Outdoor Grill Selection

[Shannacore]

So I'm moving to a house in a week and I will finally have a back yard. YAY!

I'm looking for a good grill. Good, but not extremely expensive. Is charcoal really that much better than gas? It certainly seems to be more of a hassle - But is it worth it? I don't need a grill that has the silly lil' burner on the side, and I don't need a grill that's large enough to feed a family of 9. It's just me and the boyfrand so something relatively small would be okay.

Suggestions? What do you use?

[Lucky]

Charcoal is probably more cancerous than gas [citation needed], but definitely tastes better I think to have that flavour. You definitely don't want a George Foreman or something dumb like that cuz they are a bitch to clean, you wanna scrape the metal while its still hot and the flames are dying.

Realistically since its just you and your bof you can get something like this for $20 at the local wal-mart

http://www.grilledcornonthecob.com/images/11-corn-on-the-grill.jpg

Bag of charcoal will run about $10 and last you maybe 5-10 grilling sessions. Make sure you get lighter fluid too. I think it prolly balances out in cost with gas because even then are still paying for the fuel.

ADDENDUM get a chimney starter cuz half the fun of grilling is lighting the fire

[Hitchens]

Using a charcoal grill results in better tasting food, but more cleanup. You can get a charcoal grill for twenty bucks.

[Kevlar]

Charcoal grills are the only real grills. A gas grill is nothing more than an outdoor stove. Charcoal takes longer to set up and is harder to use, but its the only way to have a real bbq.

[Shannacore]

If I were to grill 2+ times a week would I end up going thru bags and bags and bags of charcoal? Would it end up being way more expensive than a gas grill?

[Lucky]

the initial savings of a charcoal grill over gas, not to mention the fact that gas is expensive too, means it will prolly be cheaper in the long run.

youll pick up a $10 bag of charcoal maybe once a month at the grocery if youre grillin a couple times a week.

[Shannacore]

O, that's not bad at all. COOL.

[jilena]

To reiterate from IRC get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Weber-751001-22-5-Inch-One-Touch-Charcoal/dp/B00004RALR/ref=pd_bxgy_lg_img_c

And this:

http://www.amazon.com/Weber-7416-Rapidfire-Chimney-Starter/dp/B000WEOQV8/ref=pd_bxgy_lg_img_c

Then buy normal kingsford charcoal (do not buy auto light shit or use lighter fluid). Buy some fire starters (weber or whatever brand). And some like mesquite or pecan or whatever floats your boat.

Take top off grill, remove grilling surface, put charcoal in chimney, stuff fire starter in bottom (or newspaper in a pinch), light, set chimney on grill where charcoal goes, go masturbate for 15 minutes, when you come back coals should be white on the top and hot, dump the coals onto the charcoal grill area (wear grilling gloves it will be hot as fuck or an oven mitt works in a pinch), use a metal spade of some sort to push all the loose coals to the center. Then toss on a couple chunks of the wood and close the lid. Wait about 5-7 minutes and you are ready to grill. (obv if you want to grill something without smoky flavor skip the step with the wood)

ProTip: While grilling you want to open the grill as little as possible.

[jilena]

As for the gas grill question. Do not buy a gas grill until you can afford a Weber genesis or better. And honestly you can cook a metric fuckton on a 150$ charcoal grill before you pay off an 800$ genesis not to mention the 20$ every couple months to refill your gas.

[Lucky]

]go masturbate for 15 minutes]

most important step in any cooking, the watched pot never boils and the watched coals never light

[Egil]

http://www.amazon.com/Weber-6517001-Genesis-Liquid-Propane/dp/B0045UBB5E

Basic Weber grill. Will last much longer than Char-Broil and other cheaper grills. This model is without all the bells and whistles - no rotisserie, or side burners, etc.

[Shannacore]

http://www.amazon.com/Weber-6517001-Genesis-Liquid-Propane/dp/B0045UBB5E

Basic Weber grill. Will last much longer than Char-Broil and other cheaper grills. This model is without all the bells and whistles - no rotisserie, or side burners, etc.

I'm looking for a good grill. Good, but not extremely expensive.

[Zereh]

Must have: a charcoal chimney (http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/chimney.html), so you don't have to use foul lighter fluids!

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/chimney_photos/chimney.jpg

[Shannacore]

omg fuck this thread, i have to buy this now
http://www.weber.com/explore/grills/charcoal-series/ranchkettle

You might have to get a job first. (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=100401884&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100401884&ci_kw={keyword}&kwd={keyword}&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-100401884&ci_gpa=pla)

[Seaweedpimp]

.........no........hank.....hill?


http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/9304324.jpg

[Labyrrinth]

if you're going the charcoal route, use lump charcoal instead of briquets. Burns hotter and less carcinogens

[Peatree]

To reiterate from IRC get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Weber-751001-22-5-Inch-One-Touch-Charcoal/dp/B00004RALR/ref=pd_bxgy_lg_img_c

And this:

http://www.amazon.com/Weber-7416-Rapidfire-Chimney-Starter/dp/B000WEOQV8/ref=pd_bxgy_lg_img_c

Then buy normal kingsford charcoal (do not buy auto light shit or use lighter fluid). Buy some fire starters (weber or whatever brand). And some like mesquite or pecan or whatever floats your boat.

Take top off grill, remove grilling surface, put charcoal in chimney, stuff fire starter in bottom (or newspaper in a pinch), light, set chimney on grill where charcoal goes, go masturbate for 15 minutes, when you come back coals should be white on the top and hot, dump the coals onto the charcoal grill area (wear grilling gloves it will be hot as fuck or an oven mitt works in a pinch), use a metal spade of some sort to push all the loose coals to the center. Then toss on a couple chunks of the wood and close the lid. Wait about 5-7 minutes and you are ready to grill. (obv if you want to grill something without smoky flavor skip the step with the wood)

ProTip: While grilling you want to open the grill as little as possible.

Approved. IMO only way to go. Go Weber or go home. Did you know that Weber actually has a patent on the shape of their lid since it is the most effective shape to conduct heat? I have this exact set up and have been using it for about 7 years now. Keep it covered, keep it maintained and it will last you much longer than some off brand PoS. For wood chunks use hickory or mesquite. Also help to soak them in water or beer prior for added smokey goodness.

[Droxx]

if you're going the charcoal route, use lump charcoal instead of briquets. Burns hotter and less carcinogens

This too.

[Droxx]

Also, Big Green Egg or bust. But they're also expensive. :(

[shooteneq1]

I have an XL Big Green Egg. Yes they are very expensive but having had it for almost 2 years now i cook almost exclusively on it. You will never need to buy another grill once you have one and they warranty them for life if your the original owner. So in the end it ends up cheaper that buying gas grills as the damn things always rust or break and over the years will will end up paying more in gas grill then you would a big green egg.
The food cooked on these things comes out amazing. It smokes, grills, sears, bakes, you name it. Everyone i make brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken or steaks say its the best meat they have ever had hands down.
There are other grills like the egg but if you have the money i say get the egg since the company is very well established and has the better warranty.