Outdoor Grill Shopping - Recommendations

[bofa]

I personally own one of these, but I only cook for two people at a time. This grill will last forever because it is made from cast iron (don't pour cold water on hot cast iron, don't drop/bang cast iron parts). I use a thin sharp stainless steak knife to scrape down the grilling surfaces and let the grease/ burned on stuff right into the charcoal.

This grill is not great if you have to feed like 10 people (other than hamburgers/hotdogs), but normally, I take like a 7-8lb oven roaster (chicken) and pay like $8, cut it into 4 pieces by:

1. Use a Chinese meat cleaver, cut right down through the breast bone and down the back (splitting the chicken in half)
2. Cut the Leg/Thigh along with a small piece of the hip, you get 2 full leg pieces. along with 2 full chicken breast pieces.

Start up the grill, and cook for about an hour, add BBQ sauce last 10 minutes or so.

Amazon.com: Lodge Logic L410 Pre-Seasoned Sportsman's Charcoal Grill: Kitchen & Dining

Hamburgers & hot dogs takes a lot less time

Pengy

Awesome! I've added that to my Amazon wishlist. I'm going to need a new grill but just cant justify something bigger more expensive right now.

 

[pengy]

If you plan to buy a charcoal grill, best to add one of those chimney starter to the list as well. You will never have to buy lighter fluids when you start your BBQ, only need a few sheets newspaper and some matches, and you'll be good to go.

I go outside to start the charcoal going, then come inside to dress the chicken. By the time I take the stuff to be cooked outside, the charcoal briquettes are ready to be poured into the grill and get the party started.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Well I went ahead and bought one. This is the one I got. Hopefully it's a good one

Weber Spirit 310 Series 46500401 $549

Great decision. I have a charcoal weber right now but I would definitely consider the one you bought if I am in the market for a gas.

 

[ndcent]

Slightly off specific topic...

I spent a lot of time last year doing gas grill research. I was ready to spend as much as $1200. I had planned to buy a nice drop in grill and build my own grill island out of steel studs and stone, etc.

The most important things I found in my research were:

*Burner Type - the nicest grills have cast steel or iron burners that weigh as much as 30lb per burner and last a lifetime. The step down from this is a simple heavy gauge round steel tube burner that should easily last 4-5 years but are made to be replaced.

*Grid Type - this could be more of a opinion item but I've always preferred stainless steel cooking bars to cast iron, regardless the heavier the better.

**Personally - f* those infrared "searing" burners also.

What did I end up with?

I found a five burner grill on Craigslist that was less than two years old made by "Altima" that the seller who was moving to Dubai said he bought for around $1200. I went to check it out, was in pristine condition. Super heavy stainless cooking bars, ceramic brick lined/insulated, stainless tube burners, one stupid infrared searing burner off to the right and a actually really nice infrared rotisserie burner on the back wall. Lights, full functional rotisserie rod all build onto a cart with granite counter off to the right. I think I ended up paying the guy $275 and had to pick it up with my motorcycle trailer bc it's maybe 400 pounds and certainly wasn't going in any suv or up in a pick up with any ease. I think it's heft was part of why it hadn't been snatched up as quickly and I was able to get a deal on it.

Moral of the story, research and take your time and you never know what you'll find.

Here's a decent pic of me getting some winter time grilling action on.

 

[jmildoc]

great choice on the weber, everyone i know who has one loves it and they last forever. millerad1651 by far got the best deal on one of anyone that I know, I helped him unload it and ate one of the first meals off it and I vouch for their awesome cooking ability, coming from someone who has a $500 infared grill and use like 10 tanks of propane a year through it.

 

[Mytoy4]

Well it'd better hurry and get here cause I caught him grill shopping online last night.

 

[Hulley]

Sorry I just realized you already bought a grill! Looks good! Let us know how it works out!

 

[JET4]

I was given a Weber for farther day about 4 years ago. Best grill I've ever had.