowes had in stock. Assembled and tested. Late tomorrow night I'll be firing it up for a low and slow on a 9 lb. pork shoulder and 11 lb. brisket.

let us know how it goes.

 

[koleszar]

Weber fully shifted their gas grill (Genesis & Spirit) line to China about 4-5 years ago. IMO, quality suffered greatly. Among the problems were a thin ceramic coating on the lids prone to crazing and chips, plus a lightweight (read cheap) construction that did not hold heat as well and prone to cold spots.

They’ve seemingly fixed some of these early problems, but still not the sturdy as a rock models of yesteryear.

Bingo. Got the Weber Spirit a few years ago and it's a piece of sh*t. Grill top is flaking, grates and guts rusting out and falling apart. Had a Weber before this one and it lasted 15yrs. before replacing the parts. Everything China does is a piece of sh*t.

 

[Shelby65]

I’ve owned or tried pretty much all types of grills and smokers and no one product checks all the boxes. The BGE or other Kamado comes closest but the cooking space is small, especially for smoking. I own one and use it the least.

Buy a used Weber bullet/barrel smoker and a used Weber gas grill. The grease and bits on the flavor bars will give as much flavor as a charcoal grill would

 

[Morrischiano2]

i recommend.

great commercial

 

[RU#1fan]

Weber fully shifted their gas grill (Genesis & Spirit) line to China about 4-5 years ago. IMO, quality suffered greatly. Among the problems were a thin ceramic coating on the lids prone to crazing and chips, plus a lightweight (read cheap) construction that did not hold heat as well and prone to cold spots.

They’ve seemingly fixed some of these early problems, but still not the sturdy as a rock models of yesteryear.

Would love to find a American made Grill on my next purchase. Lynx and Fire Magic are too pricey for me ( several thousand dollars).

 

[Morrischiano2]

Pulled the trigger on the Pit Boss Pro Series pellet smoker this morning. Got the last one that the Marlboro Lowes had in stock. Assembled and tested. Late tomorrow night I'll be firing it up for a low and slow on a 9 lb. pork shoulder and 11 lb. brisket.

I was flip flopping between Treager and a Weber and just went for convenience. Got the Weber Genesis II 335 @ Lowes. $899 with another 10% off with a Lowes credit card. Getting delivered this morning.

I think that I'll buy a small smoker in the fall.

 

[BigWill]

Would love to find a American made Grill on my next purchase. Lynx and Fire Magic are too pricey for me ( several thousand dollars).

I'm sniffing around at Rec Tec from here and I called the factory down South and got a nice guy to answer my questions.